By Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's Ellen Winter

A huge thank you to everyone who responded to my plea for more toad patrollers in the Stroud Valleys in last month's column.

We have already run our first training session at Richmond Village in Painswick - what a fun evening.

This wonderful response will mean many more of the 25 crossings around the Stroud district will have patrollers to help move toads to safety.

You can still get involved by looking out for toads on mild, damp winter evenings as they travel back to ponds to spawn.

Just let me know where you find them by emailing ellen.winter@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

Whilst wild love is in the air, it is a good time to think of nesting birds and February 14-21 is national nestbox week.

If you have a nestbox, take it down and clear out any old material, although be careful there may be spores inside and it is advised you wear gloves and a mask.

It's a good time to consider specialist nest boxes too, like swift boxes.

After talking to local developers, they agreed to install four swift boxes on new houses at Acre Street Gospel Hall to help encourage more of these amazing aerial acrobats.

Finally, it's great to see so many of you at my wildlife 'drop-in' sessions.

Many of you want to know more about wildlife in your gardens, and now is the time of year to think about sowing nectar rich flowers to attract bees and butterflies.

Come along on Tuesday, February 12, to get a free Butterfly Bistro advice sheet detailing the best things to plant to encourage more wildlife.

I will be at Scrumptious Cafe in Nailsworth from 10am to noon and at the 2i's Cafe in Stonehouse from 2pm to 4pm. It would be great to meet you.