The Pool Frogs of Greenham Common 23rd May 2025

This time last year I wrote about making the acquaintance of a population of Pool Frogs on Greenham Common in the adjacent county of Berkshire see here

Greenham Common  has undergone a remarkable transformation since it closed as a nuclear airbase in 1992 and much for the better in my opinion. From being a hostile and unwelcoming place for planes carrying nuclear missiles and bombs it has been taken over by BBOWT (Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust) and is now a magnificent and huge reserve harbouring an abundance of flora and fauna rather than nuclear missiles.

There is a small lake come pond tucked discretely away amongst trees and bushes not very far from the former airfield control tower that now serves as a visitor centre and cafe and is close to one of the main tracks giving access to the reserve. Fortunately not many of the prolific dog walkers venture its way which is just as well as it is meant to be left sacrosanct and dog free.

Here, if you like is a welcome miniature nature reserve within a larger one, where one can sit quietly and undisturbed in tranquil surroundings, be at peace and admire the dragonflies and a magnificent patch of lilies while watching a healthy population of Pool Frogs go about the annual business of procreation.

Pool Frogs hibernate from October to April and then make their way to small lakes or ponds such as this one with May and June the prime time to see them, so the timing of my visit was about right. From last year's experience I knew it was pointless getting here before nine thirty. as Pool Frogs  like warmth and the sun is not strong enough until after nine. At just before ten I sat totally alone on a bank by the still waters as the sun shone down on me and a Dartford Warbler sang in the gorse behind.Perfect.  

Pool Frogs like to bask in the sun warmed shallows but are ultra wary so one has to remain very still so as not to alarm them otherwise they sense your presence, panic and with an audible plop dive for the bottom of the pond.When they are at ease they manifest themselves by floating to the surface and easing their heads above the water from under lily pads or lying on tangles of weed in the shallows.

It takes time to get one's eye in but discover one frog and then many more miraculously become apparent, hanging immobile in the water close to cover and impassively staring goggle eyed at - well who knows?

They come in two basic colours, green and brown, marked with camouflaging darker spots and bars on their skin but without fail all show a bright yellowish green dorsal strip running down the middle of their head and back.They are about the size of our Common Frog but have more pointed snouts and longer legs.

As the sun warmed the water the males began croaking, inflating white air sacs, as if blowing bubble gum, one on each side of their neck, creating a surprisingly loud rasping croak similar to the  turning of rusting machinery..Once one frog commenced croaking others took up the challenge until there was quite a chorus which invariably abruptly ceased at the slightest sense of danger and then gradually recommenced building to another crescendo of sound

Males further out in the middle of the pond were jostling each other and this is where the croaking mostly came from. One frog would leap at another and with little subtlety they would barge each other to try and assert their supremacy whilst croaking at the same time. At least that is what I surmised they were up to although it could have been a male attempting to mount a female, as with Common Frogs but it was difficult to tell..

Other frogs, in fact the majority around the fringes of the lake seemed unimpressed or disinclined to join in and remained silent and statuesque in their patches of  weed

By late morning the sun had warmed enough to energise one of the frogs deadliest predators the Grass Snake, as much at home in the water as out of it. I saw one  hunting along the opposite bank of the pond. stopping to lie motionless every so often as if waiting for an unsuspecting  frog to come close enough to ambush

I walked over to get closer and the snake sensed my presence and froze in the water, floating like a chord of brown rope hoping not to be noticed. An expressionless eye stared at me or at least I assumed it did but in truth it could be regarding anything. Waiting. Unsure. A black forked tongue tasted the air, its way of detecting prey or in this case the presence of a perceived danger.

Eventually the snake lost its nerve and swam fast from me but even in its panicked withdrawal achieved its escape with utmost grace, its long body curving in sinuous elegance to propel it through the water

Only minutes later another  grass snake crossed the pond towards me.It was not the same individual as before for this one was very long, at least a metre, its body seeming to go on forever as  it sashayed through the clear water, totally unaware of me.It reached the bank below me and then sensing it was not alone made a languid escape towards the sanctuary of the lilies. Gone. Silence from the frogs, all too aware of the danger.

After some minutes the frog's croaking recommenccd  as if nothing untoward had occurred and as the sun became even warmer more and more of these sun worshipping amphibians made for the shallows to lie in the water with the sun on their heads and backs. I know that feeling!

I admired the lilies, arrayed in front of me, an extensive carpet of leathery overlaid deep green leaves supporting a host of huge white flowers, so beautiful in the still water, great, waxy, white petalled cups suffused with pink on the outside and encasing a spaghetti of bright yellow stamens

Eventually I sat in repose, having had my fill of the frogs, contemplated the lilies before me and this gently peaceful pond so vulnerable but thankfully ignored by most visitors to the reserve and paradoxically so near to the former control tower  that for so long had a much more sinister purpose.

I took great pleasure in enjoying this evidence of a minor triumph for nature over human folly. 

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