News Archive
Use the calendar links to the right to find articles published in that month.
International Day of Biodiversity Events
Get involved with the International Year of Biodiversity events on 22nd May that the Wiltshire and Swindon Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) partnership is running on some of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Reserves.
Events for all the family include dawn chorus walks, dragonfly walks, guided walks, moth trapping and local food to enjoy.
Toads Across the Roads
Toads are only seen close to water during the breeding season, they start their journey to their breeding ponds once they have emerged from hibernation in February and March; many are killed as they cross roads to reach the ponds that they return to each year.
Paul Darby, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s North Wilts Rebuilding Biodiversity Project Officer, oversees a number of Toad Patrols in Great Somerford to help move toads across the roads to save them from being killed as they make their way to their breeding grounds.
The First Days of Spring
One of our many recorders has sent in this report about a visit to Stanton Park and spotted some of the signs of early spring.
It is the 8th of April; spring has finally arrived with glorious sunshine with just a hint of a breeze. I have visited Stanton Park near Swindon with my children remembering that at this time last year large numbers of toads (Bufo bufo) were breeding in the lake. They are back again this year and getting friendly (amplexus) as the photo shows although not as many as previously; perhaps the harsh winter has had an effect on the population. There was also some frog spawn in the lake which was close to hatching, the unhatched tadpoles looking like little Cs.
