New Permanent Barrier Installed for Increased Toad Safety

At this time of year, Henley Toad Patrol volunteers mobilise in order to begin the installation of the temporary barrier that will protect the amphibians from the Henley Road traffic during their annual migration. The group, set up in 1999, now have around 100 volunteers who collect the toads from the barrier on the Culden Faw estate and help them to their pond destination across the treacherous Marlow Road. The installation of the barrier happens over a number of weekends and uses a lot of volunteer manpower.

In the late 1980s, ACO Polymer Products Ltd erected 100m of permanent barrier on the estate, which is still in place, and still doing an excellent job, however, it quickly became apparent that the toads and other amphibians approach the road over a distance of more like 600m, covering all of Oaken Grove and much of the field adjacent to it in the direction of Marlow, hence the need for the addition of the temporary barrier. Annually, The Henley Toad Patrol (HTP) add extensions on both sides; up to Benhams Lane in the direction of Henley, and across much of the field (known as The Showground) in the direction of Marlow, in order to save as many amphibians as possible.

In recent years, some of the organisers of the Toad Patrol group have discussed the possibility of extending the permanent barrier, therefore requiring less temporary barrier needing to be erected every year, however, this was found to require a large financial outlay. In Summer 2024, Professor John Sumpter decided to take action and began the process of finding a sponsor. After gaining permission from Alex Dick, the manager of the Culden Faw Estate (who have always been very supportive of HTP’s work), to extend the permanent barrier to cover all of Oaken Grove (except The Showground), Professor John made contact with ACO Technologies plc (formerly ACO Polymer Products Ltd), who are based in Shefford, Bedfordshire. Within two weeks of sending a speculative email, Terry Wilkinson, their Design and Application Engineer, who also has a long-standing interest in amphibians and Toads-on-Roads schemes, agreed to meet John and fellow volunteer Cathy Holwill, on site. That visit led to ACO offering to provide enough additional fencing to extend the existing permanent barrier along the entire length of Oaken Grove – a further 250m – and free of charge. Professor John commented, “I am delighted that the company were able to make such an extraordinarily generous gesture, to say the very least.”

In mid-December, just a few weeks after the meeting, 250 fence panels were delivered to the Culden Faw Estate, where they are in the process of being installed by HTP volunteers. Eventually the permanent barrier will be extended to a distance of 350m, thereby meaning that a significantly shorter temporary barrier will need to be constructed each year, covering just the Showground area part of the site.

Terry Wilkinson, who visited the site again this weekend to see the progress that had been made said; “As a family run company, we have a great interest in doing things that benefit the community. We are familiar with the site and have known about its significance for amphibians for about the last 30 years. Hearing that we already had a barrier in place that was doing so well, we were delighted to be able help again. We have lots of projects that work with ecology in mind and have even developed a mapping tool, Habitat Matters, with Wokingham council that adds to National Biological data – so this is right up our street!” The company do lots of work with the local community, also working on STEM projects, going into schools and are engaging in developments between ecology and engineering – two areas that have previously somewhat disregarded each other.

Angelina Jones, long term member of the group and coordinator of the volunteers explained: “This is a long term project. Toads always return to the pond they are born in to mate, but don’t live in water. They return to the woodland shortly after producing their chain-like spawn. Unfortunately the migration path involves crossing the main road and that won’t be able to change.” Volunteers come from Henley but also further afield from Reading, Arborfield and beyond. The barriers create a block for the toads and volunteers patrol the area from dusk and during the night, picking the amphibians up and popping them in buckets. As well as safely depositing them at the pond site, data is also collected. This is then passed to Professor John and onwards again to Frog Life UK who co-ordinate around 250 groups nationwide.

Allan Staley and Deborah Kelly who have also been volunteering for some years explained why they do so. “We come out about 9pm and it’s very peaceful. You can hear the owls hooting and it’s quiet and calm (apart from the cars on the road). There really are so many toads and they themselves make a fascinating noise. It’s great therapy for the soul – and to know you have helped the creatures is a lovely feeling.”

The barrier sections have been dug in mostly by Cathy Holwill with help from Bryony Lewis and other volunteers. Cathy explained that she dug post holes and then clipped and screwed the barrier segments together. They then needed back filling so that any gaps were filled and no creatures could sneak underneath. “It’s physical work but all the effort this year should mean that going forwards, the work for volunteers is less at the barrier stage,” she explained.

Terry, inspired by what he saw during his visit, has already been back to ACO and organised for a group of workers to come out of the office and do a day or two volunteering to help with the installation stage in order to keep it moving forwards. A keen Toad Patroller in his own local area, he will also be back to see, and no doubt help with, the migration when it starts. “The toads are very endearing and I find them captivating. When you see them and think about their potential fate, it just makes you want to help. It’s lovely to know you have done something worthwhile – it really is very rewarding.”

New Volunteers are always welcome and there are many ways you can help, however, due to its location, children are not able to attend the site. For more information please contact Angelina: amtjones@googlemail.com