Six-Week Road Closure Protects Thousands of Creatures During Crucial Migration Season

A Road Closure for Amphibian Safety

Charlcombe Lane near Bath will be closed for six weeks, from now until March 25th, to ensure the safe passage of thousands of amphibians to their breeding grounds. The Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group will be leading the effort, assisting toads, frogs, and newts in reaching their ancestral breeding lake.

Each night at dusk, volunteers in high-visibility jackets will patrol the half-mile stretch of road, equipped with torches and buckets. Their mission is to safely escort over 3,000 amphibians across the busy road. This crucial conservation effort will see volunteers collectively dedicate over 600 hours to the cause.

To minimize disturbance, the rescuers will use latex-free, powder-free gloves to carefully collect the amphibians, placing them in buckets for transport to designated drop-off points near the lake. Last year, over 50 volunteers helped 3,225 amphibians make the crossing, marking the second-best year for the number of amphibians recorded and the busiest in 14 years.

The annual closure has been taking place each spring since 2003 with the agreement of Bath and North East Somerset Council. It is one of only four road closures in the UK dedicated to amphibian protection and has played a vital role in keeping the local population stable over the last 20 years. Before the closure, the casualty rate for amphibians crossing the road was a staggering 62%. In 2024, that number dropped to a mere 6%.

"Closing Charlcombe Lane, with the support of the local community, has been a game changer for our amphibian population," says Helen Hobbs, who has been managing the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group since 2003. "It has meant that toads, frogs, and newts have been able to buck national trends and stand a fighting chance of flourishing."

With a changing climate, predicting peak times for amphibian movements becomes increasingly difficult, making the six-week road closure even more crucial. "Last year the busiest period was early February and in 2023 it was mid-March," explains Hobbs.

The importance of this initiative is further highlighted by research conducted in 2016, which revealed a 68% decline in the common toad population across the UK in just 30 years. The biggest challenges facing amphibians include road traffic, habitat loss, and climate change.

Across the UK, over 200 patrols are dedicated to helping amphibians during their migration season. The efforts of the Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group serve as a shining example of community involvement in protecting these vulnerable creatures.