There are two types of Toad in the UK, this Common Toad and the Natterjack, which is much less common (in fact endangered). The Natterjack has a yellow line running down it's back, and as you can see in these photos, the Common Toad is evenly coloured. Common Toads are quite large (larger than a Frog) and have warty skin. They are also more of a rounded shape than a Frog. This one was found along the river, but could be found anywhere at Croome (it's taken me several years to see one, so an element of luck is involved).

Tadpoles can be found just about anywhere, such as the pond at the south end of the lake (by the Carriage Splash), or along the shallow parts of the river and main lake. The one below was found (with others) close to the Chinese Bridge. It is all over black, which is how all tadpoles start, but Frog tadpoles gradually gain flecks of gold.

This little fellow is about 15mm long and was crossing one of the paths in the main shrubbery (quite some distance from the lake). At this stage it is still quite difficult to distinguish between frogs and toads, but I think this one is a toad. It has quite a warty skin, rounded head and starting to get bumps behind the eyes, which are its parotoid glands.

In the spring (which was around mid-March in 2019) dozens and dozens of toads will enter the river and lake to spawn. Many can be seen swimming around the reeds and weeds near the water's edge. You can clearly see in the photo below that the toad-spawn is laid in strings, rather than large irregular blobs that frogs spawn