Acer Ecology’s fully licensed ecologists recently undertook a Great Crested Newt (GCN) survey at a site in South Gloucestershire.
A combination of survey techniques were used, including bottle trapping, torching, egg searches and refugia searches. No GCN were found to be using the two water bodies within the site. However, due to the close proximity of high quality terrestrial GCN habitat and the existence of published records of GCN near to the site, precautionary measures were recommended to ensure that our client’s project progressed smoothly through the planning process.
Surveys for GCN are seasonally constrained to the period mid-March to mid-June, when GCN are present in their breeding ponds. Outside of this season terrestrial surveys using drift fencing and pitfall traps can be undertaken do determine their presence in terrestrial habitats. It is therefore crucial to identify the presence of GCN at an early stage in the planning process, in order to avoid timely and costly delays.
Our licensed great crested newt specialists are able to provide GCN surveys throughout Gloucestershire, including the Costwolds, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Lydney, Coleford, Tewkesbury, Cirencester, Stroud and Dursley. We are experienced in surveying, European Protected Species licensing, as well as mitigation design and implementation. We are also able to serve the surrounding counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Monmouthshire.
GCN are fully protected under UK and European law and are frequently encountered on development sites. It is an offence to kill, capture, or disturb them, or to damage or destroy their ponds. This protection extends to the habitats which support great crested newt and it is generally assumed that the species might be present in terrestrial habitats up to 500m of a breeding pond, depending on habitat quality, connectivity and population size.
For more information about great crested newt surveys, or any of our other ecological services, please call us on 02920 650331, or email us at enquiries@acerecology.co.uk.
Further information about great crested newts can be found in our articles Get The “Newt” Know How On Great Crested Newt Surveys, Great Crested Newts – How we Can Help You and A Year in the Life of a Great Crested Newt.