A threatened species officer who has guided farmers in making their dams more environmentally friendly is bringing his expertise to Border residents' backyards.
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Dave Hunter of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will discuss how to make frog ponds at the weekend, in a event run by Gardens for Wildlife Albury-Wodonga.
"The lack of suitable habitat is a real threat to frogs, but with a bit of work we can all create frog-friendly habitat in gardens, schools and parks," he said.
"This idea that you can make ponds specifically for frogs as opposed to a general garden pond ... is becoming increasingly popular.
"More people are realising that the plants and structures they put in their gardens can contribute to maintaining biodiversity in our urban environments."
Dr Hunter has 25 years' experience in frog conservation and said ponds made "a huge difference" in efforts to stop declining populations.
"We need to bring biodiversity not only into the minds, but also hearts of the broader community," he said.
"There's potentially no better way than people having biodiversity in their day-to-day lives, through things like having a frog pond in their garden."
Saturday's session supported by the Wodonga Urban Landcare Network and Albury Council is already fully booked, but Gardens for Wildlife project officer Lizette Salmon said guidance was always available.
"Most people feel really endeared towards frogs ... they are an important part of the ecosystem," she said.
"We're keen for people to make frog ponds, because they are needed for frogs to breed in.
"You can do other things in your garden to make them frog-friendly.
"Frogs need moisture - you can activate that by having a well-vegetated garden, or a layer of mulch.
"Giving frogs places to hide is important, and people will see in the garden on Saturday there's a lot of complexity; there are logs, rocks and different plants.
"You can do things like half-burying a terracotta pot, which will give them a place to hide."
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Not using pesticides or herbicides is also helpful, as frogs breathe through their skin and actually eat their skin when it is shed.
Other tips for creating a frog pond include locating it in a low-lying section of the garden that has 60 to 70 per cent shade, creating varying depths, covering the bottom with washed gravel, and filling it with rainwater.
Chlorinated tap water needs to stand in a clean container for five days to allow the chlorine to dissipate before it's added to the pond.
Visit the Wodonga Urban Landcare Network website for resources.
