WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
It’s Big, it’s Back, it’s GardenWatch 2012!
Help us record the wildlife in your garden
- get all the family to join in. Starting with the common toad, over the next two months, let us know if you spot any of these amphibious visitors
Last year, GardenWatch was a great success with over 2,500 records being submitted on everything from badgers to woodlice. Thank you for taking part and providing us with these important records. This year we need you to take a closer look for some specific species. These species are known to visit gardens but in some cases this is a recent trend as a response to changes in habitat and conditions. In other cases, the species has seen a decline in numbers and we would like to take stock of how many of them are living in our gardens. All have been chosen as fun to observe and to benefit from your wildlife-friendly gardening.
Every two months we will ask you to submit your results via our online form below. These are the best times of the year to spot the species but please do tell us of any sightings throughout the year. We also want to hear from you if you haven’t seen them, as their absence is important information for understanding their distribution. If you record there are no toads in your garden and then find one later in the year, don’t worry just submit a new record and we will do the rest. Keep a look out for:
February/March – common toad
April/May – orange-tip and brimstone butterflies
June/July – hedgehog
August/September – bats
October/November – common garden cross spider
December/January – song thrush
Common toads have seen a dramatic decline in numbers as suitable breeding ponds are filled in or poorly managed and important hibernation areas are lost. Gardens can provide toads with plenty of dark damp corners to hide in and often a pond to breed in too. Like many of us, toads tend to hide away when it is too cold. If the temperature outside is less than 4 degrees Celsius, or if there has been a frost overnight, then the toads will stay tucked away. As the season warms up a little they will start their journeys to a pond – this is when you may find them in your flower beds or in long grass. If you suspect a toad or two has made it to your pond then you should carefully look for them after dark. Shine a torch into the water and slowly move the beam around to check for submerged creatures and toad spawn. If you do find a creature, don’t shine the torch right at them but shine it slightly to the side so you can still see them but they are not dazzled by the bright light.
Learn more about common toads and their habits by downloading our fact sheet.
Click here to submit your wildlife record
Read the GardenWatch 2011 report to find out more about the wildlife you spotted in your gardens
Want to make your garden more wildlife friendly? Order bird food, bug hotels or hedgehog food from local company Vine House Farm and support the Wildlife Trust BCN. They donate 5% of every sale to the Wildlife Trust, and even deliver directly to your door.
For more information, ideas and activities and to make your garden wildlife friendly visit the Wildlife Trusts' Big Wildlife Garden website
To find out more about gardening with wildlife in mind from our green-fingered staff read Laura and Sarah's wildlife gardening blog.