WHEN DO FROGS AND TOADS SPAWN?

Toads generally spawn several weeks later than frogs - traditionally in mid/late March, (noticeably earlier in the south), but this is very dependant on weather. The recent run of mild winters has lead to earlier spawning and migrations to ponds can occur as early as the last week in February. Usually toads will start making the move to their breeding ponds on dry nights after a bout of rain, when the temperature is at least a 5 degrees above freezing. Spawning times can vary from one garden to another in the same street. "The microclimate of each garden may be different," says Ruth Carey of Froglife, a pro-amphibian charity. "Possibly one pond is in shade while the other is in sunlight. Or there may be more paving round one, which would make it warmer." WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FROG AND TOAD SPAWN? Toad spawn is in strings. Frog spawn is in lumps.