The European tree frog (Hyla arborea) is a small amphibian with a body no longer than two inches (40-50mm) but with long back legs and either bright green, grey, yellow or tan in colour, depending on temperature and how it is feeling at the time!

It is a native of Europe, parts of Africa, temperate Asia to Japan but not Britain or Ireland.

However there are old records of it being in the Island, especially in the St Lawrence Undercliff area.

Dr Martin, who lived in Belgrave Road, Ventnor, and published a book on the Undercliff in 1849, wrote that ‘a rumour exists that tree frogs were known to occur in the large trees about Wrong’s Farm, St Lawrence.’

This farm was situated to the west of Wolverton and included the land from Woody Head to the eastern boundary of the Old Park Estate.

In Frank Morey’s Guide to the Natural History of the Isle of Wight, published by the Isle of Wight County Press in 1909, Percy Wadham had quite a bit to say about tree frogs and refers to Dr Martin thinking that they were an introduction (which they were, of course) and agreeing with him.

He goes on to say that "This reported attempt to naturalise the species may have induced Lord Walsingham to liberate, as he did, a number of these frogs in his grounds at St Lawrence a few years ago (possibly the house known as Belvedere).

"These seem quite to have established themselves, for they breed regularly in a small pond in front of his house.

"The male of the species is provided with a large vocal sac in the throat, which is inflated to a great size when the frog is croaking, and it is doubtless owing to this that the little creature can make such a noise.

"Some residents of St. Lawrence inform me that the not unmusical chorus can be heard at least half a mile away on a still spring evening."

He also added that he had been told that a number of tree frogs had escaped from a greenhouse in Freshwater and had since bred in a pond near Tennyson Road.

It’s surprising that there are no modern records as some people nowadays tend to buy exotic species, keep them awhile, get fed up with them and then release them in the countryside.

Terrapins constantly released into Bonchurch Pond are a good example of this thoughtless behaviour. It is quite possible, of course, that as a result of this practice somewhere in the Island, tree frogs are happily at large. Who knows?