"Going infrognito" – I know I know, I’m so sorry (Photo courtesy of Nature's Home reader, Emma Sharples)

Another year, another heatwave. With temperatures soaring and the sun blazing once again, all many of us want to do is retreat to the shade and avoid inevitable patchwork sunburn. Much like us in the near-tropical weather, our local wildlife can really struggle underneath the relentless summer sun. It’s a tough gig for our nature in recent times, and our species are having more and more difficulty locating safe and reliable places to cool off. Luckily for this common frog, a plunge in the cold depths of Emma Sharples garden pond was on the cards, looking ever so smug peeping out of a pea-green pond-weed wall.

As we all know, our amphibious friends are found in and around nearly any standing body of water - whether it be your ornamental pond or local lake. Garden ponds like the one seen in this week’s photo of the week are a vital sanctuary for frogs. And in fact, an estimated 50% of all the UK’s frogs reside in these small bodies of water. For the green-fingered readers among you, frogs in your garden are a plus as they dine on a range of insect pests such as slugs and snails and, once they’ve taken refuge in your pond they tend to return year after year to the same space. Tadpoles feed on pond algae, and as they mature adopt a carnivorous diet. Usually they live in small groups and as such can live together here with relative ease.

If you’re considering building a pond, the RSPB offers planning and building advice for ponds and ditches of all sizes. Not only will the frogs, toads and newts be grateful for their new home, but you’ll encourage a whole wealth of wildlife to your garden too!

If you've got any beautiful, funny or fascinating photos you want to share with us, send them our way at natureshome@rspb.org.uk