Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt

Status

The population of great crested newt (GCN) has suffered a decline in past years (estimated at 2% of colonies per year) due to loss and degradation of breeding ponds and terrestrial habitat. The UK supports a significant element of the total world population of GCN, its range is confined to central Europe.

Ecology

The GCN breeds in ponds during the spring period, adults enter the water from early or mid-March depending on the temperature and date of the last frosts. Adults mate and lay eggs on submerged vegetation with egg laying activity reaching a peak in May. Adults then depart their breeding ponds by mid-June. However, GCN will return to the ponds throughout the summer months and ECOSA have recorded adult GCN in ponds through all months of the year.

During much of the summer adult GCN lead a terrestrial life style, foraging within grassland, woodland and scrub surrounding the pond. Young newts emerge from breeding ponds from around mid-July. During the late Autumn period GCN enter hibernation, the animals seek cracks in the ground, piles of debris and animal holes in which to shelter throughout the winter until they emerge for breeding.

Protection Under UK Legislation

In England, GCN is protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats,&c.) Regulations 1994.

The legislation prevents intentional killing or injury to individual newts and the deliberate damage or disturbance to their habitat. It is generally taken that terrestrial habitat within 500 metres of a breeding pond will function as habitat for the animals and as a result is covered by the legislative framework.

Any activity that would result in a contravention of the above legislation would require a Natural England licence to avoid committing an offence. Natural England licences are most likely to be issued where there are strong social and economic issues linked to the proposed development. However, such licences are likely to require mitigation/compensation proposals that benefit the species, such as additional habitat creation and beneficial habitat management.

Survey Methods

Surveys for GCN are most efficient when the animals are present within their breeding waterbodies. All of the survey methods outlined below can result in disturbance to GCN and as a result a Natural England licence must be obtained before such survey work can be carried out. ECOSA surveyors hold current Natural England GCN licences for England and Wales.

Egg Search Surveys

Searches of submerged vegetation can reveal the presence of eggs. Such surveys involve a slow and methodical search of vegetation around the margins of the waterbody, looking for the rolled leaves that house the eggs of GCN.

Torch Surveys

Surveys at night using high powered torches can reveal the presence of adult GCN as they swim, feed and court within the water.

Netting Surveys

Netting surveys are carried out using professional hand nets with a 1mm mesh, 0.3m long bag, a 250mm outer diameter frame with a total frame and handle height of 1.48m. The waterbody is netted until all accessible areas are adequately surveyed. Netting is particularly suited to ponds with dense vegetation or murky water which reduces the effectiveness of torch surveys.

Trapping Surveys

Trapping methods using plastic bottles with the ends removed and inverted into the neck of the bottle and submerged into the waterbody, leaving an air bubble. There are significant welfare issues with this survey technique and as a result ECOSA only employ this method when waterbodies are heavily vegetated.

Survey Timing

It is important to emphasise that successful GCN surveys are confined to a window of opportunity between early March and early June when animals are present in the breeding ponds. Outside of this season terrestrial surveys using drift fencing and pitfall traps can be used to establish presence of animals in terrestrial habitat, however the success rate is dependent on the sites habitat characteristics. It is not possible to survey for the species between November and early March.

Mitigation

The loss of a GCN breeding waterbody should be avoided where possible and utmost steps should be taken to conserve waterbodies, where possible. If as part of a proposed development loss of a breeding watyerbody is unavoidable this loss is usually mitigated for by excavating new waterbodies and improving the network in the local area.

Development close to a breeding waterbody will result in the loss of important terrestrial habitat for the species and mitigation for this loss should concentrate on sympathetic management of retained habitat, allocation of additional terrestrial habitat that was previously not suitable (e.g. mown amenity grassland) and a commitment to the long term management of habitat through a 106 Agreement.

Loss of breeding ponds and terrestrial habitat will require that animals are captured and removed from the development area. This will require the installation of GCN exclusion fencing and capture of animals. Newt translocation work will usually extend through at least one season i.e. March to October depending on the size of the population present.

Links

Biodiversity Action Plan

Natural England

Herpetological Conservation Trust

Disclaimer

Although we have taken great care to ensure that our information and advice is correct, we cannot accept any responsibility for any incorrect information, loss or damage incurred arising from the use of the information published on our web site. For further advice, detailed surveys and quotations please contact ECOSA.