Local heroes join forces to protect migrating toads

A village community that set up a volunteer patrol group to protect a nationally important toad crossing are now working with the Trust to further protect wildlife.

Concerned villagers from Newton Valence near Alton began nightly patrols in 2015 to help toads across a hazardous road during the amphibians’ annual migration to their favourite breeding pond.

Since then, the community have persuaded their local council to introduce a temporary road closure each spring to protect the thousands of toads that cross the country lane.

The group have since been working with the Trust to carry out an ecological survey of the pond to generate a management plan to enhance the area for wildlife, especially the significant toad population.