A common frog photographed by Liz yesterday in the woods alongside the Lambrok.

At this time of year, before the first frosts, many common frogs (Rana temporaria) leave the water and look for somewhere to hibernate on land. They look for holes in the ground, deep leaf litter or piles of rotting wood that they can hide beneath.

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At this time of year, many common frogs leave to water and hibernate on land.

Even if you don’t have a pond in your garden, there may be frogs from nearby water looking for somewhere to hibernate under your compost heap or among the jumble of empty flowerpots and upturned buckets outside your shed.

So go carefully as you prepare your garden for winter; while the flowerbeds may look dead to you, they are full of wildlife looking for a safe place to spend the coming winter.