Digging For Newts

We heard that the toads are currently heading for spawning at Straiton Pond, which put us in mind of a visit before our shopping nearby.

We wouldn't expect to see toads in daylight but there was plenty to interest us instead. Main photo taken on our way back, a large digger excavating the Newt Pond. Notices informed us that this will remove silt to deepen the water, that and removal of three trees to allow increase in daylight will benefit newts, frogs and damselflies.

In the foreground the silt is being piled upon the removed branches to create a 'hibernacula', a damp, dark cave-like system, where these organisms may live and hibernate. The main Straiton Pond is the other side of the path, at the top of the photo.

Extra 1 is the view as we arrived at the Newt Pond - water being pumped out, spade and wheelbarrow to remove selected plants (presumably for replanting afterwards) and saw to trim branches back. Part of the old hibernacula may be seen as an island on the right hand side.

As we walked to the end of the pond we noted several spring flowers, extra 2. Clockwise from top left:- Lesser celandine; butterbur; coltsfoot; cowslip in a patch near the entrance; scarlet cup fungus (Peziza coccinea); Primrose, thrum-eyed and a little the worse for slug action.

After coffee in Costa in the Next shop and our shopping we managed to arrive home just before the rain began.