Nature blog: common frog

Did you know that we have common frogs living on Palace Road Estate? We might expect them to be living in ponds. That’s where they breed during spring. However, they spend much of the rest of the year living and feeding in places like gardens, meadows and woodland.

A common frog (Rana temporaria) photographed in a garden on Coburg Crescent

Common frogs are carnivores, meaning that they feed on other animals. They eat things like flies, worms, snails and slugs. These types of animals are known as invertebrates (animals without a backbone) or mini-beasts. There are plenty of mini-beasts living in the gardens and grounds of Palace Road Estate.

This common frog has been spending time in an Ophiopogon plant in a garden in Coburg Crescent. It’s well hidden there from predators like cats.

Where do you think it will go to breed? One of the ponds in Palace Road Nature Garden, perhaps?

You can read more about common frogs on the Froglife and the Wildlife Trusts websites.