Fears for more than 1,000 toads after reservoir drained by water company

Volunteers from Wrexham Toad Patrols have expressed deep concern after more than 1,000 toads may have died following the draining of Nant-y-Ffrith reservoir on the Llandegla moors. The reservoir was emptied over the Easter weekend by water company Hafren Dyfrdwy to carry out essential safety improvements. The toads, which rely on the reservoir as a breeding ground, were expected to leave the site in a few weeks at the end of the breeding season, raising fears that the timing of the work has caused significant harm to the local amphibian population. The volunteers, who annually assist toads crossing the busy A525 road to reach the reservoir, had helped nearly 1,500 toads this year—four times the number from the previous year—thanks to increased community involvement. They were shocked to find the reservoir silent and devoid of the usual vocal activity of male toads, indicating a likely mass fatality. Conservation charity Froglife has highlighted the importance of such habitats, noting a 41% decline in UK common toad populations over the past 40 years, largely due to habitat loss including the disappearance of garden ponds. Reservoirs like Nant-y-Ffrith are therefore critical for amphibian survival. Volunteers emphasized the broader ecological impact of the reservoir’s draining, warning that the loss of toads could disrupt the local ecosystem. They criticized the timing of the maintenance work, suggesting that delaying it by four to six weeks would have allowed the toads to complete their breeding cycle and leave the water safely. The group called for better communication and cooperation between human activities and wildlife conservation to prevent similar incidents in the future. Hafren Dyfrdwy acknowledged the community’s concerns, stressing that the reservoir is a vital drinking water supply and that the safety work was necessary to maintain its operation. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing essential infrastructure maintenance with environmental protection, particularly for vulnerable species dependent on specific habitats.