Friday 30 November 2012

Grand Designs for our Natterjack Scrapes

Natterjack Toads need clear open pools in which to breed.  Over the years vegetation and silt have built up in our artifical breeding pools making them less suitable.

We employed a contractor to remove the vegetation and silt from the pools and to relay the inlet pipes.

The pools were relined with fresh sand from the beach
The sides were re-profiled for a gentle gradient which the toads prefer.  The water is warmer in the shallows.

The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through a project run by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

All works have been agreed with Natural England and measures were in place to minimise disturbance to wildlife.

Scrape 39 nearly finished with just the new fencing and boardwalks to go

New inlet pipes will help to fill the pools with water come April time for the start of the breeding season
Our stream complete with overgrown vegetation and collapsed bank
Excavation of the bank and removal of plants
An army of volunteers and staff laying in new recycled plastic revetments
The story so far, lets hope they stand up to the winter weather!