After hibernating from October through to February, the Great Crested Newt begins its annual migration to breeding ponds – this marks an important stage in its life cycle.
In this blog, we cover all you need to know about the Great Crested Newt (GCN), from its lifestyle and behaviour to the surveys needed for any developments that may affect the species.
What is a Great Crested Newt?
The Great Crested Newt is the largest native species of newt in the UK and, in addition to its size, it’s easily distinguishable among other UK amphibians due to its distinctive features.
Growing up to 17cm or 18cm, with females being slightly larger, their dark, warty skin, vivid orange underbelly and unique dark spots are some of their most distinctive features. Males have a silver-blue stripe along the tail, whereas females retain a smoother tail with a yellow-orange stripe along the sides.
Great Crested Newts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and Countryside Right of Way Act 2000. This makes it illegal to kill, injure, capture, or disturb them, as well as to damage or destroy their breeding and resting sites.
Where Do They Live?
The GCN occupies two different habitats depending on the time of year. They spend most of the year within their terrestrial sites, which are their permanent areas of refuge; these include rough grassland, scrub, woodland, thick ground cover and under fallen trees, etc. During the winter months, the GCN will hibernate and then, when the temperatures reach over 5°C, they will migrate to their non-permanent aquatic residence to breed and lay eggs, typically between March and June.
Their preference for their aquatic habitat is small to medium-sized ponds, including additional breeding ponds. When it comes to breeding, they favour fish-free ponds with abundant vegetation for egg laying, alongside more open areas for male display, and ponds with little shade on the southern margin.
The Lifecycle of a Great Crested Newt
The GCN lifecycle begins with mating season in the spring. From March to June, male newts develop a jagged crest along their back and tail and perform an elaborate courtship dance to attract the female newts.
Female newts then lay between 200 and 400 eggs underwater, folding each egg into aquatic plant leaves for protection. After 2-4 weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae, resembling miniature newts with external gills and a filament on the tail.
From July to October, the larvae grow, losing their gills and developing lungs to become juvenile newts (efts). This is where they leave the water and live on land in damp, sheltered areas.
Threats to Great Crested Newts
Great Crested Newts have declined in recent years, although the UK population remains one of the largest in Europe. They rely on areas with multiple ponds connected by suitable terrestrial habitat, allowing them to move between breeding sites.
Major threats include the loss or degradation of ponds, the introduction of predatory fish, fragmentation of terrestrial habitat, and natural pond succession, where ponds gradually fill with vegetation and silt, reducing their suitability for breeding.
Great Crested Newts & Planning Permission
Before any development or land management work, it’s essential to understand whether GCN are present. Surveys help identify populations and ensure that planning decisions comply with legal protections.
Here at Greenlight, our team of environmental consultancy experts can provide an array of services, including a Great Crested Newt survey.
What is a Great Crested Newt Survey?
A Great Crested Newt survey is an ecological assessment of your proposed building land to determine the presence, absence, and population size of this protected species.
Newt surveys should be completed by a professional ecological contractor, like Greenlight, and must be conducted in conjunction with European Protected Species (EPS) and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 legislation. They state that you must not:
- Kill, injure, disturb or capture GCNs
- Take or destroy a crested newt’s eggs
- Damage or destroy their breeding sites and resting places
- Possess, control or transport newts
- Obstruct or disturb their habitats
The survey is requested by the Local Authority and used to confirm whether your proposed building works will cause damage to GCNs or their habitats.
When Do I Need a Great Crested Newt Survey?
Ecology surveys, like newt surveys, are needed in several situations. They are needed in locations where the Local Authority suspects that GCNs are located nearby. The most common reasons why this may be requested are:
- The project is within 500m of a pond,
- A minor project is within 250m of a pond,
- Historical data show that newts live or have lived in the area,
- The project is taking place on grassland, woodland, scrubs, or hedgerows.
- Similar species have been located on the site.
Whatever the reason, you must complete the great crested newt survey before applying for planning permission. The report will stay relevant for two to four years, depending on the results, and should be completed between March and June to monitor the potential presence of GCN, although an assessment of the habitat can be done in any month.
Our protected species survey highlights the correct timings when surveys can take place.
How Does the Great Crested Newt Survey Work?
As with any protected species survey, the great crested newt survey should be completed by an experienced environmental consultancy that knows how to investigate the proposed site and surrounding areas before completing a detailed report for the Local Authority.
A newt survey will generally include two distinct phases.
Stage 1
A habitat suitability index (HSI) will determine whether a pond is considered poor, below average, average, good or excellent. The greater the suitability, the greater the likelihood of GCN being present within that pond.
Stage 2
Further assessments, which can be subdivided into three types, include:
1 – Presence/absence surveys involve high-powered torches, bottle trapping, and egg searching to monitor the situation over at least four sessions from dawn to dusk. If GCNs are spotted, two additional surveys will be needed to establish the population size.
2 – eDNA surveys involve taking a water sample of the pond and sending it off to a laboratory to test for newt DNA within the water, similar to covid tests.
3 – District Level Licensing involve a series of financial contributions that are used to offset any impacts from the proposed development. All contributions are ring-fenced to protect GCN at a landscape level.
Why District Level Licensing is Important
A District Level Licence (DLL) is important because it allows development to go ahead legally on sites where protected species, such as Great Crested Newts, may be present. Without the correct licence in place, construction work can be delayed or stopped, and developers may face enforcement action or fines.
A DLL ensures that any impact on protected wildlife is properly assessed and managed, with mitigation measures put in place to safeguard local populations. This process helps balance the need for development with the legal requirement to protect biodiversity, reducing risk for developers while supporting conservation efforts.
How Greenlight Can Help
With the Great Crested Newt being one of the UK’s most protected species, its presence can have a significant impact on development projects. Understanding where newts live, why they are protected and what surveys and licenses may be required is essential for avoiding delays and ensuring compliance with wildlife legislation.
With the right ecological advice and early planning with the help of Greenlight, we can get your project off the ground while protecting wildlife and keeping your development on track. Get in touch today to discuss your next project.
