The end of this icy cold winter and some recent rainfall will kick start the emergence of Great Crested Newts and migration across land to a suitable breeding pond.
The end of this icy cold winter and some recent rainfall will kick start the emergence of Great Crested Newts and migration across land to a suitable breeding pond. Activity will increase to a peak between March and May before decreasing prior to hibernation later in the year.
Newts populate a group of ponds used for different purposes and may move over 500 metres between ponds or resting places. Great Crested Newts require water bodies for breeding and suitable surrounding terrestrial habitats for hibernation and dispersal. Terrestrial green corridors between ponds and linked populations are very important. Great Crested Newts can be found across England, Scotland and Wales but are largely confined to lowland areas.
Great Crested Newts are a European Protected Species, protected in the UK under the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994 (as amended) which transposes European law into the UK making it illegal to:
• Deliberately disturb, capture or kill a Great Crested Newt, take or destroy its eggs and to Damage or destroy its breeding site or resting place.
Additionally under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) it is illegal to:
• Intentionally kill, injure or take a Great Crested Newt, possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a Great Crested Newt,
• Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection and to disturb a Great Crested Newt while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose.
Great Crested Newts are often recognised as a major barrier to work proceeding smoothly, placing a strain on both time and resources. Planning Great Crested Newt surveys is important to ensure you make the most of the species small survey window.
Surveys for proving presence or absence, and for population estimates to inform Natural England licence applications, are restricted to a minimum of four-six visits between mid-March and mid-June, with at least two visits during mid-April to mid-May . Missing this survey window may mean you will have to stop site work until the following survey season forcing an otherwise avoidable 10 month delay on the project.
Surveys do not need to wait until the last possible moment, infact it is often beneficial that surveys are conducted at least a year in advance of works or during design stages to allow time for potential licence applications and mitigation to occur. Consulting an ecologist early in the process, may mean that work can be redesigned and costly surveys, licensing and mitigation avoided.
Other issues to consider:
- Consider speaking to your ecologist about setting up Dormice surveys. There needs to be a minimum of 5 months survey between April and November.
- Often locating badger setts is easier at this time of year when vegetation has died back, consider requesting badger surveys early in the year.
Ben Gardner is an ADAS ecologist and licenced Great Crested Newt worker based in Oxfordshire.
For further information, or if you would like to commission a Great Crested Newt survey by our team of licenced newt workers, please contact Ben Gardner by e-mail ben.gardner@adas.co.uk or telephone 01235 438900.