Whilst out and about undertaking the Big Farmland Bird Count, we spotted something more than birds!!

Frog Spawn was in abundance on one of our Sandstone Ridge Farmer Network farms this morning (Alistair Cliff's farm at Burwardsley Hall) – and plenty of it!

So preoccupied have we all been with Storms Ciara and Dennis and the endless rain and wind that we seem to have overlooked that signs of Spring are clearly here.

If you haven't yet seen it, you will probably hear the frogs – they make such a noise during the mating season!

Look out for large clumps of eggs which will be clearly visible in your garden ponds. Whilst this might seem excessive, it ensures that some spawn survives, and that some of the tadpoles might actually become froglets.

It is estimated that only 1/50 of the eggs laid will actually make it to froglet stage.

Regrettably, the impact of some modern agricultural practices, the loss of ponds and increases in amphibian disease mean that our native frog is no longer that 'common'.