Amphibian and Reptile Conservation coordinate the national monitoring scheme for natterjack toads across the UK. Natterjack toads are one of Britain’s most rare species of amphibians and they are only found at around 60 sites across the country.  

Cumbria is one of England’s strongholds for natterjack toads and we are currently looking for volunteer recorders to take part in natterjack toad surveys at a number of locations across the Cumbrian coast.  Locations include but are not limited to the east of the Duddon Estuary between Walney Island and Foxfield Station, the Millom area, Drigg, Mawbray and Silloth. 

Natterjack recorders are the eyes and ears of the monitoring scheme; you will be friendly, engaging and enthusiastic. You should be willing to work alone in the field and have some computer skills allowing data input electronically at home.  Skills in amphibian identification are desirable but not essential, as training will be given. 

There are opportunities for both structured surveys with site visits carried out every 7-10 days and casual surveyors. The time commitment is flexible but individuals willing to dedicate a day a week to surveys between April and August are preferred.  Volunteers must be local to the sites listed above and willing to start lone working surveys in April 2020 Covid-19 restrictions allowing. 

To find out more about natterjack toads take a look at our free bitesize online course "Species Focus: the natterjack toad". For information on how to get involved, please contact Yvette Martin at [email protected]. 

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Banner image by ARC volunteer natterjack recorder Paul Stevens