A big part of the joy of the Saving Scotland’s Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAAR) project has been the chance to link with Community Trusts across Scotland.

One wonderful example is Cassiltoun Housing Association, based in the grounds of Castlemilk Park, Glasgow. SSAAR Education Officer, Janet Ullman, has the pleasure of working with the Community Woodland Officer, Stuart Whittaker.

Stuart has been key in introducing Janet to the community the park serves and has included Janet’s advice on amphibian habitat management in the management of the park. Below are some of the photos Stuart has taken showing some of the challenges of the park for amphibians and a lot of the successes he and his team are proud to share.

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Like a lot of city parks Castlemilk has its fair share of ducks and herons, here is a classic picture of a heron with a frog for dinner at the large formal pond in the centre of the park. 

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At Castlemilk Stuart and his volunteers have been busy creating complex habitats of logs, twigs and cuttings for sheltering amphibians. Common frogs are regularly found by Stuart the new brush wood piles he created this Spring.

This has creation of habitats has proven particularly successful and Stuart has reported that the number of frogs that have been seen in the wood has increased with last summer’s grass lands full of froglets. 

The team is also busy maximising the potential for woodland ponds where ducks and herons cannot fly in. One pond was cleared and saved from becoming a silt trip, with silt dug out this winter along with a golf bag and double bed frame. This silted up pond still attracted palmate newts and it is hoped that the pond is now even more attractive to newts. Success of pond clearance has been measured by the amount of frog spawn that has been laid this Spring. Pictured below.

Of course, pond maintenance continues whether it is woodland, garden or formal ponds in the park, with surveying amphibians’ part of the routine for all of the team.

Janet will be back at Castlemilk this Spring with Stuart and Miller’s Primary who have adopted one of the parks woodlands ponds as part of the SSAAR Champhibian "schools adopt ponds" project. Millers Primary was one of the first Champhibian schools in Scotland and are very proud of their woodland pond which they are helping to manage with Stuart.

Find out more about Castlemilk park: https://www.cassiltoun.org.uk/castlemilk-park/

Photos by Stuart Whittaker