Valley leads the way in helping out amphibians [Edition 4]

THE Amman Valley has led the way in helping toads inCarmarthenshire after residents were asked to look out for moreplaces where the mating amphibian has been crossing the road.

Last month the county council set up signs at two toad-crossingpoints, at Pantyffynnon. Now they are asking residents to reportother hot-spots in the county which can be added to the nationwideToads on Roads project. "Where we get this toad versus trafficscenario the toads inevitably come off worse," said biodiversityofficer Isabel Macho. "This means their amorous ambitions to find amate can be dashed. "We would like people to keep an eye out for anyplaces where large numbers of toads are crossing roads so that wecan apply to register the sites and help them cross safely."

The Toads on Roads project is run by national wildlife charityFroglife. It has been going for 20 years and has registered around750 crossings in the UK so far.

As well as the stretches of road where signs were put up inPantyffynnon and Bury Port, Froglife said dedicated volunteers areoften on hand with buckets to help the toads cross. Each crossingregistered with the charity is also put on the internet mappingprogram Google Earth.

Toad numbers have declined in many parts of UK. Road-kill and thereduction in the number of ponds are thought to be the amphibian'sbiggest threat.