Common Frog Rana temporaria
Length 6-9cm Common and widespread in Britain. Colour usually greenish brown or olive-buff with darker blotches. Spawning takes place between December or April depending what part of the country. Mating pairs and masses of frogspawn are a common sight in most ponds. Males utter faint croaking song.

Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris
Length 8-10cm In breeding season, the male shows spotted flanks, undulating crest along back, and orange belly and pale throat with conspicuous spots. Brown female lacks crest and is distinguished by spotted throat.
Found in ponds, ditches and lakes from March to September; thereafter, leaves water and hibernates during winter months under fallen logs.

Reptiles
Reptiles have been on earth for about 200 million years. Physically reptiles are characterised by several features: they are vertebrates, breath air with lungs, and have skin covered with scales or plates. All reptiles are cold-blooded, meaning they depend on their environment for body heat. LIZARDS, Most lizards are 4-legged, live in diverse environments and are the most geographically widespread of the reptiles. SNAKES, As a group, they lack legs, hearing, and movable eyelids and have a large number of vertebrae, most of which have ribs attached. TORTOISES, are another ancient group of reptiles, their shell forms part of the skeleton. The shoulder girdle is located inside the rib cage, which is part of the shell along with the backbone. Also, since the chest cannot expand, breathing is accomplished by contracting different sets of muscles.

Slow-Worm Anguis fragilis
Grows up to 50cm long, usually brown or grey and very smooth and shiny. Female may have a dark line along the back, male may have a few blue spots. Easily distinguished from a snake by its more oval eye and movable eyelids.Feeds on insects, slugs and worms and likes to basks in the sunshine, early or late in the year.
Habitat, vegetated and fairly damp areas...Dormant in winter

Grass Snake Natrix natrix
Length 70-150cm Has greenish body with dark blotches along flanks. Best distinguishing features are yellow neck collar and round pupil. Found near ponds and canals, also in grassland and on heaths. Food including frogs, tadpoles and fish. Eggs laid in mounds of decaying waterside vegetation or in compost heaps; young hatch in summer months. Hibernates from October to March.

Common Lizard Podarcis muralis
Head and body up to 7.5cm, tail up to 15cm. Generally brown or grey in colour with vertical black and white bars on the tail. Males usually have dark spots on the back and both sexes are sometimes tinged with green. Feeds on flies and other insects and spiders. Likes basking on the tops of walls and tiled roofs.
Habitat, rocks, walls and terraces.
Dormant in winter