Smallbrook Road Closure

Hooray! There is now some protection for the local population of toads during their annual migration to breeding ponds.

Pregnant female toad
Female Toad

Wiltshire Council have put in place a Traffic Regulation Order, restricting motor traffic along parts of Smallbrook Road, for the toad migration season. The road is closed to motor traffic between 5pm and 5am, from 1st February to 30th April, so it is now in force. This TRO has the support of Wiltshire Police. Smallbrook Road car park and Wheelers Lane can still be accessed from Gipsy Lane / Southleigh View. Henfords Marsh can still be accessed from Upper Marsh Road and Lower Marsh Road.

The stretch of Smallbrook Road between the car park and the junction with Henfords Marsh is the protected area, and can no longer be used as a cut-through during evening and night time. This is the same bit of road that frequently floods in heavy rain. The road is not physically blocked off during the night time hours, but it is being monitored. Pedestrians, cyclists and horses are not affected by this order.

Full details published by Wiltshire Council can be found here.

Toad Patrol

The Smallbrook toads have finished breeding and are heading away from their ponds.

These are the numbers the toad patrol recorded this Spring:

If you normally use Smallbrook Road as a short cut between Plants Green/ Gipsy Lane and Upper/Lower Marsh Road, please try to avoid doing so after dark, as up to 20% of the toads we find have been killed by passing cars, even though it’s now a 30mph road.

And keep an eye out for the Toad Patrollers who help the toads to cross safely!

https://www.facebook.com/Warminstertoadpatrol

Warminster Town Council are requesting that Wiltshire Council Highways assess temporary closure of Smallbrook Road starting next year, for a month each spring.

We always welcome new toad patrol volunteers, so if you are interested please contact warminstertoadpatrol@gmail.com

A large pregnant female toad