Spring may not officially begin until Sunday 20 March, but for staff at wildlife charity Northumberland Wildlife Trust, it starts when the hundreds of frogs return to the pond at its St Nicholas Park reserve in Gosforth, and, given they have been returning all week, as far as they are now concerned, spring has already sprung.

The charismatic amphibians have returned slightly later this year, most likely due to the chilly weather.  In 2017, they returned mid-February and in 2019, they reappeared at the end of February. As with previous years, they are just as popular with local residents who visit the pond to see and hear them as they begin their courtship and mating rituals.

However, it is also at this time of year that the Trust issues it annual plea for the public to help prevent a conservation catastrophe occurring.

The return of the better weather inspires gardeners to start tidying up their ponds after the winter months with many of them moving unwanted frogs and frog spawn from their own ponds into other ponds in the area. They may think they are doing a good turn moving them around but this can lead to severe contamination and pose a threat to the resident frogs, toads and newts.

Frogs in particular are at risk from two deadly diseases; the first one chytrid fungus clogs their pores and, as they breathe through their skin, causes them to choke.  This fungus has already been responsible for amphibian extinction in various parts of the world.

The second disease, which is commonly referred to as ‘red legs’ causes the skin to drop off frogs’ legs subjecting them to a very slow and painful death.   This condition is incurable and is on the increase in various parts of the UK.

Alice McCourt, Conservation Officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust says: “Frogs are great to watch, but people need to remember they are wild creatures and should be left in their native environment as moving them causes distress. Likewise, when it comes to excessive frog spawn in ponds, our message is clear - leave it where it is and let nature sort it out.”

At the last count, frogs are still to be found regularly in almost 40% of gardens, and toads in 20%, although they face a number of pressures including countryside and agricultural intensification such as the drying of wetlands, pond removal and reduction of grasslands - all of which affect hibernation and remove vital cover for their survival.