Tadpole

A delightful walk around Osbourne's Pond this morning, afforded us the sight of masses of tadpoles swimming around the shallows.

The aquatic, larval stage of most amphibians, tadpoles are familiar to us all. The romantic image of small children with jam jars full of these tiny creatures, is one of the most enduring of the British Springtime. The numbers of tadpoles in Osbourne's Pond this morning would suggest a good year for frogs and toads - supposing they all reach maturity. Something of a forlorn hope here as the enormous carp swimming around will undoubtedly take their fair share.