Charlcombe has one of the country’s major toad migration routes. Every year toads, frogs and newts migrate down the hillside from the surrounding fields to their breeding grounds at a nearby lake. They have to cross Charlcombe Lane and because they travel slowly and there are few openings onto the fields, in the past there was considerable carnage with many of the amphibians being killed by passing traffic.
The annual closure of Charlcombe Lane to through traffic for the 2023 amphibian migration is now over.
The Toad Rescue Group report that toad numbers have declined from those recorded in the first ten years of the road closure, but the numbers have stayed reasonably steady over the past few years and our volunteers continue to work hard to ensure the Charlcombe toad population survives.
Toads – 840 live, 21 dead (casualty rate 2.5%)
Frogs – 1022 live, 41 dead (casualty rate 4%)
Newts – 556 live, 15 dead (casualty rate 2.7%)
Total amphibians – 2418, 77 dead (overall casualty rate 3.2%)
Toad Rescue – Charlcombe, Bath is a volunteer group helping toads, frogs and newts cross the road to reach their breeding grounds. To find out more about volunteering or information on their conservation measures, please email Charlcombetoadpatrol@gmail.com.
