Amphibians in the garden
Frogs, toads and newts have suffered a decline in numbers over the last fifty years. Largely due to a loss of habitat through drainage improvement on farmland or through pollution caused by use of inorganic fertilisers to boost agricultural production.
Much of the habitat loss of the last fifty years no longer takes place as landowners take advantage of grant schemes to maintain habitat areas and there is a move more generally to farm diversification and de-intensification.
Garden habitats have become a last refuge for amphibians and it is important that these are safeguarded, allowing populations to recolonise the rural areas where farming practices have improved.