At this time of year, Henley Toad Patrol mobilizes volunteers to start installing the temporary barrier that protects the amphibians from Henley Road during their annual migration. The group, founded in 1999, now has around 100 volunteers who collect the toads from the barrier on the Culden Faw Estate and help them to their pond target on the Henley Business School site and cut off the treacherous Marlow Road Crossing Point. The barrier is installed over a number of weekends and uses a lot of voluntary workers.
In the late 1980s, ACO Polymer Products LTD 100 m built permanent barriers on the property that is still present, and still did an excellent job. However, it quickly became much more 600 m, covering entirely from Eichenhain and a large part of the field next to Marlow, which is why the need for the temporary barrier is required. The Henley Toad Patrol (HTP) adds extensions to both sides every year; To the Benhams Lane in the direction of Henley and over large parts of the field (known as showground) in Marlow direction to save as many amphibians as possible.
In recent years, some organizers of the Toad Patrol Group have discussed the opportunity to extend the permanent barrier, and it has been determined that fewer temporary obstacles have to be erected every year. However, it was found that this requires great financial effort. In the summer of 2024 Professor John Sumpter decided to take measures and began to find a sponsor with the process. After he had granted permission to extend the permanent barrier for the entire Oaken Grove (with the exception of the showground) by Alex Dick, the manager of the Culden Faw Estate (who has always supported the HTP work)), took Professor John Contact with ACO technologies on PLC (formerly ACO Polymer Products LTD), which is located in Shefford, Bedfordshire. Within two weeks after sending a speculative email, Terry Wilkinson, her design and application engineer, who also has many years of interest in amphibians and tOads-on-roads The programs agreed to meet John and the volunteer colleagues Cathy Holwill on site. This visit meant that the ACO offer provided enough additional fences to extend the existing permanent barrier along the entire length of the Oakenhain – another 250 m – and free of charge. Professor John commented: “I am very pleased that the company was able to make such an extraordinarily generous gesture to say the least.”
In mid-December, a few weeks after the meeting, 250 fence boards were delivered to the Culden FAW Estate, where they are currently installed by HTP volunteers. Finally, the permanent barrier is extended to a distance of 350 m, which has to build a significantly shorter temporary barrier every year, which only covers the part of the location.
Terry Wilkinson, who visited the website again this weekend to see the progress that had been made; “As a family business, we are very interested in doing things that benefit the community. We are familiar with the website and have known about its importance for amphibians in the past 30 years. When we heard that we already had a barrier that was going so well, we were happy to be help again. We have many projects that work with ecology and even developed a mapping tool. Habitat is importantWith the Wokingham Council, which contributes to the national biological data, this is exactly on our street! “The company works a lot with the local community, also works on MINT projects, goes to schools and participates in developments between ecology and engineering – two areas that have so far disregarded something.
Angelina Jones, long -term member of the group and coordinator of the volunteers, said: “This is a long -term project. Toads always return to the pond in which they are born to mate, but do not live in water. You return to the forest country shortly after the production of your chain -like spawn. Unfortunately, the migration path is to cross the main street, and that cannot change. “Volunteers come from Henley, but also from Reading, Arbourfield and beyond. The barriers create a block for the toads and voluntary patrol from dusk in the area and at night, absorb the amphibians and grab them in buckets. Data is also collected. This will then be handed over to Professor John and again to Frog Life UK, who coordinates around 250 groups nationwide.
Allan Staley and Deborah Kelly, who have been volunteering for several years, explained why they are doing this. “We come out around 9 p.m. and it is very peaceful. You can hear the owls hopping and it is calm and quiet (except the cars on the street). There are really so many toads and they themselves make a fascinating sound. It is a great therapy for the soul – and knowing that you have helped the creatures are a nice feeling. “
The barrier sections were mainly excavated by Cathy Holwill with the help of Bryony Lewis and other volunteers. Cathy explained that she dug post -holes and then carved the barrier segments together and screwed together. They then needed the back filling so that all gaps were filled and no creatures could sneak underneath. “It is physical work, but all efforts this year should mean that work for volunteers will be less in the barrier level in the future,” she said.
Terry, inspired by what he saw during his visit, was already back in Aco and organized so that a group of workers came from the office and voluntarily was available for supporting the installation phase to promote it, To drive it forward. A sharp TOad Patroller In his own area he will also be back to see the migration when it begins. “The toads are very lovable and I find them fascinating. If you see you and think about your potential fate, you just want to help. It's nice to know that you have done something valuable – it's really very worthwhile. “
New volunteers are always welcome and there are many ways to help. Because of their location, children cannot be able to visit the website. For more information, please contact Angelina: Amtjones@googlemail.com
