Tom Long's Meadow and the Frogs

by Peter Gamble

I write this during a period of cold weather with snow and ice, spring seems a long way off but before the next issue of The Quorndon leaves the press, the first Celandines should be brightening many a mist meadow or streamside bank with their golden flowers, and Common Frogs should be gathering at favourite spawning sites such as Tom Long's Meadow.

During recent years hundreds of frogs have gathered here to mate and spawn around the middle of March and after mild, wet nights when they move to spawning sites large numbers can be found squashed and dead on roads within a wide radius of such places.

Unfortunately for the frogs, several things have happened that have put this large population at risk: the housing development on the eastern side of the meadow has adversely affected a feeding and foraging ground, and because meadows tend to revert to woodland in the absence of grazing, no longer possible here, the north section of the meadow where the frogs normally spawn is, year by year, becoming less suitable as seedling trees and vigorous plants such as sedges and willowherbs reduce the open wet areas which the frogs rely on for spawning.

In addition such water vegetation tends to dry out the meadow and the reduced area of water leaves the frogs and spawn more vulnerable to predators such as Herons and Carrion Crows. Frog populations suffered greatly during recent decades in areas of intensive agriculture where the filling in of many old ponds and the use of pesticides have made large areas of our countryside "no go" areas for amphibians.

For this reason garden ponds have and added importance as far as the survival of frogs and many other aquatic species such as toads, newts, dragonflies and damsel flies are concerned and can play a very important role in the field of wildlife conservation. Yes, your garden pools can be really important to the survival of many wild creatures!

Recent weeks have produced some interesting birds around Quorn. Huge flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding on the abundance of wild fruit along our hedgerows; flocks of Bramblings, a northern finch, feeding on the mast under Beech trees on Beacon Hill, two Bewick's swans, wild swans for the high Arctic, at Swithland Reservoir and at Quorn Lodge Borrow Pit; flocks of Whitefronted Geese on the Soar meadows at Mountsorrel and at Quorn Borrow Pit; attractive Smew and Pintail at Swithland Reservoir and, during the last few days, flocks of handsome, unmistakable Waxwings, visitors from the north, feeding on berries and fruit in Loughborough gardens.

Within a few weeks the first summer migrants should arrive; some Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs are usually here before the end of March, soon to be followed by hosts of others as spring gets underway. When visiting Tom Long's Meadow take a look at the southern section of the meadow where the Marsh Marigolds will be beginning their fine display with a scattering of Lady's Smock, followed in May by patches of Ragged Robin. Truly a time to look forward to!