“Happiness is a dark wood and a bucket of chirping toads”

SLOW: Toad Patrol (premiers at 8pm on Saturday 13th March 2021) is a thoughtful, inspiring, and uplifting film about grassroots wildlife conservation project in Henley, the impact it has, and what it takes to be a volunteer who dedicates several months each year to save thousands of toad’s lives. The film highlights what it takes to be a Henley Toad Patroller by following the coordinator Angelina Jones, and her team of volunteers of the UK’s busiest toad patrol on the Marlow Road .

It delves into the reasons why many different people from different backgrounds leave their warm homes on an evening to walk around in the winter cold and rain each night to patrol the muddy woodland border that sits next to one of Britain’s busiest A-roads, helping amphibians survive a treacherous annual journey. This two-time officially selected film is a charming and uplifting example of human’s love for nature, and a thoughtful reflection of what drives people to help.

Official Selection for the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, New York. Official Selection for the New Indie Film Festival of London.

Slow: Toad Patrol shines a light on the benefits to humans of volunteering, of getting involved, to help those in need, In this case Toads ,Frogs and Smooth Newts. So sit back, relax and enjoy this very British feel good film.

Filmed by Marble Squid Studios, independent filmmakers. “We had a tremendous pleasure making this fantastic film! If you would like to support us on our next project, you can buy us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marblesquid“

Toads are famous for their mass migrations back to their breeding ponds on the first warm, damp evenings of the year and many meet their end on roads built across the routes to their breeding ponds. In the past few years, the Henley Toad Patrol, who operate the toad crossing on the busy A4155 Marlow to Henley Road, have helped between 4000 to 10000 toads annually. Last year, nearly 5000 toads were helped to cross this road by patrollers. Not only toads though, as common frogs and common newts also migrate to spawn in the pond and over 400 frogs and nearly 70 newts were also carried across the road last year.

Henley Toad Patrol has one aim: to try to maintain the large toad population that has for many decades bred in the large pond in a field next to the Thames.We always need more people to help out at the crossing so if you are able to spare an hour or so in the evening just after dusk, you could make a real difference!

For more information and how to get involved visit www.henleytoadpatrol.com or email Angelina amtjones@googlemail.com