The amphibian population of the United Kingdom is in critical decline and faces long term survival challenges of almost overwhelming proportions. The main reasons for this fall being pollution, disease and habitat deprivation. Numerous experts agree that unless something significant is done we could see the loss of these amazing animals in our life-time.

When i think myself back to my childhood days I recollect many a fine day as a boy with my friends at the local ponds or the brook, endless summer daytimes catching frogs and newts and sticklebacks (we always let them go!). It was a terrific childhood.

I travelled back to visit the region i grew up in a few years ago, and there is now a car park where those wonderful old ponds were. Obviously severely polluted the brook appeared dead with all visible life wiped out. These days in our over-developed urban regions such habitats are growing rarer and rarer.

The complete number of habitats lost to development has been catastrophic and never-ending. The development of many wetland sites has been checked when discovered to be home to natterjack toads or great-crested newts, our 2 rarest amphibians.