Threat to toad road closure

A road in Oxton is closed for a tenth year to help toads survive their migration to wetlands — but warmer weather and increasing costs is threatening the scheme.

Beanford Lane, Oxton, is closed every March while an estimated 500 toads migrate across it.

It will reopen on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Mr Erin McDaid, said: “The road happens to run straight across important traditional migration routes.

“Toads follow traditionally long routes and do not get driven by modern things like roads. They are oblivious to the traffic and are driven by their natural urges to reproduce.”

Mr McDaid said toads needed wet weather to migrate but so far this month the weather had been too dry and fewer toads had probably crossed.

He said: “We are a little worried about the future of the project.

“We will be reviewing if March is the best month. There are increasing costs and variable weather.”

The road closure is made possible by the help of volunteers and through fundraising and donations.

Mrs Margaret Cooper, of Main Street, Oxton, organises the road closure and the volunteers who patrol the road.

She said the cost of closing Beanford Lane had risen dramatically this year because the Nottinghamshire County Council charge increased from £250 to £600.

The AA also charges for signs and barriers.

A coffee morning to raise money for the closure takes place tomorrow, from 10am-noon, at Mrs Cooper’s house at Home Farm House, Main Street, Oxton.

Mrs Cooper aims to use the morning to raise awareness of the toad crossing scheme.

The wildlife trust has a specific fund for the toad project.

Anyone wanting to make a donation should send a cheque to the Nottinghamshire branch, stating it is specifically for the toad crossing project.