Create a hideaway for frogs
Frogs and toads need cool, damp places to rest and hide from predators. In many gardens, these safe spaces are hard to find. By building a simple hideaway, you're helping protect amphibians and giving them a better chance to stay healthy and safe in their natural environment.
Last edited: 30/05/2025
Before you get started
Why is this important
Frogs and toads need cool, damp places to rest and hide from predators. In many gardens, these safe spaces are hard to find. By building a simple hideaway, you're helping protect amphibians and giving them a better chance to stay healthy and safe in their natural environment.
Video
Click here to watch our Hideaway for Frogs video.
Instructions
Making a hideaway
Finding the best spot
Look for a quiet, shady, and naturally damp area in your garden. Good places include:
- Under shrubs or bushes
- Near a pond (if you have one)
- In a corner that stays cool and moist
Avoid areas with strong, direct sunlight for most of the day, as amphibians prefer cool and damp spaces.
Gather your materials
You could use:
- A terracotta pot large enough for a frog or toad to fit inside
- Rocks of various sizes - flat ones work well for creating entrances and layers
- Old logs or untreated wood - these help retain moisture and provide hiding spots
- Leaf litter to help keep the area damp and natural
- Roof tiles or bark for extra hiding places
Top tip: Make sure any wood you use hasn’t been treated with chemicals.
Start Building Your Base
Choose your spot and dig a shallow hole slightly wider than your terracotta pot.
Place the pot on its side in the hole and backfill around it with soil. It should sit level with the ground to allow easy access for frogs and toads.
Create Gaps and Crevices
Build around the pot
Use your rocks and logs to build around the terracotta pot.
Leave lots of small gaps and openings - this gives animals places to hide, shelter, and stay cool.
Add overhangs
Angle some rocks or logs to create small overhangs for shade and added protection from weather and predators.
Mix materials
If you're using both rocks and logs, try mixing them around the pot to create a variety of textures and tunnels. Add some leaf litter inside the pot and around the structure to help hold in moisture.
celebrate your achievement
Together, We’re Making an Impact
Upload a photo of your hideaway, and we’ll add +1 to our impact counter - showing how many of you are making a collective difference.