Common frogs are familiar garden wildlife whose populations have declined significantly in some regions, with garden ponds playing a crucial role in supporting breeding populations.
Common frog welfare is directly linked to garden pond availability and water quality. The loss of farm ponds and wetlands has made garden ponds critical breeding habitat. Ranavirus disease causes mass mortality events with individual frogs dying from haemorrhagic disease in ways that may involve suffering over days. Pesticide contamination of garden ponds from lawn treatments, slug pellets, and fertilisers kills tadpoles and reduces breeding success. The creation and maintenance of garden ponds — chemical-free, with shelving edges and native plants — directly provides breeding habitat and supports the wellbeing of local frog populations.