NATTERJACK TOAD (BUFO CALAMITA)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005

1. Monitoring of male calling and toadlets counted
2. The new group of volunteers have been monitoring the site on a regular basis

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed!

OBJECTIVES	LOCAL TARGETS
To ensure the present population numbers do not decrease	Increase the number of suitable temporary scrapes
To ensure the present population numbers do not decrease	Fence the newly created scrapes to protect them against disturbance
To promote education and awareness in order to encourage responsible attitudes towards conserving Natterjack toad populations	Produce an interpretive board.
	Hold guided walks.

CURRENT STATUS

The stronghold of this species remains the coastal dunes and upper saltmarsh habitats of the Irish Sea coast from Liverpool Bay north to the Solway estuary. There are also populations on east coast dunes in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, and on heathlands in Norfolk, Suffolk, Staffordshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset.

In the Cheshire region the only site for this species is Red Rocks Marsh SSSI at Hoylake on the Wirral. This coastal site is managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust as a Nature Reserve. The natterjack became locally extinct at this site in 1995, and the Cheshire Wildlife Trust are continuing to encourage establishment of the species through habitat management following spawn translocation from the Sefton Coast which ended in 2000. In 2001 12-20 males where found calling and six spawn strings noted. 36 natterjack toadlets counted by 20th July.

Protected through both national and international legislation including Bern convention, WCA 1981 Schedule 5, EC Habitats Directive and Species Directive (1992), also the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 where it is listed on Schedule 2. The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2 (HMSO, 1995) contains a costed BAP for natterjack toad.

Records of natterjack toads on the rECOrd database as at 28/11/00 (red = post 1980, black = pre 1980):

THREATS

Competition from common toads (Bufo bufo)
Predation by aquatic invertebrates
Disturbance of embryo dune formation and natural dune accretion are limiting the available habitat of the toad
Recreational activities

CURRENT ACTION

A Natterjack Toad Site Register for the UK has been compiled on behalf of the British Herpetological Society's Conservation committee. This was first compiled in 1986 and is updated annually.
The Local Records centre, rECOrd, is producing a Provisional Atlas of Amphibian and Reptile sightings. Please send all sightings to rECOrd.

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+

Form a Local BAP Action Group for the natterjack toad.
Allow the embryo dune slack to develop naturally by ensuring that the 'green beach' is not swept.
Further monitoring of the population by volunteers from Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Wirral Borough Council.
New scrapes to be created and fenced

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

An artificial scrape has been created by the Herpetological Conservation Trust in the stable dune area within the boundary of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club and adjacent to Red Rocks Marsh.
Until 2000 the Cheshire Wildlife Trust were working in partnership with the Sefton Coast Life Project, the Herpetological Conservation Trust, Wirral Borough Council and English Nature in translocating spawn from the Sefton Coast to specially created scrapes at Red Rocks Marsh. In 2000 100 toadlets were seen emerging from one of the scrapes and the decision was made to stop translocation. In 2001 spawn was laid by resident toads.
In 2001 vegetation was removed and reprofiling carried out one two of the existing scrapes at Red Rocks Marsh.
Monitoring of the population took place through hand search and male calling in 2004.
Hand pulling of some phragmites growth in one pool carried out by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council in 2004.
One scrape was cleared of vegetation in 2004. Embryo dunes and slack are establishing well
A new group of volunteers have been formed in 2004 to help monitor the population.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

Cheshire Wildlife Trust	rECOrd	Wirral Borough Council
English Nature

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

None

CONTACT

Jacki Hulse, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Phone: 01270 610180
Fax: 01270 610430

REFERENCES

Beebee, T. J. C. & Denton, J. S. (1996): The Natterjack Toad Conservation Handbook, English Nature.
Denton, J. S., Hitchins, S. P. & Beebee, T. J. C. (1995): The Natterjack Toad Species Recovery Programme Project 1992-5 final Report, English Nature.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
Simmonds, J. (1993): Red Rocks Management Plan, Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Date compiled - 1997
Date reviewed - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

This plan is in the Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan which can be viewed at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/home.htm