Frog Rescue event a success

25th September 2012

The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield andRotherhamheld their annual Frog Rescue event at Sunnybank local nature reserve on 17th September.

Despite being one of the Trust's smallest sites and tucked away behind a filling station at the end of Ecclesall Road, Sunnybank is the most visited of all our twelve nature reserves across Sheffield. It is an important green space where local people can find trees and tranquillity away from the noise of the busy ring road. However it is anything but tranquil on one day in September every year. That is the day before the annual meadow cut. The meadow has to be cut at this time each year to encourage the following year's growth of grasses and wild flowers, but the mowing machinery poses a serious threat to the reserve's population of common frogs, which go into hiding among the grass. So, each year, the call goes out for volunteers to help rescue the fugitive frogs and return them to safety in the pond so that the meadow can be cut. This year, 46 people from nearby streets and local businesses volunteered to help and came along to Sunnybank to scramble through the undergrowth scooping up the elusive amphibians. Dozens of frogs were saved Ok, we don't know how many exactly; they refused to stand still to be counted! New to this year was an extra event for children and families, who came along after school to take part in frog-related activities and art sessions. On behalf of the frogs, we'd like to say a very big thank you to all those who gave up their time to come along to help! For a list of other events hosted by the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield andRotherham, or to find out more about what else we do for wildlife across the city, please visit our website at www.wildsheffield.com.