A Henley Toad Patrol volunteer has marked her dedication to the preservation of amphibians with a unique tribute—an amphibian tattoo.
Milly Kennedy, a dedicated member of the Henley Toad Patrol for seven years, has made it her mission to ensure the safe passage of toads during their annual migration across the A4155. To commemorate her work, Kennedy recently got a tattoo of a toad, roughly 4-5 cm wide, on the inside of her right forearm. “It was kind of a homage to the toads that I’ve been carrying across the road,” she explained.
Kennedy, who teaches public services at Henley College, chose to depict a female toad in her tattoo, noting that it symbolizes her experience with the amphibians she helps. “She’s slightly bigger,” Kennedy said, reflecting on the physical characteristics of the toads she carefully transports. For Kennedy, volunteering with the Toad Patrol has become a deeply meaningful activity. “It’s something we do together as volunteers, helping the toads across the road,” she said, adding that she already has several tattoos, making the gesture all the more fitting.
The response to her tattoo has been overwhelmingly positive, both from her colleagues at the Toad Patrol and from her students at Henley College. “It’s been really positive,” she noted, emphasizing the joy she finds in her volunteer work.
Kennedy highlighted several reasons why volunteering with the Toad Patrol is so rewarding, particularly her connection with the toads. “The main reason is the toads themselves—they have zero defense mechanisms and need to get across the road to spawn in the pond. We just want to make sure they get across safely,” she said.
As the migration season approaches, Kennedy explained that the toads’ movement depends on specific weather conditions, with temperatures needing to be above 7°C (44.6°F) for the amphibians to begin their journey. “They’ve been doing this journey for thousands of years from the woods to the pond. We don’t want them to get squashed on the road,” she added. “It’s about conserving them, keeping them safe, and ensuring they can complete their journey.”
While frogs are generally more independent during their migration, Kennedy and her fellow volunteers still assist in carrying them across the road when needed.
With the migration season on the horizon, Kennedy remains committed to her role in helping the toads, and her tattoo serves as a permanent reminder of the cause she passionately supports.
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