The remarkable number of toads being helped across Britain’s roads – and why
Dedicated volunteers have guided more than two million frogs safely along Britain’s roads during their annual spring migration over the past 50 years, a wildlife charity has revealed.
As “frog patrols” prepare to help common frogs navigate routes to breeding pools, Froglife has highlighted the vital importance of their work for a species in widespread decline.
Data collected by Froglife volunteers and published last year showed a significant 41 per cent decline in common frog populations over 40 years, although some regional improvements have been noted since 2013.
The charity reported a record year in 2025, when 280 volunteer groups moved 156,227 frogs and submitted their data.
In total, more than two million frogs have been helped on Britain’s roads since Froglife started collecting records in 1974.
Volunteers patrolling paths between frog overwintering woodlands and breeding ponds can not only save individual animals, but also help stop the extinction of some local populations and collect valuable data on how species are doing, the charity said.
On patrols, volunteers go out with torches and buckets on rainy nights at the beginning of the year, walking slowly up and down the roads and carrying frogs, toads and newts to safety so they can continue their journey.
In fact, in some regions, roads are closed due to frog migration season.
Froglife said volunteers gained wellbeing benefits from being outdoors, making friends and meeting like-minded people, and took pride in making a difference to wildlife.
Meanwhile, the charity said citizen science data from patrols was “vital” to help protect common frogs in the UK.
It has been used for a variety of purposes, from protecting breeding ponds in the planning system to informing research into climate impacts and making it available to anyone interested in local wildlife.
Analysis of the data also highlighted counties with no active frog patrols despite recorded frog crossings.
Froglife said the counties with the highest number of active patrols were in Scotland, the Midlands and the north-east of England.
Ashlea Mawby, Froglife’s frogs on the road co-ordinator, said: “We would urge anyone living in these parts of the country to please consider setting up a patrol in an inactive area.”
And he said: “No matter where you live, there are opportunities to get involved in the project, whether by joining the local frog patrol, recording a frog crossing you know, or starting a patrol in an inactive area.
“Just one evening frog patrol can save hundreds of frogs, as well as other amphibians, during migration.
“It’s one of the most direct ways to help your local wildlife.”
But Froglife also warned that frog populations continue to suffer from habitat loss and pollution.
The charity said the Planning and Infrastructure Act passed last year weakened wildlife protection.
It also calls for the introduction of the Water Reform Bill, which is planned to tackle freshwater pollution from agriculture and sewage that harms amphibians.
Froglife, along with other conservation charities, is calling for the Bill to deliver a range of measures including strong environmental regulation, strengthening water quality regulations, enforcing polluter pays rules and making room for water, including wide habitat corridors along rivers.
