FROGS, toads and newts are in need of care as winter approaches, according to a Hampton charity.
Froglife, which is based at Hampton Nature Reserve, is giving advice to residents to make sure that amphibians get the support they need to make it through the colder months.
The charity has listed three suggestions on how householders can help th
e creatures.
Mess is more: don't do your spring cleaning in autumn. Leaving an area of your garden slightly messy benefits an array of wildlife.
Amphibians like to lie under patio slabs, piles of rubble, compost bags or wood piles. Shaded areas, which don't dry out too much are best.
Don't let your pond ice over: Common frogs are often on the pond bottom in winter.
Make sure your ponds do not retain a layer of ice for too long as it can suffocate resting frogs. One solution is to leave a ball floating on the pond before the cold weather hits. When the ice layer has formed, remove the ball leaving a hole through which pond gases can move. Never smash the ice.
Some people build specific habitat features for amphibians to see out the winter months. These can be a mixture of dead wood, rocks and bricks, all loosely filled with topsoil.
The full article contains 221 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
