Our annual clearance of the ponds at the hide took place this week. We do this most years, so that the ponds provide the best conditions for our rare natterjack toads to breed in.
The best pond for natterjacks is the large one right in front of the hide, so please accept our apologies if you were hoping to see crossbills drinking at this one! We have left water in ponds further back, so there is at least a chance of seeing them.
Our natterjacks need shallow ponds in heathland or acidic grassland, ideally that dry up completely every few years, killing off any predators that would otherwise eat our rare tadpoles. Unfortunately, our ponds rarely dry up, and most years we have to empty them ourselves.
On Wednesday, our volunteers removed large quantities of mud and water, together with hundreds of newts, a few frogs and toads, and thousands of dragonfly larvae - much to the delight of children in the hide who were able to get up close and personal with the toad-eating mini-terrors. All were carefully transferred to ponds in the woodland.