Activity

Make a house for frogs and toads

Create a winter den for frogs, toads and newts. Amphibians like to hibernate in a cool, dark and damp shelter that is safe from predators.

A Common Toad perched on a moss covered rock.

This activity can be completed as part of Schools Wild Challenge or Nature on your Doorstep and counts as the Helping Nature activity Homes for amphibians.

Estimated time: 3-4 hours Season: All year Skill level: Not too tricky

Instructions

Choose your location

Pick a shady, secluded spot where you can dig 30-45cm deep. You don’t need a pond, but if you do have one, picking a spot within a hop and a leap of the pond would be ideal. If you've already dug a damp ditch for diversity, you could use part of the bank you created for this.

A Common Frog sat in a hollowed out, damp log, with a long worm in front of it.

Dig a round hole with a flat bottom

It needs to be about the depth of a welly boot. Fill it with stones and logs. You want the rocks to be stable and not collapse, but don’t pack it all down. A higgledy-piggledy pile will create a brilliant underground maze of holes.

Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.More