Frogs in London? How?

Mrs_Miggins · April 2023

I was wondering if it was possible to make a small pond and attract (or more likely buy) frogs (or toads) in a narrow but long London garden?

I can make frog highways to my two neighbours (who will welcome them). Next doors garden is very wild, mine has plenty of hiding places. But we have foxes and lots of cats around here. I have a small elderly dog who's unlikely to be a problem.

I would be thrilled to have a small army of slug hunters. No hedgehogs in this part of London. Suggestions?

AnniD · April 2023

I think that if you start a with a small pond, any frogs or toads will find it. In my experience they can find water in the most unlikely of places, plant trays, puddles, even in damp compost in pots.

I would strongly advise against buying any wild creature, and importing frog or toadspawn into a garden is not recommended. Much better to let nature take its course.

Have a look at articles by a lady called Kate Bradbury. She has built a beautiful wildlife friendly garden in a suburban setting with a very similar layout to yours

philippasmith2 · April 2023

Don't rely on frogs or hedgehogs to solve your slug problem.Whilst they will form part of their diet, you may not notice that much difference - particularly in the short term.
I'm not aware of any reputable source/supplier of frogs/toads and moving spawn from one place to another can also hold the chance of spreading any disease.
Do you have a local wildlife society or similar which could perhaps offer some advice ? Contacting them would probably be the best start.

BenCotto · April 2023

Frogs have a very good PR agency. Look online and you’ll find no end of articles saying the sticky-tongued blighters almost hoover up slugs. But those who speak from the experience of having a frog where none was before often say there is no discernible difference in the slug population.

Fairygirl · April 2023

Yes - it's a common myth about frogs, and also hedgehogs, re their slug eating appetites.
I think we were mentioning a few days ago on another thread.

Make a pond, and enjoy what appears. It may not be what you'd like or expect, but it'll be a source of immense pleasure, and all sorts of creatures will use it once they find it - and they will

Mrs_Miggins · April 2023

I thought i read toads were a better bet for this, anyway what made me think of it was another post elsewhere with a lady talking about her slug population shrinking rapidly.

As far as them 'just coming' i wish. Im in zone 2 and have never seen or heard of a garden with frogs. They would have to travel a long way!

AnniD · April 2023

I think that if you're serious about attracting wildlife of whatever species, you just have to try

Unfortunately we can't dictate which creatures visit our gardens, whether they be slugs, foxes or hedgehogs .
I had to look up where zone 2 is in London, l believe it's the Notting Hill, Shoreditch and Regents Park area ?

You could try contacting the London Wildlife Trust for more local advice.

https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/

Obviously frogs are around in other areas of the capital, some interesting ideas here for attracting them.

http://highburywildlifegarden.org.uk/the-garden/north-london-wildlife/frogs/

The comments that others have made about slugs not necessarily disappearing when frogs or toads are around may well be right. I have hedgehogs in my garden, and trail cameras, and the only thing l can remember seeing them eating was worms.
Of course they may be stuffing themselves with slugs off camera, but judging by the amount of slugs l come across, l doubt it 🦔.

Rob Lockwood · April 2023

Sure others have or will mention, but neither (common) frogs or toads are aquatic creatures - as far as I've read toads spend hardly any time in water. The interesting bit for Zone 2 London or any urban area is that toads travel MILES to/from their breeding ponds - 2 appeared here (suburbs of Nottingham) last year seemingly from nowhere. We have a pond, which may be of interest to them but I've rarely seen them in it. Most important bit for attracting amphibians (after putting a pond in) is lots of hiding places, which means leaving bits of the garden untidy - log piles, old half-pots, the odd mini "pond" (eg pot filled with water in a damp (shady) place, with some cover over it).

Re frog highway - our garden's now surrounded pretty much by those horrible (for wildlife) concrete-posted fences, but still they come...

Hope they arrive @Mrs_Miggins! Once they do, you'll never be rid of them

Mrs_Miggins · April 2023

Thanks for the links Annie, ill have a look. Highbury is not miles away but im north west (queens Park) and i kniw theres hedgehogs etc in north london but theyve not made it this far. Not safe for them to cross the main roads!

LG_ · April 2023

Make the pond and you'll be amazed what arrives. Frogs need shelter near ponds too. I'm just into Zone 4 but if there are gardens / green areas around then wildlife will use them. I was hoping for frogs but have only ever had one, and no frog spawn. However, lots of newts (which I think eat frog spawn), dragon and damsel flies etc. My neighbours had lots of frogs but they filled their pond in 😥. Another gardener I know, in Zone 3, has an enormous number of toads.

Mrs_Miggins · April 2023

Well Rob i was definitely going to build a small pond but you can rest assured my garden is not tidy and there are plenty of hiding place/cool places/places where bits of water collect!

I was wondering about toads as they are less tasty to foxes i think. As for territories theres quite a few semi neglected backs of gardens here and lots of ways for them to get between them. Terraced houses though so they will probably be stuck in this small, dead end street which will at least keep them safe!

Oh and Anni, Highbury have lost all theirs! Such a shame.

Frogs in London? How?

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