RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by DavidP:

new to this forum, first post.  Chanced upon this site looking up details about attracting newts etc to garden ponds.

Anyway, back in the very early 80's (1980-82) I went to school in Ham, used to walk through Ham common to get the bus home, or occasionaly ride my bike (lived in Hammersmith, quite a way).

Point is, there were breeding colonies of what I beleive to be Edible frongs in the pond on Ham Common and also up in the pond near the entrance of Richmond Park close by, where we also found a crested newt on two seperate occasions.

Being kids, we used to take masses of the spawn & frogs home with us, to see if we could get colonies going in our gardens & makeshift ponds.. usually short lived, but to no success.

I would dearly love to know if these colonies of lovely green frogs still exist, or if naive kids like me sadly put an end to them.

Hadnt been back to the pond for over 25 years, in the early 80's it was beautiful, remember stopping off on my bike on the way to school, early spring mornings.. the pond was filled with water lilly pads, reeds, was alive with pond weed.. stocked with fish, from carp through to small jack pike, all clearly visible in the water if you were early enough and quiet.. fascinating for a boy of 13.

Drove past last summer and took a moment to stop off and reminisce.  The lily pads were gone, the water was now a milky shade of green and the pond looked lifeless.  Was quite upsetting.

If anyone could give me any news on the pond there and close by in Richmond park, I would be so very grateful.  Still have fond memories of the bright green frogs and the little black markings on their back.

All the best, David.

ps fascinating site, please keep up the good work.

Hiya, incredible that I posted that over a year ago.

Sadly didnt get much response.  But would still be interested if anyone else heard about the colonies of Edible Frogs in Ham/Richmond many years ago.

I believe they were introduced by an entusiast, that was also a writer, that lived in one of the large houses close by, back in late 1940's/50's. 

Had breeding colonies of common frogs in my garden pond for years, have been very successful, with plenty of small froglets hopping around.

Last 2-3 years though, have noticed a trend of frogs laying spawn, eggs hatching.. tadpoles lasting several weeks.. then nothing, completely dissapearing before they get legs.

My concern is that this has happened for at least 2 years, probably 3.  The adult frogs still seem happy enough, but where before we had a few generations of frogs, now there arent any younger ones keeping the colony going.

This year I took a small number of eggs and put them in a fishtank, to see how they got on.. same thing, all dissapeared.

I've seen this issue raised on other forums, but never an explanation or cause.  Also heard of similar stories from friends with ponds.

We live in south west london.

Any clues/ideas ?

not sure it is predators, dont really see much wildflife beyond frogs and pond skaters and the occasional dragon fly.  Not seen any newts or boatman.

The concern is that we go from several hundred tadpoles, most up to an inch and a half long, looking as though legs are imminent.. to none, in a matter of days.

As I say, this has happened at least a couple of years running.