Soberton Heath Pond, a few miles north of Fareham, Hampshire, is in a state of crisis. It is under attack from alien species of pond weed, it is overpopulated by fish and the toad population has collapsed.
Where have all our toads gone?
The group surveyed 4 ponds on Sat. 10th March 2007 to see if alternative spawning locations were being used by the toads that no longer visit Soberton Heath Pond in their thousands as they used to do 10 years ago. Sadly no evidence was found for a shift of preference. If you are a resident of either village and have had toads breeding in your pond in 2008, please contact Richard Osmond.
The group surveyed 4 ponds on Sat. 10th March 2007 to see if alternative spawning locations were being used by the toads that no longer visit Soberton Heath Pond in their thousands as they used to do 10 years ago. Sadly no evidence was found for a shift of preference. If you are a resident of either village and have had toads breeding in your pond in 2008, please contact Richard Osmond.
This is how good the pond can look!
It is a picture from June 1999 after the first big clearance of
parrot-feather weed.
It is a picture from June 1999 after the first big clearance of
parrot-
The villages of Soberton and Newtown are among Winchester City Council’s southern parishes. Important conservation sites within the villages include the chalk grassland of Soberton Down, and Soberton Heath Pond, both of which receive regular management visits from the group. Besides the physical side of conservation, the group also sets up informative walks within the parish to show off the wealth of wildlife that lives there.
Photos from the
weed clearance work
October 2008
weed clearance work
October 2008