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Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) is one of the six species of amphibian (living both on land and in water) native to the UK, and is a European Protected Species which is often a consideration in planning and development projects, especially when there are water bodies such as ponds, within or close to a site. Great crested newts hibernate during the winter months, in places such as log piles or tree stump voids, returning to aquatic habitats during the spring to breed. They also use terrestrial habitats such as grassland, woodland and scrub to forage and find shelter during other times of the year. Great crested newts are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), and by the Habitat Regulations 1994, due to their scarcity in mainland Europe and vulnerability in relation to development. It is an offence to kill, injure, capture, or disturb great crested newts, or to damage or destroy their breeding sites (e.g. ponds) or terrestrial habitats, although actions that are prohibited by the legislation can be made lawful on the granting of a licence by the appropriate statutory authority. Great crested newt is a species for which the timing of surveys is tightly seasonally constrained, being restricted to mid-March - mid-June, when adults are in breeding ponds. Surveys undertaken outside of these optimal times are generally considered to be inconclusive. GreenLink Ecology Ltd has considerable experience of undertaking great crested newt surveys, along with licence applications and cost-effective mitigation schemes. If you think great crested newt may be a constraint to your project, or have been asked to commission a great crested newt survey by the Local Planning Authority, contact us. |
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