Our News
An amazing start to the 2025 toad migration - hundreds rescued already!
And you can help just by avoiding driving down Lords Hill, Norley Lane & Woodhill Lane at dusk!!
It's been an amazing few evenings as February draws to a close and the 2025 toad migration gets under way. Our local toads, frogs and newts loved the heavy rain we had on Friday night and decided that was a REALLY good time to get going, and we have helped hundreds of them to get to their breeding ponds safely without being squashed by cars. Many were caught in the buckets by the toad fence which prevents them reaching the road, and lots of others were scooped up from the tarmac as they started the road crossing unaided.
LOTS of toads in this bucket
A beautiful Newt
Spot the newt here!
These photos were taken by our volunteers working on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st Feb, when mild temperatures and heavy rain on Friday had encouraged the start of the migration. From now on it will be relentless, any mild damp evenings being ideal.
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If you can come and lend a hand please do get in touch with Regena Coult <toads@surrey-arg.org.uk> and you can be added to our WhatsApp group to be kept informed.
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And even if you can't actually help with the rescues, it would be great if everyone could avoid driving down Woodhill Lane and Norley Lane from dusk till about 9pm! Every little helps!!
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Volunteers needed for this year's Toad Patrol
TOAD PATROL – It feels SO good to help a little toad or frog to safety!!
Our group of Toad Patrollers will help hundreds of these wonderful animals to get to their breeding ponds this spring. We (and the toads!) would be so grateful if you could come and help too! To join our Toad Patrol WhatsApp group please email Regena Coult <toads@surrey-arg.org.uk> Some of you already have, so look out for the messages soon.
Amphibians like to migrate to their breeding ponds on warm wet spring evenings. The Shamley Green toad patrol helps these toads, frogs and newts to make that journey safely by ensuring that they do not get run over as they cross or travel along busy roads such as Woodhill Lane, Madgehole, Stroud Lane, and Norley Lane/Lords Hill. In 2024, clad in our hi-viz vests and armed with torches and buckets we helped 2473 amphibians to safety.
The migration can go on for months. The busiest evenings last year were 6th and 14th February.
searching for toads
toads on tarmac - in real danger!
Can you help with installing this year's toad fence?
Every year, before the toad migration season begins, we install a lightweight 'toad fence' to stop migrating frogs, toads and newts getting on to Woodhill Lane and Stroud Lane from the adjacent field. Instead they fall into buckets sunk into the ground at intervals along the fence so we can retrieve them and move them safely across the road to continue on their way to their breeding ponds. In 2024 we rescued 248 animals in this way.
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The fence will start to go up from 13th January this year - can you help? It's not hard work but it's a long fence and we would be very grateful if you can spare an hour or two! Please contact Regena toads@surrey-arg.co.uk for information.
Don't miss the Big Garden Birdwatch 24th-26th January
A male house sparrow - last year's most frequently recorded bird, but numbers are down by 60%
The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, many thousands of nature lovers like you take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are coping with all the challenges of the present day. Click here to go to the Garden Birdwatch website where there is lots of information and you can register for this year's event.
Across the UK, over 600,000 people took part in Big Garden Birdwatch 2024, counting a whopping 9.7 million birds! House Sparrows took the top spot, but counts of these are down by 60% compared to the first Birdwatch in 1979. In fact, we’ve lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 60 years. With birds facing so many challenges, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the Birdwatch. It's run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and every bird you do – or don’t – count will give them a valuable insight into how garden birds are faring.
New hedge planted for wildlife
We have planted a new hedge in a field between Woodhill Lane and Stroud Lane to create a wildlife corridor - huge thanks to the people who came and helped!
The hedge will be brilliant for all sorts of wildlife such as amphibians, birds and small mammals.
Planting in progress
If you are interested in helping with the next phase of the work in the Autumn please contact Regena toads@surrey-arg.co.uk or
Newly planted saplings
Planting finished!
Join in the 2025 New Year Plant Hunt, 29th December to 1st January
Not long now until the 2025 New Year Plant Hunt starts!
Now in its 14th year, the hunt is organised by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI). Thousands of people all over the UK will go on a flower-spotting walk to help understand how our wild plants are responding to a changing climate. It's fun and adds interest to your New Year ramble!
You can click here to find out more, and for spotter sheets, plant hunting/photographing tips and ID help. All you need to do is choose a nice day between 29th Dec and 1st January, go on a local flower hunt, and add your valuable data to this great citizen science project.
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See our New Year 2023 Wildflower Diary for results from 2 years ago when SGEG found 13 different plants in flower in and around Shamley Green. Unfortunately we couldn't join the last Plant Hunt, but are hoping to get out plant-spotting for this one.
UPDATE: on a cold and gloomy New Year's Day we found 6 species in flower on Blackheath: gorse (of course), annual meadow grass and daisy were not surprising, but there were also 3 species quite unusual for the New Year Plant Hunt: thyme-leaved speedwell, thyme-leaved sandwort and slender rush.
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The next day's hunting around the canal, the railway track and Lords Hill yielded 10 species: herb robert, daisy, wood avens, dandelion, dog's mercury, red campion, annual meadow grass, creeping buttercup, wavy bitter-cress and white deadnettle.
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Click here for an interactive map and list of this year's results over the whole of the UK and Ireland