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edible frogs in richmond park...:

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DavidP
Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
No. of posts: 4


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Posted: 02 Mar 2007

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.

 

 

 

 


JonTEP
Member
Joined: 09 May 2007
No. of posts: 3


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Posted: 11 May 2007

Hello David

We have someone going up to survey all the Veteran trees in Richmond, and I'm going to help in a couple of weeks, I'm meeting the park ecologist there also so will ask him!

 

Jon


DavidP
Member
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
No. of posts: 4


View other posts by DavidP
Posted: 09 May 2008

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. 

 


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