The common frog (Rana temporaria) is most common in gardens and is the focus of this page. It has a moist skin which is much smoother than that of a toad (which is warty). Frogs generally hop whereas toads walk. It measures up to 13cm and is usually greenish-yellow to brown with dark blotches.

Many ponds have been filled in due to excessive fears about safety in the garden and in public spaces such as parks. Wetlands have been drained to build on or to create farmland. Drainage ditches around fields are polluted by agricultural chemicals. Exotic American bullfrogs have been introduced by humans to these Isles and compete for habitat.

Install a garden pond and make frog shelters using bricks, upturned plant pots with an hole for an entrance, log piles or leave areas of long grass and shrubbery. Buy organic products to support farmers who choose not to use harmful chemicals and be willing to pay slightly more and expect slightly less from size consistency and color.

Frogs are a gardener's friend, eating slugs, snails and insects.

Females lay hundreds of eggs (frog spawn) in still water in early spring. The male fertilises these externally. 2-3 weeks later the tadpoles hatch and begin an amazing transformation into frogs. Within 4 weeks they lose their gills and after 6 weeks legs begin to grow. They eventually climb out as tiny frogs which grow for a further 2 years.

Frogs require moist places away from domestic cat paws and wild predators. Long undergrowth and crevices in rockeries and log gardens are ideal.

Frogs hibernate in winter. Males hibernate in the mud at the bottom of ponds and females hibernate on land in leaves or under rocks and logs.

Tadpoles are preyed upon by other aquatic life such as great diving beetles and dragonfly larvae as well as being plucked out of the water by magpies. Frogs are also eaten by magpies and domestic cats sometimes maul them.

Common and widespread but not so common as they once were.

Some tadpoles never leave the pond - they continue to grow into larger tadpoles! This is called 'neoteny'. Frogs can breathe through their skin - very useful if you hibernate under water!

The best place to see a frog is in early spring as they make their way to ponds to breed. Sitting quietly beside a pond in summer you would normally see them poke their eyes and nose above the water surface and they often stay there, perfectly still to avoid attracting predators, for a long time. It can be quite a noisy affair as scores of males jostle to pair up with females. They can also be attracted by creating shelters from bricks and installing a removable roof for viewing. Near water would be an ideal setting.