THE humble frog came under the spotlight at a workshop in Greenbushes on Saturday June 14 attended by 55 people from around the South West.
Workshop presenter Johnny Prefumo, better known as "The Frog Doctor", told the workshop that frogs around Australia were declining in numbers due largely to changes in the quality and quantity of water.
Mr Prefumo, who is an environmental biologist, said a decline in frog populations would lead to a decline in insects, birds and other mammals and a loss in biodiversity.
"Frogs are amazing iconic amphibians who live in air, land and water and they play an integral part in our environment because they feed on what feeds on them so frogs, our insects, birds and plants are all interdependent," said Mr Prefumo.
He said one way to address the loss of habitat was for people to "frogscape" their own gardens to provide a refuge and a home for frogs.
Mr Prefumo said there was a lot individual householders could do to create a suitable habitat, including installing shallow ponds and planting a range of plants including sedges, rushes and aquatic and perennial herbs.
Following an information session on frogs, frog pond design and plants suitable for frogs, participants visited the newly created frog pond at the Green bushes Comm unity Gar den to examine ways of creating a habitat suitable for frogs.
Greenbushes Com mu nity Garden co-ordinator Tracy Lansdell said the recently created frog pond at the garden was a great example of how to create a "mini- wetland" in a back garden.
Frogs would then migrate naturally to the area. "With assistance from Johnny our group has now created an environment suitable for frogs and we can already hear signs that we have frogs in our garden," Ms Lansdell said.
The workshop was funded by the Depart ment of Local Govern ment and Communities Community Garden Fund ing Programme 2014 and the Black wood Basin Group Priority Bittern and Waterbird Biodiversity Project supported by the Federal Government.
Local Government Minister Tony Simpson said Greenbushes was one of eight community gardens to receive a portion of $98,627 allocated as part of a four year State Government funding programme to encourage development of more community garden.
The State Government will allocate $400,000 over the four years and the next round of funding will open in July 2014.
