From slate to natterjack bait: Wilder, Wetter Caerlaverock Diaries no. 12
At Caerlaverock we try to be as imaginative as possible on how to reuse materials. In the past we’ve created ponds from old water troughs, we’ve made nest boxes out of donated wood and now we’re making refugia for our natterjack toads.
What are refugia? During the day, natterjacks like to burrow under the soil to avoid predators before emerging and being more active in the evening. Refugia provide cover and a safe place for natterjacks to do this. It can be useful to provide this to add to any natural refugia in the environment.
You can make refugia out of different materials. Tiles seem to be the best as they’re reasonably strong, flat and don’t get as hot as metal which could be dangerous for the toads.Luckily we have a big pile of old slate tiles that we could use. It’s extremely satisfying to take something that is unwanted and unused and totally rethink how you can use it and what for. If only we used that way of thinking in all manners of life, we might not create as much waste as we do as a society!
Whilst it’s great that we have these slate tiles the job isn’t finished there, before we put them out onto the reserve in suitable areas we need to create larger refugia by fixing multiple slate tiles together to create a larger area. We do this by fixing the slates to a supporting beam of wood to hold it all together. They don’t necessarily look aesthetically pleasing but I’m sure the natterjacks won’t mind as long as they provide a nice safe spot.
With the help of our wonderful volunteers we managed to make 26 refugia placing them around 20 ponds. Hopefully the natterjacks approve and make a new use for these slate tiles.
This project is supported by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.
Words and pictures by Jake Goodwin
