The 24^th April is Save the Frogs Day.

It’s a chance to raise awareness of the plight of frogs around the world and also to show ways in which you can help frogs and toads!

The charity Froglife.org.uk has lots of ways you can help frogs and toads, as does the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, so here are some of these ways:

Become a toad patroller!

A Toad Patrol is a group of volunteers who monitor a stretch of road that toads have to cross to reach their breeding pond in the spring. 

Join the Wildlife Tunnel Campaign

Wildlife Tunnels are tunnels built under our roads so that amphibians and reptiles can cross the roads safely.  They are invaluable in linking up important wildlife habitats and lessening the negative impacts our demands for infrastructure are having on British wildlife.  Join Froglife's campaign for Wildlife Tunnels. 

Please sign Froglife's petition for Wildlife Tunnels

Build a wildlife pond!

It doesn’t need to be enormous or complicated – take a look at this PDF from Froglife!  Ponds are really important to wildlife – and it’s estimated that over a third of ponds have vanished in the last 30 years or so which has had a terrible effect on wildlife and especially amphibians.   Frogs, toads and needs need ponds to breed – so if there are no ponds, there will be no frogs, toads and newts.  And there’s nothing like enjoying the sight of your pond, however big or small it is.

Here are some more wildlife gardening ideas to help frogs and toads

Buy an animal experience from BuyaGift.co.uk
and get 15% off** with the code 15AHW2021.   
Plus we'll make a donation to Froglife!

Become a friend of Froglife

From £18 a year, become a friend of Froglife and help them conserve frogs and toads!

Go wildlife spotting and record your sightings!

When you’re out and about, spot wildlife and let Froglife know what you’ve seen!  Froglife has the Dragon Finder App – a free app for Android and iPhone, with a mobile website version for other devices. You can identify amphibians and reptiles in the field and record what you see by letting Froglife know about your sightings whilst you’re out and about.  They’ve got an online free guide to the sorts of animals you might see here.

Take part in Garden Dragon Watch 2021

The information collected will help the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust find out more about the reptiles and amphibians we all find in our gardens, and the habitats that they like.  In turn, this will help ARC with its conservation work.  

Volunteer for ARC!

Volunteer for the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust  - they have many reserves around the UK and it’s a great way to get out and about and to meet like-minded people whilst helping conservation at the same time!  Help on their nature reserves or on specific projects.

Buy an animal experience from BuyaGift.co.uk
and get 15% off** with the code 15AHW2021.   
Plus we'll make a donation to Froglife!

Sponsor one of ARC’s appeals

There are a number, such as sponsoring an adder or a smooth snake or a natterjack toad or a pool frog and more!

Visit Froglife

Visit the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust

** This code is valid until 31 December 2021 and does not include non-discounted products

Want to make a difference to wildlife?

One way to do this is to take part in surveys.   They give conservation charities a really good idea of what is happening across the country – so the more people who join in the better.  You don’t need to be an expert, just to take part.

Building up a picture of wildlife on our doorsteps help us tell if a species is in trouble and needs help.   For example, thousands of wildlife watchers have helped identify the loss of hedgehogs over 20 years.  Like the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which has run for over 40 years now, surveys give a lot of local information which give great value to wildlife conservation because of the picture they build up.

It’s time for the PTES Living with Mammals Survey!

The 29^th March 2021 saw the launch of this year’s Living With Mammals survey.  All you need to do is to record the mammals you see every week and any signs they leave behind, such as footprints or droppings.

Spotting wild mammals, a PDF from the PTES
image © PTES

You can choose any green space to survey.

It could be a garden, an allotment, a local park or any other area that’s convenient to spend a little time in each week.   The site must be within 200 metres of a building.

You can share your photos online using #LivingwithMammals

PTES who run the survey aren’t asking people to survey public areas, but to survey in gardens and other private land.  If you’re not sure about whether to take part in surveys during COVID-19, check government guidelines and then decide if it is right and proper and safe for you to take part.

Register here (it’s free to do this and there’s the most gorgeous picture of a fox waiting for you)

Survey tips and hints are here such as when and where to look, tracking signs so you can work out who is who, a note on wildlife cameras and more.   Mammals are typically more active at sunrise and suntset.   Check walls, hedges, fences, grass verges and field margins – they all provide cover for mammals.

There are mammal fact files here.   Doing a survey is a great way to find out more about wildlife!

You can see the results of past surveys here – Living with Mammals started in 2003!

Visit the PTES website for more information

Give local wildlife their own wildlife corridors

PTES point out that connecting our gardens and patches of green such as grass verges and local parks enable animals to move between different features.  Make a CD sized hole in the bottom of a fence can really help them journey from one place to another – their own sort of motorway network, a wildlife corridor, if you like.  These can certainly help animals such as hedgehogs.   Visit Hedgehog Street, a campaign run by PTES and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for more information..

The Turtle Dove is in trouble.

They are vulnerable to global extinction and on the IUCV Red List of Endangered species.  Since 1995, they have suffered a catastrophic 94% UK population decline and since 1980, a 78% decline in Europe.

Reasons why is the turtle dove in such trouble are

• the loss of habitat on UK breeding grounds, which means that there are food shortages as well.  
• the disease trichomoniasis
• in the EU member states, hunting has killed 2 to 3 million birds, though this number is from old figures. 
• In the birds’ winter homes in Africa, many habitats have been turned over to agriculture and livestock don’t help because they overgraze and so cause damage.

They now tend to be seen in the south and east of England, though they do head further north and west as well. 

Find out more about turtle doves here.

We need to help them before they become extinct  Enter Operation Turtle Dove.

About Operation Turtle Dove

This is an urgent mission to reverse the fortunes of this beautiful bird.   The RSPB is asking us all to save them.

Operation Turtle Dove is a partnership conservation project between the RSPB, Conservation Grade, Natural England and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.  It was started in the spring of 2012 and it aimed to identify the primary causes of the turtle dove decline and develop and deploy urgent practical solutions. 

6 ways to get involved in Operation Turtle Dove

1. Create turtle dove habitat, whether you are at home, own land or farm.   The website has information – just look for the heading Create Turtle Dove Habitat and choose the option that’s most relevant to you.  Gardens and green spaces are useful habitats for turtle doves so make them  welcome and hopefully they will come.  Farms are helping turtle doves so if you’re a farmer, take a look at these videos to be inspired!
2. Find out how to identify a turtle dove and then let the RSPB know if you see one with their Report a Turtle Dove Sighting page.  Then they can better idea of how to help turtle doves.
3. Take a look at the year of a turtle dove so you can better understand the bird 
4. Donate to Operation Turtle Dove 
5. Spread the word through your community and on social media and ask people to help
6. Find out what is being done to help these incredible birds and see what else you can do to help

Visit Operation Turtle Dove’s website

Buy an RSPB singing turtle dove soft toy and support conservation

Love donkeys and horses?   

If you do, just take a moment to imagine them walking mile after mile, every day. 

That’s the reality for many working horses, donkeys and mules who work tirelessly, around the world. 

The Brooke reach over 1.5 million working horses, donkeys and mules across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and help them.  

If you do and want to do your bit to help them, please take a look at The Brooke's Step in their Shoes Challenge and take on the 100 mile challenge to raise essential funds to support the working animals they care for every day. 

The Brooke is asking us all to walk 100 miles (not in one go!) at some stage this year. 

There is no set time limit for the challenge;  you can do the 100 miles however you like – walking, wheeling, running or cycling, whatever!  If you have a dog, you could include your daily dog walking in your 100 miles!

Register, and a fundraising page will be set up for you - you just need then to share the link with your family and friends and ask for donations.  The Brooke is asking us to raise £100 or as much as you can. 

If you can't do the challenge, why not donate or sponsor someone? 

Visit Step in their Shoes' website here

Get active!

Harringtons has launched a “Miles and Meals” campaign to get everyone moving and also get more meals to those in need.

The idea is to help pet owners clock up the miles – and for every one mile walked, Harringtons will donate a meal.  

There’s an online community that tracks steps, using exercise and running app Strava.   Meal donations will go to dogs in need.

In short, the more miles we all do, the more meals go to pets in care.

Harringtons are hoping that a million miles will be walked – which will mean one million meals can will be donated.   And hopefully we can all get fitter and having waggy tail fun while we’re doing it!

So far, over half a million meals have been donated!

You can use the hashtag #PositivePawprint for a chance to be featured in Harrington’s gallery!

COVID-19
Stay safe and please stick to the current COVID-19 restrictions in your area.  Maintain social distancing.    

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