Circles of life in frogspawn

Look, but don't touch - that's the message to Shropshire wildlife lovers as the spring sunshine brings out huge clusters of frogspawn in county ponds and wetlands.

Shropshire Star reader Peter Wigglesworth captured this fascinating close-up image of frogspawn reflecting the sunshine in the Onny Meadows pond at the Secret Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.

The tiny black circles, protected by a clear jelly, are eggs which will grow into tadpoles after three or four weeks. They will eat the jelly and many will grow into frogs.

Frogspawn is seen as one of the best indicators of the arrival of spring, because frogs are cold-bloodied and sensitive to temperature - warmer weather encourages them to lay their eggs earlier.

It starts to appear on average about eight days earlier than 60 years ago, matching a rise of 1.5C in the average January to March temperatures. Despite the ferocious February frosts, there have been frogspawn sightings in Shropshire for at least three weeks.

Experts at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urged wildlife spotters not to disturb frogspawn, as moving it could cause harm. "People enjoy seeing wildlife, which enriches their outdoor life and we encourage this. Responsible people will ensure that it is protected for others to enjoy," a spokesman said.

It is estimated that the average female frog lays up to 4,000 eggs at one time, although the vast majority are either eaten by predators, or killed by the elements.

Wildlife experts at website Beautiful Britain say: "Frogs return to ponds each February or March to lay their frogspawn and then most of them disappear, just as quickly as they arrive. The timing depends on the weather and location."