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Reptiles and Amphibians Many people who have made the effort to dig a wildlife pond will have been rewarded by the presence of Common Frogs. Additionally, many gardeners will at some time or other come across a Common Toad in their garden. These two species are likely to be the two most commonly recorded amphibians in gardens, but they can be joined by a wide range or other reptiles and amphibians (both native and non-native). Some gardeners are fortunate to have Slow Worms helping to keep down populations of invertebrate pests, while others may consider themselves less fortunate in having Grass Snakes that use their compost heap. However, Grass Snakes can be a very welcome addition to a garden.
All of our reptile and amphibian populations have suffered from loss of habitat and it is important for even relatively common species to be monitored effectively to help plan effective conservation work. Because of this, our Garden BirdWatchers now record them as part of the project. During 2002 and 2003 we piloted a scheme for recording how reptiles and amphibians use gardens throughout the year. The results of this work, analysed during 2004, showed that BTO Garden BirdWatchers can make a valuable contribution to wider monitoring of reptiles and amphibians and we now record them alongside birds and other wildlife species. Please use the following links to access the information of interest to you: Click here to access the first of our reptile and amphibian species accounts.
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