大象传媒

From the end of February to the end of March, thousands of toads head to their breeding grounds in ponds and pools across the countryside. But many of them don't make it.

Toad crossing sign in Queens Head

Shropshire Wildlife Trust's Pete Lambert says: "Hundreds of thousands of toads get squished by passing vehicles."

To cut the number of deaths, the Trust has got together with Shropshire County Council and the national wildlife charity Froglife, and put up toad crossing signs.

Pete Lambert says: "Most drivers pay attention to them... but the greatest risk to toads is the loss of ponds and pools. They get filled in and polluted."

Froglife's Toads on Roads campaign has been running for more than 20 years. During that time they have registered 700 amphibian crossing points around the UK. Signs have been installed on Underton Lane, near Bridgnorth and near Wrekin Pond, between Cluddley and Little Wenlock.

The number of ponds in the UK countryside have dropped sharply in the last century, according to Froglife. Its Just Add Water campaign hopes to help lessen the impact to Britain's biodiversity by encouraging people to dig ponds in their gardens.

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