Spring heralds the arrival of new life and one arrival to expect soon is that of frogspawn. When spawn arrives exactly can vary by 2-3 weeks according to outside temperatures, but if we have some milder weather this month then the croaking of the male frogs, as they try to lure in the females, may be heard from our ponds.

Females lay thousands of eggs, as the odds of survival are slim. Spawn is vulnerable to colder weather and when the tadpoles hatch (around three weeks later) they are easy prey for other pond inhabitants such as dragonfly larvae and newts. The tadpoles initially feed on the jelly that they hatched from, before moving onto a meat diet when their legs develop.

Help survival rates
If you are lucky enough to have spawn in your garden pond or find some out and about then there are some things you can do to help survival rates. Do not move the spawn as this can have two negative impacts. Firstly, it can spread amphibian diseases between ponds, which can wipe out whole populations. Secondly, it runs the risk of spreading invasive plants from pond to pond.

To help both the tadpoles and frogs you can also provide vegetation both around the edge of your pond as well as in the pond, as both frogs and tadpoles need somewhere to take cover. If your pond has shallow edges that is a plus, as it means the frogs and toads can get in and out easily. If it doesn’t, just provide a ramp – a plank of wood works well.

If you don’t have a wildlife pond but would like to create one then now is a good time to do it. Do not be put off if you have a small garden as you are just as likely to attract wildlife as long as you provide the right habitat. A large plastic container dug into the ground does a great job in a limited space. Choose a spot that has some sun and some shade during the day. Place some stones in the bottom to create variations in the depth and fill with rainwater. Tap water contains chemicals so if you must use it then leave it for at least a week before adding plants.

Provide access into and out of the pond
Plants, both in the water and around it, are required to provide cover and to add oxygen to the water. You can find suitable plants at a garden centre. You may be tempted to add fish to your pond but if it’s wildlife you are after then they are best avoided. Finally, remember to provide access into and out of the pond.

Now be patient and wait for the new inhabitants to arrive. The common frog (our main species of frog) is unfortunately no longer common as it has suffered a population decline due to habitat loss. Our garden ponds can really make a difference to not only the common frog, but a huge range of other wildlife. So why not add a pond to your garden this spring and, once the hard work is done, you can sit back and enjoy the wide range of wildlife it will attract.