Volunteers part of the Bourne Conservation group have helped a record of 501 toads so far. Even the toads were celebrating. Setup in 2012 the annual early spring toad watch on Boundary Road, Rowledge helps toads safely cross the road from the land back to their breeding pond.

Female toads are much bigger than the males as they carry the eggs. Mating season becomes very competitive for males as there are fewer females. The male toads latch onto the females and get carried over to reach the breeding pond and then mate this is called Amplexus.

It is important to return toads to their original breeding ground to avoid the spread of diseases and to stop the spread of invasive plants.

The numbers of toads are declining every year by 68 per cent & it’s estimated 250,000 toads are killed by cars a year.

Volunteer Myung-Hye Chung spends most evenings helping rescue the toads so it was no better way that she was the person to find Toad number 500 and 501.

Myung – Hye Chung said “We go out every evening, embracing all kinds of foul & horrid weather & rescue toads, frogs and newts.”

The group predict that due to a warmer and wetter winter the toads are coming out earlier as last year in April 2023 they had a total count of just over 300.

The first big night the group had this year was Valentines Day where the team rescued 87 toads as well as a Palmate Newt which is rare for the team to see.

However February 15 2024 was a date the team will never forget as they found 113 toads and two frogs. Myung-Hye said “It’s heartwarming and emotional, It’s romantic.”