As anyone who has read Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows will know, unlike his gentle friends Mole and Ratty, Mr Toad of Toad Hall is boastful, conceited and vain.

But in my experience, toads are not at all like that. In real life they are elusive, shy and retiring, preferring to hide away under stones during the day.

This is certainly the case now because they are snoring away the winter in hibernation, often several together secure under logs or stones.

Frogs too are over-wintering. Females are probably in moist places on land, while the males are usually dormant at the bottom of muddy ponds - ready to receive mates when they return to breed in early spring.

Newts can also be found near water under damp stones. They frequently group together, limbs and tails entwined, whereas reptiles including lizards and snakes prefer dry places in which to spend the colder months.

Few warm blooded animals hibernate. However, hedgehogs and bats may risk short forays in milder weather.

In severe conditions with hard frosts or deep snow, badgers remain below ground living solely on fat reserves as earth worms will be difficult to root out.

Many adult insects are now tucked up in nooks and crannies, often in our homes.

Aggregations of garden-friendly ladybirds and lacewing flies select all sorts of odd places such as light fittings, kitchen cupboards, under tree bark or up in our insulated lofts.

Queen wasps often choose to rest behind curtains and recently while I was quietly reading in a warm room, I was startled by a wasp which, rudely awakened and clearly disorientated, suddenly began shooting around the room like a bullet.

It bounced off the walls and the ceiling before knocking itself out, landing sprawled on the carpet!

By TONY DRAKEFORD

December 7, 2001 13:08