A conservation project is underway at Scotland's Caerlaverock Estate to help restore the declining population of the rare natterjack toad. The estate, which spans over 6,000 acres of saltmarshes and wetlands along the Solway Firth, is creating a series of 24 new ponds, seven of which will be specifically designed to meet the needs of the vulnerable amphibian.
Caerlaverock Estate is owned by Lady Clare Kerr, daughter of veteran Tory politician Michael Ancram, Marquess of Lothian. Her husband, former Tory minister Nick Hurd, also has a background in conservation, having received a Green Ribbon Award in 2016 for his environmental advocacy. Both owners are reportedly keen on environmental initiatives.
The natterjack toad, Scotland's rarest amphibian, is characterized by its smaller size compared to common toads and a distinctive yellow stripe down its back. Historically, the Solway Firth area was home to a significant population. A survey in 1976 recorded approximately 2,000 adult natterjack toads at Caerlaverock. However, recent surveys since 2006 have not recorded even 100 individuals.
The new ponds are designed to attract and support the natterjack toad's breeding cycle. In winter, the toad-specific ponds will fill with water, providing habitat for migratory wildfowl. As spring arrives, the water levels will recede, leaving shallow areas that can warm up quickly, encouraging natterjack spawning. During the summer months, these ponds will serve as habitats for damselflies and other aquatic insects.
Beyond the seven specialized ponds for natterjack toads, the remaining 17 will offer general habitat and water restoration sites, benefiting a wider range of wildlife. The estate already hosts a significant number of wintering waders and wildfowl, including the entire population of Svalbard barnacle geese, and is involved in various conservation projects aimed at creating and restoring habitats like wetlands, wildlife corridors, and meadows.
Estate manager Anna Austin emphasized the estate's commitment to balancing food production with conservation. "We have dual responsibilities, both for food production and nature restoration and environmental enhancement. We have to try to strike a real balance," Austin stated. Some farm tenants on the estate are actively participating in conservation efforts by creating habitats on their land, with plans reviewed by ecologists to ensure effectiveness.
The project has received funding from the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot. Iain Sime, NatureScot's head of funding, highlighted the importance of habitat creation and restoration for the natterjack toad, noting that "Loss of habitat is one of the major threats to natterjack toads so this project is playing an important role by creating and restoring ponds and land where the toads can thrive, as well as benefiting many other species."
The estate also encompasses part of the WWT Caerlaverock wetland nature reserve, alongside numerous farms managed by the estate or its tenants.