Spring

The best way to learn is by spending time outside listening to songs and calls with someone who can already recognise them. Most people find it impossible to learn more than a couple of new calls or songs in a day so it's worth focusing in on just a couple of species during a walk. Once you really know the calls made by common species such as robins, wrens, great tits and wood pigeons, it will become progressively easier to pick out anything different.

CDs of bird songs and calls can be helpful too and are available from Norfolk Wildlife Trust at its visitor centres, such as NWT Cley Marshes nature reserve. Wildounds based in Norfolk, offers a huge range of CDs by mail order  and can be contacted via the website www.wildsounds.co.uk .

Many guided walks are organised by NWT on its nature reserves (check event listings on the website for current events) and these often provide opportunities to learn from and with others who will be delighted to share their knowledge.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

In spring and early summer, it is normal to see more male ducks than female ducks. The females do all the incubation of the eggs and are well hidden on their nests. In contrast the brightly coloured males are easy to spot and spend time in the open where they are easy to see. With mallard it is common behaviour in spring for several males to chase and attempt to mate with any duck that shows itself. The fact that mallard are common birds shows that, whilst we may not like watching this apparently destructive and aggressive behaviour, it does not affect the mallard’s overall breeding success and we should not try and intervene.

Picture by Terry Postle

Fish are part of the natural diet of herons and once a heron has found an easily available supply of food it is likely to continue to visit. Ensuring there are refuge areas in a pond where fish can hide will help – floating leaves such as waterlilies provide hiding places for fish. An overhanging bush that makes an area of the pond less accessible may also help. Herons generally dislike confined areas and usually avoid areas frequently disturbed by people so putting a new pond close to a house rather than in at the bottom of a garden will reduce the likelihood of herons becoming a problem.

For small ponds netting or placing strings across the surface of the pond can make an effective deterrent. Herons usually land on grassy edges to ponds and then walk to the pond edge so planting shrubs and bushes around the pond will make the area less attractive to herons.

There is little evidence that placing a plastic heron by your pond will deter the real thing – it might even do the opposite and attract one! A bird scarer that makes a loud bang will frighten away herons but may not endear you to your neighbours. Ultimately, a good wildlife pond is better without goldfish.

Picture by David Ferre

The best place to put up a barn owl box is at sites where barn owls are regularly seen. If barn owls are already using a building or a tree for roosting then providing a nest box may encourage them to use the site for nesting. There is no point in providing nest boxes for barn owls in areas that lack sufficient good habitat, such as rough tussocky grassland, for hunting. Nest boxes can be successfully placed in buildings such as barns or sheds, in trees or mounted on poles in open areas. Do not put a barn owl box within a woodland as they prefer isolated trees or trees on the very edge of the wood or along a hedgerow. Providing several boxes is a good idea as these provide additional roost sites and safe places for young owls when they first leave the nest site.

Picture by Danny Green

The best place in Norfolk to watch stone curlews without disturbing them is from the hides at NWT Weeting Heath. The reserve is open from late March to late September and the best months to see stone curlews are April to June. Weeting Heath is 3 miles west of Brandon and signposted from the Weeting to Hockwold cum Wilton road (map ref. TL 756 881).

Please remember that if you do see stone curlews elsewhere in the Brecks, that this species is very vulnerable to disturbance at breeding sites. It is a criminal offence to intentionally disturb this species at a nest site.

Check out our Stone Curlew webcam

Picture by Lawrie Webb

If rats become a problem at bird feeding sites, it may be necessary to cease feeding for a period to discourage them. Rats are most active at night so removing feeders at night and ensuring no uneaten food remains on the ground overnight will also reduce the likelihood of this problem. Careful location of hanging feeders away from walls covered with ivy or climbing plants will make it harder for rats to access them and pole mounted feeders can be made inaccessible to rats if a slippery metal or plastic pole is used or a collar is mounted below the feeder.

If you wish to deter squirrels from hanging bird feeders, then use squirrel proof metal feeders which allow access to small birds but have a squirrel proof metal mesh preventing access to squirrels. Alternatively use pole mounted feeders sited away from overhanging trees.

Picture by Sue Seeley

The swallowtail butterfly is now limited to the Norfolk Broads choosing sites with a vigorous growth of milk parsley, where it lays its eggs on the tallest plants. Although a rare British insect, if you go to the right place, such as NWT Hickling Broad, NWT Ranworth Broad or RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, at the right time, early morning on a windless day (usually from late May to mid-July and if there is a second brood from mid–August through September), then with luck you will spot one.
Picture by Michael Cole

Norfolk Wildlife Trust is developing a database of all the great crested newt sightings in Norfolk, which will be shared with the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. If you find a great crested newt please email [email protected] giving the location you saw the newt (ideally including a postcode or grid reference) and the date you found it.

Great crested newts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. For people that have them in their garden ponds the main issue is when to carry out maintenance work on your pond, basically it is fine to work on your pond but just outside the breeding season of the great crested newt. Therefore, it is best to do pond maintenance during the autumn and winter months.
For guidance on managing your pond with great crested newts in mind please see Natural England’s guidance notes.

Picture by Karl Charters

A truly amphibian friendly pond would ideally not contain any fish. Fish like to eat amphibian larvae.  However, fish won’t eat toadlets as they contain a poison in their warty skin, so fish and toads can live together.
Picture by Pat Adams.

It is quite common for some tadpoles to develop much more slowly than others in the same pond. This may occur in small ponds with lots of tadpoles due to competition or it can happen when the water is cool (due to a cold spring or too much shading from trees) or contains little food, for example in new ponds where there is not yet any algae developed. Sometimes the tadpoles will continue to grow over winter then emerge the following year. It is also usual for some tadpoles to develop and leave the pond without being noticed leaving the slow developers behind. Occasionally indiviidual tadpoles will fail to go through metamorphosis, and remain a tadpole for its entire short life.

Several frogs will often lay their spawn together in one place and it might appear that too much has been laid. Each pond can support a certain number of frogs, largely depending on the quality of the habitat. In any case, most spawn and tadpoles perish so only a tiny fraction of the eggs you see in spring will naturally survive to become adult frogs. Most amphibian populations fluctuate over time - so your frog population will most likely decrease in size in future years, quite naturally. There is no need to regulate the population by removing spawn. And never, under any circumstance, move spawn to ponds on nature reserves or other natural sites, as doing so can spread unwanted pond plants and amphibian diseases.
Picture by Paul Taylor
 

For tit and sparrow boxes you need to fix a metal plate on to the front of the box to stop the squirrels from gnawing their way in. The plates can be bought from most good garden centres. Barbed wire, gorse or rose clippings hung above and below the nest will also help to deter squirrels. Open-fronted boxes are harder to protect but you can help by making sure they are well hidden in dense cover.

Picture by Gordon Crook

Modern research challenges the old belief that only male birds sing. This was a relic of anthropomorphic assumptions about birds' 'family life', like the long-held belief that small birds are faithfully monogamous partners, now disproved in many species by DNA analysis.

A particular problem in the field is that in many of our common songbirds, such as robin, dunnock and wren, we cannot tell male from female. But, by catching birds of known sex (in the breeding season) and marking them, for example with unique combinations of coloured leg rings, it has been found that in fact females do sing in all these species.

Both male and female robins sing in autumn, a softer, quieter song than the spring song which is mostly (but not exclusively) produced by males. Some female dunnocks sing more than others, for unknown reasons, although their song is shorter and less elaborate than that of the male. Dominant paired females may use it to manipulate their complicated menages of two or more males.

Most singing wrens are indeed male, but females can sing when they choose, and have in addition a unique 'whisper-song' they use to communicate with their chicks.

In fact, all female songbirds produce a wide repertoire of sounds, while feeding, as alarms and for communication with mates and young; many of these could be described as 'song'. The quieter, softer song produced by female birds is often known as 'subsong'; in many species it is produced all year round and is no less important in the birds' lives than the loud territorial song of the male.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Yes, this is true. Swifts do everything on the wing including sleeping and mating. The only time they ‘land’ is to visit their nests and unlike similar species they don’t rest on telephone wires.

Swifts can be observed screaming over rooftops in excited flocks during early summer evenings and these flocks will often spiral high into the air as dusk approaches. Swifts are very light and can easily stay airborne drifting on faint air currents throughout the short summer nights.

If one is found on the ground and it appears uninjured they can be helped into the air but grounded birds are usually young or sick individuals. For more information visit the RSPB swift information page.

Picture by Nick Appleton

The best time to put up a nest box is in the autumn or winter as this will give the birds a chance to find and get used to your box before the nesting season begins. There are various types of nest box for sale or you can make your own. When choosing and siting your box you need to first consider the type of bird you are hoping to attract. Then consider the safety and comfort of your birds. Try to site the box where there is not easy access for predators such as cats and squirrels. Choose an area where there is shelter from prevailing wind and rain, and avoiding strong direct sunlight, it is therefore usually best to avoid south facing walls. If the nest box is tilted forward slightly it will help any rain run-off. It is important that the entrance is clear to enable birds to have an easy flight path.
 
The height the nest box should be placed depends on the species it is intended for. Boxes for tits, sparrows, spotted flycatchers and starlings are best placed 2 to 4 metres high, whereas open fronted nest boxes designed for wrens and robins are best placed lower down in thick cover between 1 and 2 metres above the ground.
 
If you can site your box above a thorny bush this will help to deter cats. If you are using an open fronted nest box to attract robins, make sure you site the box under some shrubby cover so the box is less exposed. Try to ensure there is an unhindered flight path to the box and somewhere safe nearby for the birds to perch before entering the nest, so they can visually check for any predators. Woodpecker boxes can be higher at 5 to 10 metres high and placed on a tree trunk.
 
If you are using an open fronted nest box to attract robins, make sure you sight the box under some shrubby cover, so the box is less exposed. Try to make sure there is an unhindered flight path, and somewhere safe nearby for birds to perch before entering the nest, so they can visually check for any predators.
 
Do not site your bird box near to bird tables or feeders as the high level of activity will discourage birds from nesting nearby. If you have the room you can have more than one bird box in your garden. 

Picture by David Savory

Look for hares on arable farmland, grazing marshes, heaths, and on saltmarsh, shingle and cliff top coastal habitats. Hares are at home in the large open arable fields of Fenland and central Norfolk, in the cattle-grazed marshlands of Broadland, and on the sandy heaths and fields of Breckland. They favour areas with a patchwork of grassland and crops.

They are present throughout the year, but difficult to spot on farmland when the crops have grown tall. The best time to look for hares is dawn or dusk. Hares feed mainly at night and lie up during the day. Late winter and early spring are the best times to scan the fields for hares.

Mad March hare behaviour, when up to ten hares gather together and indulge in madcap chases and furious boxing matches, can be seen in early spring from February onwards with peak activity in March and April.

Picture by Edward Jackson

The Swallowtail’s breeding sites are restricted to the Norfolk Broads. The Swallowtail requires sites which have a vigorous growth of Milk Parsley – its favoured food plant - where it will lay its eggs on the tallest plants. They can usually be found at
NWT Hickling Broad, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen and How Hill nature reserve.

Any rising of water levels or increase in salinity will effect the growth of the Milk Parsley. However Milk Parsley has the potential to grow in other areas and will move if there is suitable habitat. Active management of fenland, where sedge is cut to allow other plants to grow, plays an important part in the survival of the swallowtail in Norfolk.

Occasionally migrant Swallowtails from the continent can be found in Southern Britain but these are a different sub-species (gorganus) to those found in Norfolk (britannicus).

Picture by Joe Lenton

Their back legs will emerge after a few weeks, followed by the front legs, then most tadpoles will turn into frogs by June or July.

Picture by Hilary Tate

Frog’s spawn is laid in big jelly like clumps which tend to be laid in the shallow margins of ponds. Toad’s spawn is laid in long jelly ribbons, each with a double row of eggs and is laid amongst plants.

Picture by Linda Smith

Yes. The solitary bees that will use artificial bee homes are non-aggressive and can be observed at close quarters without risk.
Picture by Elizabeth Dack.

Solitary bees need pollen, nectar and mud. Ensure you have plants in flower from early spring to autumn and some bare areas of soil in your garden.
Picture by Elizabeth Dack

On warm sunny days you may observe the bees coming and going but when nests have been built you will see the ends of the bamboos sealed with mud (red mason bees) or small pieces of green leaves (leaf cutter bees).
Picture by Tony Brooks

The bees that use your bee home may not emerge until the first warm spring days of the following year. There is an excellent chance these bees will then use more of the canes in your bee home to build their own nests
Picture by Elizabeth Dack

The Norfolk hawker is a resident of the Norfolk Broads and north-east Suffolk. In Britain it tends to favour slow-flowing dykes and ditches where water soldier plants grow. The Norfolk hawker may be seen soaring above reed-fringed dykes hunting other insects or sitting perched on vegetation at NWT Hickling Broad and NWT Upton Broad and Marshes from late May until mid-July. Other good sites to see Norfolk hawkers are the RSPB's Strumpshaw Fen nature reserve and Crome's Broad within How Hill Nature Reserve.
Picture by Andrew Barrett

Of the four species of reptile occurring in Norfolk only two,the grass snake and slow worm are likely visitors to your garden.

The other two species, the adder and common lizard, are creatures of more open and undisturbed habitat such as heathland and only rarely visit gardens. Even then it is likely that the garden in question adjoins an area of suitable countryside.

If you wish to attract slow worms or grass snakes you will need to keep some areas of your garden undisturbed and uncultivated. Unkempt areas of long grass, wild areas of scrub and hedgerow with plenty of undergrowth and other nooks and crannies, such as provided by log piles, would be ideal. A compost heap is particularly useful since both slow worms and grass snakes will inhabit these either to feed on the abundant slugs and worms or to lay their eggs. A garden pond is also of great value to grass snakes because it provides ideal habitat for them to hunt frogs and newts.

If you are lucky enough to see any reptiles in your garden you should report sightings to Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service so that distribution and population trends can be monitored.

Picture by Tabs Taberham
 

The best way to see reptiles in Norfolk is to join one of the special guided walks organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. These guided walks will take you to the best sites for reptile spotting within the county and you will have the services of an expert on hand.

Other sites that are generally rich in reptiles include the heathland areas of north and north-west Norfolk including the NWT reserve at Roydon Common, the dune systems of north-east Norfolk between Waxham and Horsey, and Broadland where NWT has nature reserves at Ranworth Broad , Hickling and Upton Fen.

Picture by Elaine Payne

The adder is the only venomous snake that can be found in Norfolk. It mainly inhabits areas of open heath and sand-dunes but can be found in woodland and is particularly active in spring and early summer.

Adders are very shy and retiring creatures that will readily move away from any human presence well before potential contact. Adders will usually only bite if an attempt is made to pick them up but their bite is rarely fatal. If you or somebody with you is bitten it is very important that you stay calm and seek immediate medical attention. If possible the affected body part should be immobilized. Symptoms that may occur include dizziness, vomiting and swelling.

Adder bites can sometimes, though rarely, be fatal to pets and care should be taken when walking dogs through likely habitat particularly in February,  March and April when the snakes are recently emerged from hibernation and may be slower to move out of harms way.

It should be stressed that you are very unlikely to encounter an adder and that if you do you should not try to handle or provoke them in any way. Adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill, harm or injure them or to sell or trade them in any way.

Picture by Edwin Peace

Five species of bumblebee, which twenty years ago were classed as widespread and common, are now endangered. The reason for the decline of some bumblebees species is not fully understood. The common theory is that there are fewer wildflowers, due to the change in traditional haymaking practices and the use of weedkillers. The removal of suitable nesting sites, such as hedgerows, could also have played a part.

Changes in gardening practices may also have had an impact. Increased use of insecticides, the fashion for flowers which have no scent and do not produce nectar could all have played a part, along with tidying up of gardens which removes potential nest sites.

Picture by Jennifer Ford

The main difference is that dragonflies hold their wings open at 90 degrees to their body when resting whereas damselflies hold their wings parallel to their body. On the whole, damselflies are much smaller than dragonflies. Dragonflies have huge eyes which occupy most of their globular head whilst damselflies have much smaller eyes which are positioned at each end of their oblong head. The flight of a damselfly is a relatively weak fluttering type compared to a dragonfly’s.

Picture by Keith Redhead

Boxing occurs during March/April when two hares stand on their back legs and 'box' each other with their front feet. The behaviour can be quite intense and gives rise to the name the ‘Mad March Hare’. Boxing is part of courtship behaviour and is usually the female warning off unwanted males rather than fighting between two males.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Pollen and nectar are needed to feed the adult bumblebees and their larvae. It is important to ensure that there are flowers in your garden from early spring through to late summer, covering the whole of the bumblebee season.

Bumblebees like to build nests in redundant mice and shrew holes. These may be found at the base of a hedge or in an area of rough grass. To make an artificial underground nest site, dig a hole, place a ball of moss or dry grass in the bottom and then cover it with a slab, leaving a small entrance hole.

Picture by Rebekah Wall

The comma is bright orange with dark brown markings on its wings. The underside displays a distinctive small, white ‘comma’ shape from which it takes its name. Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of this butterfly is not the colour of its wings but their ragged appearance. The butterfly is hard to spot when its wings are folded as it looks remarkably like a dead leaf.

The caterpillar is flecked with white and brown markings and, when fully grown, becomes the master of disguise, camouflaging itself as a bird dropping.

Picture by Julian Thomas

Four of the six UK reptiles occur in Norfolk the exceptions being the smooth snake and the sand lizard which are largely confined to the heathlands of southern Britain.

The reptiles you can see are:

Adder. The adder is a quite common species in Norfolk and can sometimes be disturbed from areas of heathland, dune systems or woodland glades especially during early spring when they are reviving from their winter hibernation or are engaged in courtship.

Grass Snake. These are quite common, especially on or near wetlands where they will hunt for frogs, newts and other such prey. Broadland has a large population and the best time to see them is on warm early spring days.

Slow-worm. These ‘legless lizards’ are not very common in Norfolk. They do occupy a variety of habitats but prefer grassy meadows, woodland margins and open fields. They can also sometimes be found in gardens.

Common (or Viviparous) Lizard. These reptiles are very common and widespread in Norfolk. They are best looked for on sunny days basking on fenceposts and other exposed objects.

Picture by Duncan Westlake

Adder
The adder is found on heathland, dry commons and in sunny clearings in woodland.

The basic ground colour is variable ranging from off white through to brown, but whatever the colour the distinguishing feature is the wide, dark zigzag stripe running along the back. This stripe is usually flanked by a row of spots running along each side. Occasionally, they can be plain brown or even black.

The adder has a distinct "V" or "X" shaped marking on its head and the eye has a pupil with a vertical slit.

Adders appear quite chunky and males can reach a length of up to 60cm, females up to 75cm.

Grass snake
Grass snakes are usually found in wetland habitats. The basic ground colour is olive green and there is a distinct yellowish/off-white and black collar around the neck. There are dark side markings along the whole length of the snake

The grass snakes’ eye has a round pupil.

The grass snake has a smooth appearance and is the largest indigenous UK reptile. Males can reach a length of up to 100cm and females up to 130cm.

Slow worm
Slow worms are very secretive creatures but can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens. They are not actually snakes, but the UK’s only legless lizard.

The colour of slow worms varies from light or dark brown through to brick red but they are far less well marked than the adder or the grass snake. However, males and females show marked differences when fully grown.

Females very often have a thin dark stripe running along the length of the back and the flanks are speckled and stripped with dark brown or black.

Adult males are more uniform in colour and occasionally have very distinct blue spots.

Length of both sexes is between 40 and 50cm long.

Picture by Tony Brooks
 

There are three newt species found in the UK – the great crested, the smooth or common newt and the palmate newt. Only the great crested and smooth newts are now widespread in Norfolk with the palmate newt being confined to a very small number of sites.

The great crested newt is the largest species at about 15cm long. Their topside is very dark brown or black and the underside is orange or yellow with irregular black spots. The males have a distinctive and large serrated crest during the breeding season. Great-crested newts have full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The smooth or common newt is about 8-10cm long and has a pale grey-brown body with a bright yellow or orange underside with dark spots. A distinguishing feature is the presence of spots on the underside of their throat. During the breeding season males have a continuous wavy crest running along the back and also along the underside of the tail.

The palmate newt is very similar in size and colour to the smooth newt; however the males do not have a very pronounced crest and have webbed hind feet. Females are more difficult to differentiate but the best way is to look at the throat which in palmate is usually a pale/translucent pink colour without spots.

For more information visit Froglife

Picture by Rob Peacock

 

Common frogs have a moist smooth skin which can be quite variable in colour ranging from brown, green or grey with dark blotches to yellowish or orange with red blotches. However, all common frogs have a distinct brown patch behind each eye which is not present in common toads. Common toads are far less variable and are usually a mottled mid-brown colour and have a granular or warty appearance.

Another useful feature is to look at the nose – that of the common frog will be pointed whereas that of the common toad will be blunt giving a much more rounded profile. The method of locomotion also varies with common frogs tending to leap and common toads tending to waddle or crawl along.

During the breeding season male common frogs make a quiet low-pitched call and inhabit ponds and ditches with shallow edges whereas common toads make a louder, higher croak and favour deeper water. Frogspawn is laid in familiar jelly-like clumps, while toads lay long, gelatinous ‘strings’. Frog and toad tadpoles can also be told apart: frog tadpoles are mottled brownish-grey to olive with gold speckles, while toad tadpoles remain jet black.

Picture by Pat Adams

Grass snakes mate during April after they come out of hibernation in March. The female will then lay her eggs in June or July in a warm place where the heat will allow the eggs to develop. This takes around 10 weeks and the young will hatch from late August through September. If the weather has been particularly cold then hatching may be delayed until October.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Bumblebees do not die when they sting. Unlike hive bees which leave their sting in their victims, bumblebees withdraw their sting. Bumblebees are unlikely to sting unless they are severely provoked.

Picture by John Lincoln

The British Trust for Ornithology carries out many surveys to monitor bird populations and actively seeks assistance from members of the public. For more information, go to their website at www.bto.org. Alternatively you can take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch which normally takes place in January.  

Picture by Pat Adams

 

Unlike frogs, toads tend to remain loyal to a relatively small number of traditional breeding ponds and have an instinctive desire to return to the pond in which they were born. In many areas this prevents them from utilising garden ponds for breeding. It is estimated that for every ‘toad pond’ there are 6 ‘frog ponds’. You may have toads in your garden pond during the summer months, but they are probably simply cooling off and may not stay long.

Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Honey bees are quite dull looking insects with no easily discernible bands of colour. They range in colour from black to golden brown, in Norfolk at least being an uninteresting browny/black. Honey bees will swarm periodically to found a new colony and are the only type of bees to do so. It is not uncommon to experience swarms of 40,000 or so bees but they can be smaller but always reckoned in thousands. They have far more on their minds than attacking humans or domestic animals but should nevertheless be left well alone. Remember, if provoked, honey bees can fly much faster than you can run! Also bear in mind that so-called “killer bees” do not exist in the UK!

If they are all in flight, nothing can be done. However, they will almost certainly start to congregate in a large cluster en route to their new home, often in a tree, shrub or on a wall. They will usually move on within a few hours but sometimes will stay in the cluster for up to a week. Again, they are not a serious risk unless provoked. Sometimes they will take up residence in a cavity wall, a chimney or roof space on your property.

If concerned about a cluster of bees on your property or nearby, please call the relevant contact below who will provide advice and, if appropriate, will undertake its removal. First, however, it is very important that you understand the type of bee you have found.
BUMBLE BEES Normally found in holes in the ground, sometimes in cavity walls. Bumble bees are the least aggressive of flying stinging insects. They are often quite big and very hairy, with different areas of colour according to their type. Ordinarily, the nest will die out in the autumn and you will have no further problems.

WASPS Wasps can be unpredictable and aggressive – leave well alone. They are distinctively black and yellow in clearly defined bands. They will nest in the ground or any convenient space and have been found in shrubs in a protected part of the garden. Their nests are distinctive – spherical in shape and look like grey papier maché.

OTHER BEES There are other types of bees which are not normally aggressive. They can usually be left alone.

BEES GENERALLY All bees and wasps undertake valuable work in your garden, either by pollination or controlling other pests. They are in decline, so whenever possible, try to encourage and tolerate them.

CONTACTS Remember that the contacts below can only provide assistance with honey bee swarms. Furthermore, they can only enter property with the consent of the owner/tenant and may not be able to assist where the bees are inaccessible. No charge per se is made for collecting a swarm although the collector may request expenses. Please ring the contact in the Council area where the bees are found.

Norfolk Beekeepers information about swarms https://norfolkbeekeepers.org.uk/swarms/


Picture by Elizabeth Dack

Froglife run a “Toads in the Road” scheme. They will not be able to help in all cases but the guidelines for the scheme are on the website, click on this link (https://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/how-to-become-a-toad-patroller/), as well as all the information needed to apply for the toad crossing to be included in the scheme.

Picture by Annabelle Tipper