They also list the other main Forest Ponds with records from Fairmead,
Goldings, Strawberry, Baldwins and the Wake ponds for 1971 and 1972. In
1974 two young toads were found on Sunshine Plain and 1975 several young
were found hibernating in the Centre gardens. The Suntrap Field Centre have
only records of hibernating toads found in the garden.
Common Frog (Rana temporaria (Linnaeus))
Early records describe the frog as "extremely common and generally
distributed" Laver (1898) and Stubbs (1920) found it very common in the pond
at Birch Hall, Theydon Bois. Fitter (1949) describes it as "common and widely
distributed even in the suburbs". This amphibian needs shallow water in which
to spawn i.e. pond edges, flooded land, slow running streams and ditches.
Modern drainage tends to obviate these conditions and now the frog appears to
breed in small colonies where conditions are more favourable. Malenoir in 1959
records small cluster of spawn from Strawberry Hill, Baldwins and Blackweir
ponds, the produce of only two or three pairs. Frogs were plentiful in Lords
Bushes and Knighton Wood ponds in my own records (1949) but became less
common in the sixties. More recently small numbers have been seen at the
Conservation Centre ponds (1971). In 1972 frogs were recorded at Fairmead
pond and Baldwins pond where many young were seen. Also further records
from the Centre ponds in 1973 and 1974 and in 1974 many young and some
adults were seen on Sunshine Plain. In 1975 six pairs were noted in the Centre
ponds. Tadpoles and adults were seen in Blackweir pond in 1976 also breeding
observed at Wake and Little Wake ponds.
Edible Frog (Rana esculenta (Linnaeus))
This frog was introduced and was recorded in the Whipps Cross ponds
from 1948 to 1959. I have seen them, some three or four only, in Manor pond
near Forest School and nearby in the Round pond in about the same numbers.
This was during the period 1950-1954, I only saw individuals usually basking in
the sun on the bank, to spring into the water when disturbed.
REPTILES
Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis (Linnaeus))
Malenoir (1963) describes this lizard as quite common especially at
Baldwins Hill and Broadstrood. Single specimens being recorded from most
parts of the Forest. The slow-worm prefers more open areas, being a true lizard,
and is found where grass occurs to provide food and cover. It is able to lie very
still while basking in the sun and often goes unnoticed so well is it camouflaged
among the grass stems. My only records of this reptile were at Buckhurst Hill
where it occurred in 1950-1955 in waste land bordering on to Lords Bushes,
28