AN appeal has been launched for volunteers to help toads on their annual migration across roads to ponds and rivers in North Herts. Alan Harding 79, of Cowslip Hill, Letchworth GC, has spent more than 30 years organising teams to give toads their final pu

AN appeal has been launched for volunteers to help toads on their annual migration across roads to ponds and rivers in North Herts.

Alan Harding 79, of Cowslip Hill, Letchworth GC, has spent more than 30 years organising teams to give toads their final push to safety as they seek wetter habitats to

start their spawning programme.

But the biggest hazard toads face is traffic as they make their move from the fields where they have hibernated during the winter months to their spring habitats.

"We are just helping them get to where they want to go," said Mr Harding, a well-known conservationist in North Herts.

"Once it starts getting a bit warmer and wetter the toads will be on the move at night. Their biggest predator is the motorcar and our groups are trying to prevent toads from dying unnecessarily.

"There are a number of areas we will be targeting and we supply high visibility jackets so volunteers are safe."

He added: "After such a hard winter we might be seeing fewer toads. We will wait and see when the weather warms up and hope we see plenty on the move."

Last year Mr Harding said he was shocked to find not one toad on its annual migration to Willian Pond.

"We had seen between 300 and 600 the year before, but we never saw one last year, and we don't know why," he said.

"I am just hoping the severe winter has not hit the toad population, but only when the weather warms up will we know how many have survived."

Contact Mr Harding on 01462 677298 if you wish to volunteer.