Toads risk their lives crossing a Somerset road to mate. This year, a patrol rescued thousands
Nearly 4,000 toads, frogs and newts have been rescued as they tried to cross one of only five roads closed for the migration season in the UK each year to reach a breeding lake on the other side.
The patrol of Charlcombe Lane, near Bath, has recorded more than 50,000 toads, frogs and newts in the last 22 years on a half-mile stretch.
This year saw the second highest number of amphibians recorded since the annual road closure started in 2003, and had a significant first, with a great crested newt seen for the first time in the patrol's history.
It is a precarious time for British wildlife as leaders of nature organisations warn that the government's new planning bill 'throws environmental protection to the wind'. The bill includes measures such as removing guidance on conducting bat surveys before building a structure, for example. In December, the housing secretary, Angela Rayner, warned that newts should not be more protected than people who need homes.
Two of the three best years for the Charlcombe Lane patrol were this year and 2024, with the busiest ever year for the patrol back in 2010.
This year was the best for frogs and palmate newts, with 1,424 and 1,194 recorded respectively since the patrol began. With 1,376 toads helped across the road, 2025 was the best year for toads since 2010.
Charlcombe Lane is closed annually for six weeks in February and March as volunteers patrol every night from dusk to help toads, frogs and newts on their journey to their breeding lake. This toad patrol is one of more than 200 across the country that take part in the national Toads on Roads project run by the amphibian and reptile conservation charity, Froglife.
Across the six weeks, more than 50 volunteers on the Charlcombe Toad Rescue group spent more than 648 hours in high visibility jackets, armed with torches, buckets and special gloves, walking slowly up and down the road.
Toads, frogs and newts are carefully picked up and taken safely in buckets to five drop off points to help them on their journey towards the lake.
Chris Melbourne, who manages the collection of data for Charlcombe Toad Rescue, said: 'This has been a gamechanger for our local amphibian population, with the casualty rate dropping from 62% before the patrol started to 3% this year, bucking national trends and giving the frogs, toads and newts a fighting chance of flourishing.
'Throughout the 2025 season there were long stretches of cold and dry weather. This was followed by wet and warm conditions that were ideal for amphibians to be on the move. In one night on 23 February volunteers helped 1,119 toads, frogs and newts cross the road.'
Back in 2016, Froglife used data collected by toad patrols to explore what had been happening to the population of common toads across the UK. The research demonstrated that the populations had declined on average across the UK by 68% in just 30 years.
The biggest challenges facing amphibians include habitat fragmentation due to roads, changes in farming practices and development, and the loss of habitats, such as ponds and the impact of pollution. The climate crisis is also adversely affecting amphibians, with milder winters leading to them waking up from their hibernation more frequently.
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Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Why the Sycamore Gap tree provoked such strong emotional reactions
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Meanwhile, the tree lives on thanks to an AI-generated alternate world in the film 28 Years Later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a psychologist, I'm interested in what inspired such a strong reaction to the destruction of a single tree. One psychological explanation, known as 'terror management theory', suggests that the emotional response reflects deeper anxieties about death – and not just about this tree. The sycamore tree was one of the UK's most photographed and appeared in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images Belief systems Terror management theory, developed by psychologists Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, builds on the work of cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning The Denial of Death (1973). This book's central idea is simple yet profound. 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Scottish Sun
18 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I tested best fish and chips in capital of British national dish – winner was succulent and flaky and only cost £10.50
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Britain's £65 Fish & Chips So Big NO ONE Can Finish It Alone But the title of Britain's first fish and chip shop is hotly debated. A southerner may tell you the first one was opened in Bow, East London, by a Jewish immigrant called Joseph Malin in about 1860, while a northerner might claim it was John Lees, who opened a market stall in Mossley, Lancs, around 1863. Wherever that marriage of fried fish and fried chips was first made, it wasn't long before there was a shop on just about every corner. The dish even escaped rationing during World War Two. 'Prices are rocketing' 'It just worked so well, and it's great nutrition,' says Andrew Crook, President of the National Federation of Fish Friers. The numbers don't lie either. According to UK Fisheries, UK fans scoff around 382million meals from chippies every year and spend £1.2billion on fish and chips annually. 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Although there are still more than 10,500 shops left in the country, they now find themselves under pressure just like other small businesses. 15 Fish and chips shops are under pressure from many different market factors in 2025 Credit: Richard Walker 'Fish prices are rocketing, while staff wages and national insurance contributions have increased,' says Raymond Fusco, a third-generation fish fryer and the owner of Winking Willy's, a fish and chip shop right on the harbourside in Scarborough. He adds: 'Gas price increases were massive too, because of the Ukraine war. All that has to be taken into account.' Reduced cod fishing quotas in recent years have also driven costs upwards. But despite these challenges, Raymond still feels confident about the future. He says: 'The good shops will continue to thrive. You can't imagine a Britain without fish and chips.' Andrew, meanwhile, wants the Government to recognise the problems smaller shops face. 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Winking Willies: £10.50 15 Family-run Winking Willies stood out with terrific taste to score a 9/10 rating Credit: Richard Walker THE batter at this family-run shop certainly delivered a great crunch. The chips also had a good amount of softness on the inside without sacrificing the bite on the outside – no doubt thanks to the fact it is cooked in beef tallow. But it was the fish itself that really stood out, with a succulent flavour and great degree of flakiness. SCORE: 9/10 Harbourside: £11.20 15 Harbourside charged a high price, and thankfully the taste was worth it Credit: Richard Walker Like Willy's, this takeaway on the far end of the seafront also keeps things traditional by frying everything in beef dripping. Taste wise, it's worth it, and the chips had a great colour. I was also impressed by the size of the fish – though at £11.20 I wouldn't expect anything less. The fish was slightly greasy, but the batter was crisp. SCORE: 7/10 The Anchor: £11.30 15 The Anchor has featured on television and the portion sizes were impressive Credit: Richard Walker WITH it featuring on TV's The One Show, I went into The Anchor with high expectations – and it almost met them. The portion size was good, and there was clean separation when I broke away the fish, indicating good batter. But I found the chips to be somewhat undercooked with too much fluff – though having beers on draught almost made up for it. SCORE: 6/10 Bamford's: £10.60 15 Bamfords had a unique taste, leaving the fish skin on - which won't be for everyone Credit: Richard Walker THIS small shop on the front had one of the best coloured chips on offer. The fish also delivered on taste. In its favour, for me, was the fact that the skin was still left on. Though I can appreciate not everyone is a fan of this, I think it adds a nice variety to the flavour, especially when you're tucking into it by the sea. SCORE: 7/10 Tunny Club: £8.95 15 The Tunny Club had another unusual approach, serving a fish and chip wrap Credit: Richard Walker I WAS impressed by this award-winning takeaway's unique twist on the classic dish – a fish and chip wrap, featuring battered haddock, chips, and tartar sauce all bundled together. It came in at a very reasonable price, and I was pleasantly surprised by the innovation, which made a pleasant change from your usual takeaway tray. SCORE: 8/10 Fish Pan: £9.85 15 Old-school seafront restaurant The Fish Pan drew a mixed response from Tom Credit: Richard Walker Established in 1960, this old-school seafront take- away unfortunately left me disappointed. I enjoyed the chips, and the batter looked and tasted good, too. However, the fish itself was far too greasy for me to enjoy, and was too tough as well, lacking the flakiness I had been told by the experts to be on the lookout for. SCORE: 5/10 Papa's: £10.18 15 Boasting to be Britain's Best Fish and Chips, Papa's did not quite live up to the claim Credit: Richard Walker SITTING in a prime position on the seafront, a giant sign announces this as Britain's Best Fish and Chips. Unfortunately, it wasn't on the day I visited. Although the chips were decent, the fish was oily and not as good as many of the others nearby. But at £10.18 for a regular meal, it was one of the better value shops along the front. SCORE: 5/10 Carol's Plaice: £9 15 Carol's Plaice is hidden away from the seafront and was once visited by a top soap star Credit: Richard Walker A FEW streets away from the beach in a more residential area, this small family-owned shop is not chasing the tourist crowd – but it offered plenty of bang for my buck. The chips were generously portioned and the batter was a standout. It's no wonder that Gary from Coronation Street – actor Mikey North – once paid a visit. SCORE: 8/10 Rennards: £9.15 15 The fish outperformed the chips at town centre restaurant Rennards Credit: Richard Walker THE offering from this town centre chippy was a decent size for the price, and the fish itself was tasty. The batter wasn't too bad either, though it could have done with crisping up a little bit more. Unfortunately, the chips were the let-down here, as they were pale, undercooked and overall of poor quality. SCORE: 5/10 Wackers: £10 15 There were no complaints with taste at Wackers, despite the very untraditional looking store Credit: Richard Walker THE understated plain brick frontage of this takeaway just off the main shopping street didn't fill me with buckets of hope. But at a tenner a portion, I couldn't complain. The batter had a good golden colour to it, and the chips tasted great with a lovely crispness on the outside. Top whack! SCORE: 8/10 North Bay Fisheries: £12.50 15 There was a queue for North Bay Fisheries despite the price, and the taste showed why Credit: Richard Walker THE large queue snaking out of the door proved why this establishment, situated on the opposite side of town, is one of the highest-rated chippies in Scarborough. The batter and chips all scored top marks, and the fish was tasty too with a more meaty texture. By far the most expensive takeaway I visited but the portion size was very generous. SCORE: 9/10 Catch 55: £10 15 Catch 55 delivered on taste, and could have scored higher with a bigger portion Credit: Richard Walker JUST one road back from the seafront, this smart establishment offered a regular meal for a reasonable tenner. The batter was some of the best I'd had, and the fish was also tasty. But although the chips were great, they were let down by the fact that there were not as many in my box as other shops had served me. SCORE: 7/10
STV News
a day ago
- STV News
British brother and sister who drowned off beach in Spain named
A British brother and sister who both drowned off a beach in Spain have been named in reports, with more than £24,000 donated to a fundraising page set up in their honour. Ameiya and Ricardo Junior Del-Brocco, aged 13 and 11 respectively, died after getting into difficulty in the sea during a family holiday in Salou, near Tarragona, on Tuesday evening. Their father, Ricardo, had also entered the water but was rescued alive by emergency services and taken to hospital after being pulled from the water unconscious, according to local media reports. A GoFundMe page was set up on Thursday by a friend of the family, Holly Marquis-Johnson, and a relative, Macalia Del-Brocco, to help cover the cost of bringing the children's bodies home to the UK and 'ease the financial burden' of the family – and has so far raised around £25,000. Ms Marquis-Johnson paid tribute to 'Maya and Jubs', the children's nicknames, writing: 'Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. 'Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling. 'They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them. 'Their absence has left an unbearable silence not just for their parents, but for their whole family, who were incredibly close and shared an unbreakable bond.' She said the siblings' mother and father were 'absolutely heartbroken'. Ms Marquis-Johnson wrote: 'Their mum and dad, Shanice and Ricardo, are absolutely heartbroken. 'But they're not grieving alone. Their siblings, cousins, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and close friends are all devastated by this loss. 'Maya and Jubs were surrounded by a family who adored them, and who are now left trying to make sense of life without them. 'This fundraiser has been created to help ease some of the financial burden the family is now facing, covering the costs of bringing Maya and Jubs home to the UK, giving them the dignified farewell they deserve, and supporting their parents and loved ones during this incredibly painful time.' Emergency services were called to Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona, shortly after 8.45pm local time on Tuesday evening, Catalonia's Civil Protection agency said. Local police, medical and fire services all attended the incident, while a team of psychologists were also at the scene to assist the victims' family. At a news conference on Wednesday, Jose Luis Gargallo, the head of the local police force in Salou, told reporters: 'There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. 'There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality. 'When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. 'Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful. 'The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
