Acer Ecology has recently conducted a survey for great crested newts in Stratford-upon-Avon.
There are three native species of newt in the UK. Great crested newts are fully protected under the 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.
Surveying for Newts
Surveys for great crested newts are seasonally constrained to the period mid-March to mid-June when great crested newts are present in their breeding ponds. We use a combination of survey techniques, including bottle trapping, torching, egg searches, and refugia searches. Outside of this season, terrestrial surveys using drift fencing and pitfall traps can be undertaken to determine their presence in terrestrial habitats.
It is crucial to identify the presence of great crested newts at an early stage in the planning process in order to avoid timely and costly delays.
Our licensed great crested newt specialists are experienced in surveying for newts, European Protected Species licensing, mitigation design and its implementation. We are able to provide great crested newt surveys across Warwickshire, including Stratford-upon-Avon. We also have the capacity to undertake projects in the neighbouring counties of Warwickshire – Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire.
For more information about great crested newt surveys, or any of our other ecological services, please call us on 02920 650 331, 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.
