Make a shelter for frogs and toads

Water is essential for most amphibians as they need it for things like reproduction, respiration and feeding. When they’re not hanging out in ponds and pools, frogs and toads need somewhere to shelter during the hottest parts of the day without drying out, and a place to hide from the things that want to eat them! 

Give these amazing little creatures a place to stay on your patch by making them their very own shelter. Here’s how.

Stuff you'll need:

• Terracotta flower pot
• Hammer
• Sandpaper or metal file
• Eye protection
• Ruler or tape measure
• Stuff to decorate your shelter such as paints and brushes, felt tip pens, and natural materials like shells and stones.
• Drill (optional)
• Glue gun (optional)
• Moist, rotting leaves (optional)

Step-by-step guide

1.Make an entrance at the front and the back of the flower pot; these should be at least 10cm (4in) wide and 7cm (3in) high. Wearing eye protection, drill a series of holes in a semicircle from the lip of the pot then tap out the piece with a hammer. If you don’t have a drill, just use the hammer and chip out a doorway. File down any sharp bits with sandpaper or a metal file. 

2.Decorate your shelter in any way you like. You could get creative with paints and felt tip pens, or stick on natural decorations such as shells or stones. 

3.Find a shady area of your garden, close to a pond if you have one (don’t worry if you don’t, frogs and toads may still visit your garden). Dig a very shallow hole, just wider than the rim of the pot. Add some moist rotting leaves if you have them.

4.Place your pot upside down over the hole.

5.Sit back and wait for the frogs and toads to visit your shelter. You might also want to make a mini pond for your new garden friends if you don’t have one already – see our How to provide water for wildlife resource for how to make a mini wildlife pond.