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biodiversity
Leaping forward for allotments
Froglife started its work with plotholders in 2007. Back then, when we tried to encourage plotholders
to leave wildlife friendly areas, we would often get the response that an allotment is for growing food. This is
of course very true, but it is possible
to grow food and to help wildlife. I am very pleased to say that, 13 years on, attitudes have changed enormously, with many plotholders including wildlife areas on their plots.
Some allotment sites have a provision for ponds in their rules, such as Kelvinside Allotments Association stating that: ‘a pond on a plot can enhance biodiversity especially water plants and amphibians’ and making recommendations on size, shape and safety. About a quarter of the plots at Kelvinside Allotments have a pond, with many of them attracting amphibians.
Allotments can offer wonderful areas for amphibians, particularly frogs, who live very happily in urban environments. Frogs are less discerning than toads and newts about their habitats and will breed in almost any form of freshwater. It is often thought that frogs spend most of their time in water, but this is not the case; they only need water to breed. They will, outside of the breeding season (early spring), often be found
on land. Hence it is as important to
have areas where they can take refuge from predators, forage for food and hibernate. Areas with fallen leaves, logs, rocks, stones and compost are all excellent for frogs.
You don’t need to build a big pond – an old sink dug into the ground will work as well. The most important thing is
to allow the pond to fill naturally with rainwater. Other factors to bear in mind is that for frogs to breed they need warmer water, so make sure that the pond receives plenty of sunlight and that there are sloping edges to allow frogs
to access and exit the pond. A vital food source for frogs are invertebrates, and native plants around the edges of the pond will attract these. If you attract newts and toads then plants will provide important spawn and egg laying matter for them.
Frogs are relatively easy to identify; unlike toads that have a warty dry surface whereas frogs are smooth. Instead of crawling like toads, they hop, and they have a pointed face as opposed to a stubby one. They lay their spawn in clumps whereas toads string their spawn over plants. You can find out more about how to identify frogs at https://www.froglife.org/info-advice/ amphibians-and-reptiles/common- frog-2/
Frogs are relatively easy to identify; unlike toads that have a warty dry surface whereas frogs are smooth
One of the largest threats to the UK’s amphibians is the loss of habitat, particularly in the countryside. This means that frogs, toads and newts have become dependent on urban environments, and building a pond and enhancing the surrounding habitat helps enormously. Have a look at our Just Add Water booklet www.froglife. org/info-advice/our-publications/; it has loads of information on how to add water to your plot.
Frogs are definitely gardeners’ friends. They are a natural pesticide eating huge quantities of invertebrates, including those pesky one’s that eat plotholders’ vegetables and fruit.
Kathy Wormald, CEO, The Froglife Trust
38 Allotment and Leisure Gardener