Great Crested Newt Survey

The great crested newt Triturus cristatus is one of six amphibian species that are native to the UK and as with all amphibians the species uses ponds for breeding. When they are not in the pond, great crested newts use terrestrial habitats such as rough grassland, hedgerows, woodland and scrub to forage and find shelter.

Great crested newts are a European Protected Species and are offered some of the highest levels of protection of all species in England. Under this legislation it is an offence to kill, injure, capture, or disturb great crested newts, and to damage or destroy their breeding sites (ponds) or terrestrial habitats. However, licences can be obtained from Natural England for works affecting great crested newts if it can be demonstrated through a mitigation strategy that the survival and conservation status of the species will not be significantly affected.

The great crested newt is a species for which the timing of surveys is seasonally constrained, with newt surveys being restricted to a period from mid-March to mid-June, when the adults gather within their breeding ponds. Surveys undertaken outside of these optimal times are generally considered to be inconclusive and are unlikely to be accepted by Planning Authorities or Natural England. 

Our ecological consultants have considerable experience of undertaking great crested newt surveys and of formulating mitigation schemes in support of planning applications and European Protected Species licence applications.