Decline in frog population shows deep malaise

Where have all the tadpoles gone, long time passing?

Where have all the froggies gone, long time ago?

Where have all the anurans gone?

Housebuilders killed them every one

When will they ever learn?

This year, in contrast to the several hundred frogs which I see normally in my large garden, I have seen about six so far.

At the end of my garden lies the giant new housing development in Henthorn Road, the Taylor Woodrow site. Of course, I have not seen any newts, either, but there were only ever a few of them.

I presume the developers, who seemingly wish to improve our town, and make a large profit, performed the appropriate environmental assessment studies.

As Prof. Roger Downie, emeritus at Glasgow University, has emphasised recently: “Biologists are surprised at the poor state of so many amphibian populations.

“Because amphibians have such long evolutionary history (and have therefore lived through so many climatic and geolological changes) ... some have suggested the poor state of amphibians is an indicator of a deep malaise that threatens us all.”

Perhaps, simply by destroying small ponds, interrupting old drainage patterns and generally not giving a monkey’s about other animals and plants, we show how much greed now rules our lives, starting with the people who sell land to such developers.

Alan Burgess

Fairfield Drive, Clitheroe