Great Crested Newt Survey

Great Crested Newt Surveys and Mitigation Photo: Great Crested Newt

Our suitably qualified ecologists hold the relevant licence required to trap and survey for the great crested newt and its habitat. Our professional approach to each of our client’s project allows us to recognise the need for development while adhering to current great crested newt legislation.

The information below is for guidance only and may not include all aspects of the species or its mitigation. Full details are available from our qualified ecologists.

Did you know? GREAT CRESTED NEWT FACTS

Great Crested Newts are nocturnal.
They hibernate from November through to February.
Spending most of their lives on land they must return to water to breed.
The migration occurs in spring when temperatures exceed 5 degree’s centigrade.
They mate and lay eggs from mid-March to mid-May.
The larvae remain in the pond and take 2-3 months to metamorphasise.
Juveniles take a further 2-4 years to reach maturity remaining on land.
It is illegal to kill or disturb GCN’s or their habit in any way, shape or form.

Great Crested Newt Legislation

Great crested newts are protected in the United Kingdom under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Schedule 5 and Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

It is illegal to:

Kill, injure or capture Great Crested Newts, their eggs or their young.
Destroy or damage ponds they use for breeding or their terrestrial habitat.
Recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to their shelter or protection areas such as ponds.
Possess or transport a Great Crested Newt or any parts of the GCN unless required legally.
To sell, barter or exchange Great Crested Newts or any part thereof.
Only licensed professionals can approach Great Crested Newts or their habitat.

WHAT WE DO

Initial Assessment for Great Crested Newts

Prior to any development work we make an initial assessment of the site to establish the likely existence of great crested newts. A report, suitable for submission with your planning application, is supplied highlighting any potential impacts on great crested newts. If there is a great crested newt presence we would suggest an additional GCN survey be performed as soon as possible.

Additional Great Crested Newt Surveying

The great crested newts are highly protected and all breeding sites and ponds that fall within .5km of the site must be thoroughly surveyed. Our licensed ecologists would carry out the additional surveys at night in the breeding season for the best results.

Typically four to six site visits will be required to establish the actual existence and population size.

Great Crested Newt Survey Methods

Egg Search

Great crested newt’s eggs are larger than other species and they lay them in folded patterns on submerged plant leaves.

Torching

We use high powered torches to shine into the pond at night when the newts are at their most active.

Bottle Trapping

Clean plastic bottles are submerged in the water at dusk to capture the newts as they undertake their nocturnal habits. The bottles are checked and removed the following morning.

Terrestrial Search

Rubble, logs and loose wood offer possible habitat protection and all are inspected carefully by lifting and searching underneath for signs of great crested newts or activity. Drift fencing and pit fall traps are used to confirm the actual presence of the great crested newts in their terrestrial habitat. These methods can only be performed outside the breeding period.

Great Crested Newt Licence Application

Should the presence of great crested newts be proven we will prepare a very detailed method statement with our suggestions as to how the newts can be conserved during and after development. This can be used with the licence application to Natural England.

Great Crested Newt Mitigation

Our Creative Ecological Solutions maximise the choices available to you the developer. While preservation of the great crested newts is extremely important to us we understand and appreciate the need to develop in the modern world.

Our suggestions may include some of the following:

Erection of barrier fencing to all or part of the site.
Trapping and relocating the great crested newts to a suitable site.
Creating new pond habitats.
Land habitat creation, restoration or enhancement.
Post development population monitoring.

Great Crested Newt Survey Times

Terrestrial Survey: Mid March through to October

Full Survey: Mid March to Mid June (breeding season)

Booking a Great Crested Newt Survey

As soon as you know you need a great crested newt survey we recommend you book a date for our initial assessment. Please either call us on 01676 525880 to speak to our specialist Great Crested Newt Survey department.

Alternatively please email your details to species@middlemarch-environmental.com and we will call you.

	BREEAM Assessments
	Phase 1 & Arboricultural Surveys
	Protected Species
	Mitigation Plans & Habitat Creation
	EIA & Masterplanning
	Business & Biodiversity