I have seen amphibians in my pond over the summer but where do they go in the autumn?

Newts, toads and frogs will usually leave their ponds to hibernate in the winter. Their favourite places for hibernation include rockeries, woodpiles, compost heaps, old plants pots, greenhouses, as well as piles of unused paving slabs that may just be propped up against a wall.

All of these areas will offer small, snug gaps to hide away in and keep protected from plummeting temperatures and frosts. Even if you don’t have a pond you may still find hibernating creatures will use undisturbed areas in your garden over the winter, so fight the temptation to tidy up that old pile of logs or stack of flower pots as we get into the colder months - you might be accidentally disturbing a toad abode.

Posted in: Frogs, Toads and Snakes on 10 June 2015


Back to the in your garden homepage

Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
1787562436.01980 [907] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
1787562436.08760.0679Matched route: discover/in-your-garden/article/[i:id]
1787562436.08780.0002Server address: 216.73.217.165
1787562436.08790Using master page: /templates/pages/in-your-garden/post.php
1787562436.08790Page arguments:
Array
(
    [0] => /discover/in-your-garden/article/105
    [id] => 105
    [1] => 105
)
1787562436.08810.0002 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.10170.0136 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
1787562436.10350.0018 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429796
1787562436.10430.0008 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429796
1787562436.10490.0006 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-08-24 09:07:00' AND saleTo>'2026-08-24 09:07:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
1787562436.10570.0008 [1] SELECT collectionID, collectionTemplate FROM swt_collections WHERE collectionKey='Wildcall'
1787562436.10720.0015 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=105)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562436.11260.0054Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562436.11270.0002 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562436.11290.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562436.1130Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562436.1130Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562436.11310.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562436.11310Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562436.11310Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562436.11320Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562436.11320Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562436.11320Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562436.11330Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562436.11330Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562436.11350.0002Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562436.11350.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.11360.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.11370.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562436.11370Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.11370Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562436.11380Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.11380Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.11390.0001 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.1160.0021 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562436.12150.0054 [162] SELECT catID, catPath FROM swt_categories
1787562436.12310.0017 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
1787562436.1250.0018Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1787562436.12520.0003 [nil] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/in-your-garden/article' OR regionPage='*')
1787562436.1280.0027No matching content regions found. Check region name (Banner image) and page path options.
1787562436.1280.0001 [nil] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE idx.regionID IS NULL AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562436.1290.0009 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562436.13530.0063 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.1360.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562436.13820.0022Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
1787562436.13830.0001 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.13910.0008 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.13960.0005 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.14220.0026 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.1430.0008 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.14330.0004 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562436.14550.0021 [0] SELECT setID FROM swt_category_sets WHERE setSlug='' LIMIT 1
1787562436.14630.0008 [1] SELECT main.* FROM swt_categories main WHERE 1=1 AND (catPath='wildcall/frogs-toads-and-snakes/') ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562436.1470.0008 [1] Using template: /templates/categories/wildcall_banner.html
1787562436.14880.0018 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=105)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562436.15250.0037Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562436.15260.0001 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562436.15280.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562436.15280Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562436.15280Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562436.15290Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562436.15290Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562436.15290Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562436.1530Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562436.1530Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562436.1530Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562436.15310Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562436.15310Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562436.15320.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562436.15330.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.15330Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.15340.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562436.15340Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.15340Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562436.15350Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.15350Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562436.15360 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562436.15520.0016 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562436.15880.0036 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
1787562436.15960.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
1787562436.16020.0006 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562436.16330.0031 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.16390.0006 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562436.16640.0025 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562436.16730.0009 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562436.16830.0011 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562436.16880.0005 [38] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562436.17130.0025 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.17620.0049 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562436.1790.0028 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562436.18150.0025 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
1787562436.18230.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
1787562436.18280.0005 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562436.18530.0025 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.18580.0005 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562436.18830.0025 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562436.19030.002 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562436.1910.0007 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562436.19160.0006 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562436.19420.0026 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562436.19470.0005 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562436.19680.0021 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562436.19750.0007Request time: 0.1787
1787562436.19750Process time: 0.1785
1787562436.19750Memory: 1.7704