FROG numbers in Simmons Park in Okehampton have shown an encouraging increase this year, the annual dredging of the pools in the water gardens have revealed.

Park-keeper David Whitfield estimated that there were between 25 and 30 frogs in the pools in the park, whereas last year there were around six.

Frogs in Simmons Park have in recent years been hit by the Ranavirus, a disease affecting frogs across the country which has hit populations akin to the way myxomatosis has in rabbits.

David said the latest evidence showed that the frog population of the gardens had built up immunity to the disease, at least for the time being.

‘At this time every year, we empty the water gardens of all the silt and debris which accumulates throughout the year,’ he said. ‘We take out a good tonne of leaf mould and the frogs are in that. They leap out and we return them to the water garden.

‘This year, for whatever reason, the frog population is higher again. Last year we had about six or eight, but this year there is probably in the region of 25 to 30, a big increase. We were removing the silt with big shovels and they were hopping out all the time we were shovelling.

‘We think it is a bit like myxomatosis in rabbits. The population gets reduced, and then the ones left build up immunity and manage to increase in number again, but then it can re-occur.’