The midwife toad, an unusual inhabitant of village ponds, gets its name from the male toad’s unique behaviour of carrying fertilised eggs (15 to 30) on his back legs until they hatch. Unlike most amphibians that leave their eggs in water, this species is known for its unusual reproductive method.
The midwife toad, prevalent in Biddenham, has been immortalised in the village sign.
Originally introduced to the UK in 1904 via a shipment of ferns from France, midwife toads first settled in Bedford. Over time, they spread to nearby areas, including Bromham Road, thanks to two brothers, Robert and Percy Brocklehurst, who released some toads into their garden. The toads have since been introduced to various gardens and are now common in northern Bedford and surrounding villages.
Their distinctive call resembles a bell-like peep rather than the typical croak of native toads, often leading to confusion among residents. These tiny creatures, about the size of an old 50p coin, are primarily terrestrial and only need water as tadpoles. They are active at night, hunting insects and worms, and hibernate during winter.
Visually, midwife toads are similar to common toads but have more pointed snouts and vertically-slit pupils. Their skin colour varies from grey to green to brown. As an introduced species, they are not legally protected, and their scientific name is Alytes obstetricans.
