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"Like a bean bag with eyes", is how Brett Westwood once described a Natterjack toad ,but as he discovers in this programme the toad is much more than a figure of fun.

Unlike frogs, toads have long suffered from a bad press. Thomas Pennant, a Welsh naturalist described them as "The most deformed and hideous of all animals …. its general appearance is such as to strike one with disgust and horror" in 1776, and Shakespeare didn’t do much for their PR when he had the three witches toss the toads into the charmed pot in Macbeth.

And whilst its true that Toads have glands which contain toxic substances which deter predators, they have also been viewed as evil spirits and a widely held belief concerned the toadstone - a jewel that was supposed to be found inside the toad’s head, which could protect the wearer from foul play. Kenneth Grahame did his best to dispel many of these myths when he introduced his readers to the loveable rascal Mr Toad in Wind in the Willows, although this toad terrorised everyone with his wreckless driving! This is somewhat ironic given that thousands of toads are killed every year on our roads by cars as they return to their breeding ponds. But as Brett Westwood discovers, help is at hand – as huge number of volunteers venture out every year to gather up toads from the roads and release them in nearby pools and lakes, to breed once again. All this and an encounter with the bootle organ as Brett explore our relationship with the Toad.

Originally broadcast in a longer form 25th October 2016

Original Producer Sarah Blunt
Archive producer for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio in Bristol Andrew Dawes

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 Mar 2022 06:35

Peter Gahan

Peter Gahan is the Reserve Manager for Natural England’s where Natterjack toads can be found. These are rarer then Common Toads but they sing so loud the locals call them the Bootle Organ.

Phil Gates

Phil Gates
Since the early 1990s Phil Gates has developed expertise in Science Communication and Science Journalism. He has written science features for the Sunday Post; Northern Echo; the Guardian; the Independent on Sunday; Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gardeners’ World (monthly column 1992-2005); Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wildlife; Kew magazine; Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society (The Garden); She; Australian Geographical Magazine and New Scientist and he has been a regular columnist for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Gardeners’ World magazine and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wildlife.

He has written 17 science books for young people and has won or has been shortlisted for many literary awards. Phil has a strong interest in wildlife conservation and is a former chairman of and past President of the . He is on the editorial advisory board of magazine. His book Spring Fever, published in 1992, was an early prognosis for the impact of climate change on Britain’s flora and fauna that contains a number of predictions that have since been borne out by experience.

Find more from Phil at ,Μύ, andΒ .

Dr Silviu Petrovan

Dr Silviu Petrovan
Silviu hasΒ has worked as a herpetologist on research projects, primarily in Romania, Honduras and Indonesia. HeΒ joined in 2011 to take up the new post of Conservation Coordinator.Β 

His current research at Froglife focuses on long term trends in populations of amphibians, the impact of habitat creation and restoration, in particular ponds, on populations of amphibians as well as the impact of roads for European herpetofauna.

Since 2013 he has been co-supervising Catia Matos on a PhD investigating the effectiveness of road tunnels as mitigation for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). Silviu is also collaborating with Michael Hartup, a former Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ engineer, on using camera traps as automated systems for tunnel monitoring for herpetofauna.

Andy Ryder

Andy Ryder
Andy Ryder is Chair of the which seeks to promote reptile and amphibian conservation throughout the counties of Avon and North East Somerset. Andy organises the Toad patrols in the village of Bitton near Bristol.

Dr Roger Taylor

Roger holds graduate and post graduate degrees in geology at Queen Mary, University of London.Β He was a demonstrator in Geology, University of Keele and Principle Scientific Officer British Geological Survey.

He worked as a volunteer and then Geological Consultant at the Β (RAMM)Β on retirement. He also works on geological applications to archaeology, particularly pottery and stone tools.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 25 Oct 2016 11:00
  • Mon 31 Oct 2016 21:00
  • Sun 6 Mar 2022 06:35

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