FAQs about frogs and toads: encouraging

Frogs can sometimes be found in greenhouses or under sheds (Liz Evans-Jones)

WILDLIFE INFORMATION SERVICE

Frequently Asked Questions about... frogs and toads:

How can I encourage frogs / toads into my garden?

Amphibians require ponds to breed, so adding a pond to your garden is the best way to encourage them. Consider size, shape and location of your pond before starting work (see our Just Add Water section) and do not add fish as they will feed on spawn.

If you do not have a pond (or space to create one), your garden can still benefit amphibians and they may make use of it if there are water bodies near by. Amphibians spend the majority of their life on land and prefer a variety of habitats in which to forage, shelter and overwinter (hibernate). They will make use of log and stone piles, long grass, compost heaps and even nooks and crannies under your shed, decking or greenhouse. Habitats that provide shelter, stay damp and provide a good source of insects and slugs to feed on are particularly beneficial. See our Dragons in your Garden section for more details.

Common toads usually migrate to ancestral breeding ponds in spring; they're associated with larger ponds (fish ponds, reservoirs and farmland ponds) but are known to breed in garden ponds. Toads lay their eggs in long chains which they wrap around submerged vegetation.

More information:

Dragons in your Garden. >>>

Identifying amphibians. >>>