Great Crested Newt Surveys

Ecology

Great crested newts spend the majority of their lives on land, but must migrate to water in order to breed. This migration occurs in early spring when temperatures rise above 5°C, with most newts arriving at the ponds by mid-March. Courtship and egg laying then takes place until mid-May. At the end of the breeding season the adults begin to leave the ponds, while the larvae remain in the ponds for a further 2-3 months until they have completed metamorphosis. It takes juveniles 2-4 years to reach sexual maturity and they will spend this time on land, returning to the ponds when they are ready to breed. Adults hibernate from October through to February, finding protection in refuges such as amongst tree roots, deadwood and rubble piles.

Survey Methods

A variety of survey methods are used to detect great crested newts. As a consequence of great crested newt ecology the timing of survey is constrained to the breeding season (mid March – mid June). However it is possible to conduct a refugia search outside the breeding season, but this cannot be relied on as a sole survey method. All survey methods must be carried out by a licensed ecologist.

• Egg search: Examining submerged vegetation for newt eggs

• Torching: Searching a pond by torchlight between dusk and midnight

• Netting: A dipnet is used to search the perimeter of the pond

• Bottle trapping: Bottle traps are submerged around the pond perimeter at dusk and removed the following morning. This method can only take place when night time temperatures exceed 5°C, so is confined to Spring and Summer

• Terrestrial search: Refugia such as logs, bark, rocks and debris are carefully searched

Types of survey

There are two types of great crested newt survey that Abricon offer. Both types of survey require 50% of visits to take place between mid April and mid May:

• Presence/Absence survey: To determine the presence or absence of great crested newts, up to four survey visits in suitable weather conditions are required. Three different survey methods must be used per visit.

• Population Size Class Assessment: To assess the great crested newt population size, six visits in suitable weather conditions using bottle trapping and torching survey methods are required.

Protection & Legislation

Great Crested Newts are listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended), receiving protection for the animal and its habitat. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act it is illegal to undertake the following:

• Intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture great crested newts;
• Deliberately disturb great crested newts;
• Damage, destroy or obstruct access to and any structure or place used for shelter or protection by great crested newts;
• Possess or transport a great crested newt or any parts of a great crested newt unless acquired legally;
• And sell, barter or exchange great crested newts or any parts of great crested newts.

Licensing & Mitigation

If great crested newts are found on land proposed for development a mitigation plan will be required. This mitigation strategy will only be granted a licence from Natural England if it is clear there will be no net loss in local great crested newt status. Hence, mitigation should aim to maintain a population of equivalent status on or near the original site, and should enhance links to adjacent populations where present.

The nature of the proposed development will affect the type of mitigation, but typical mitigation measures include:

• Habitat creation, restoration or enhancement – to provide receptor areas for displaced newts, in compensation for areas to be lost or damaged
• Avoidance of disturbance, killing or injury – taking all reasonable steps to ensure works do not harm individuals, by altering working methods or timing to avoid newts; capture and removal; exclusion to prevent newts entering development areas
• Long-term habitat management and maintenance – to ensure the population will persist
• Post-development population monitoring – to assess the success of the scheme and to inform management or remedial operations.

• Great Crested Newt Case Study

Contact Abricon for free initial advice on Great Crested Newt surveys