Great Crested Newt Surveys

Unfortunately, the great crested newt is the most threatened species of newt in the UK and has significantly declined over the latter part of the 20^th century. The results of agricultural intensification and loss, degradation and fragmentation of their habitats have severely impacted them, and it is therefore important to carry out thorough newt surveys before developing in their habitat.

The great crested newt is the largest native species of newt in the UK and mainly occurs in lowland regions. This is due to their need for both aquatic and terrestrial habitat in close proximity. They occur more frequently in clusters of small- to medium-sized ponds (50-250m²) and commonly obtain at least one breeding pond.

What We Offer

No matter what kind of development proposal you may have, it is essential to review the potential impact on local biodiversity. Local Planning Authorities (“LPA”) require sufficient information to make informed decisions that wildlife can be protected from injury or disturbance during the development.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (“PEA”) will often be required and if great crested newts are present on a site for development, it is likely that a European protected species (“EPS”) license will also be needed. Additional surveys and mitigation methods may be necessary in order to proceed with the works.

Great Crested Newt Survey Legislation

Great crested newts are protected under UK and European Union (“EU”) laws, including:

• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
• The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
• Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000

Under these legislations great crested newts are protected from:

• Capturing, killing, injuring and disturbing;
• Taking or destroying eggs;
• Damaging or destroying breeding/resting places;
• Obstructing access to resting places; and
• Possessing, advertising for sale, selling or transporting for sale, live or dead (part or derivative).

What Survey’s do Great Crested Newts I Need?

If you’re interested in a Great Crested Newt Survey then we’ve created a helpful guide which you can find here, that explains what stages are involved and when you might need them.

However, depending on what surveys you’ll need here is a list of all the Newt surveys Greenlight provide and can help you with.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (“PEA”)

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals are initial assessments that can be conducted at any time of the year. Greenlight will conduct a site visit and a desktop assessment which are used to identify habitats present on site that may support protected species. As the first step to addressing ecological aspects of a planning application, it will recommend if further great crested newt surveys, mitigation strategies and enhancements are necessary.

A PEA survey will typically involve an initial habitat assessment which includes desk-based research, a walk through the site of the potential habitat and an analysis of potential ecological receptors. A qualified and experienced ecologist will conduct the survey following the best practices and guidelines.

If the effects of a development on great crested newt populations are not sufficiently assessed and mitigated, the developer may face enforcement action, financial penalties, and repetitional harm.

Habitat Suitability Index (“HSI”)

This Habitat Suitability Index is a method that allows our surveyors to evaluate the general likelihood of a pond to be occupied by great crested newts. It uses ten suitability indices which are factors acknowledged to affect great crested newts and can be calculated at any time of the year, however the period between May and late-September is most suitable.

The HSI involves assigning a numerical value to each variable on its relative importance to the newt’s ecology and then putting them into an overall index of the suitability.

eDNA Sampling

eDNA sampling and surveys consist of collecting water samples from a pond for further laboratory analysis to accumulate a quick presence/absence result for great crested newts. They can have a better rate of detection compared to conventional surveys, but water samples can only be collected between 15^th April to 30^th June. The sampling process is a non-invasive and is becoming increasingly popular. To read more information on this new technique, we’ve put together a handy eDNA guide which you can find here.

Please note, if eDNA sampling returns a positive result, population estimate surveys will be required.

Presence/Absence Newt Surveys

When suitable great crested newt water features are found within or near a site for development, surveys may be conducted to determine the presence or likely absence of the species. Between mid-March and mid-June, we would conduct four survey visits in suitable weather conditions using three different survey methods; these are commonly torch survey, bottle trapping and egg searching.

As with all of our surveys our surveyors use the appropriate protocols and reporting standards. These can be developed by national and local authorities. It ensures the consistency and comparability of the data and complies with the legal and ethical requirements.

Population Estimates

If great crested newts are present within a water feature, a minimum of six survey visits should be undertaken in suitable weather conditions between mid-March and mid-June. By using bottle trapping and torching survey methods, our surveyors would be able to estimate whether the great crested newt population is small, medium or large, and advise on appropriate mitigation.

Translocation Works

Translocation works include capturing any great crested newts on site using amphibian proof drift fencing and pitfall traps. We would them move them from the site, less than 1km away, to a safe receptor area with equivalent or better habitats. The size of the impacted great crested newt population determines the amount of capture effort needed to clear an area. This can only be done under a mitigation licence granted by Natural England and should only be used as a last resort.

Overseeing Works

Overseeing works consists of a watching brief during construction, plus toolbox talks, to avoid killing or injuring individual newts. The hand search and destructive search are to only be conducted after a capture program and aim to find remaining newts that may be difficult to detect under shelters. To read more about how we can provide construction report click here.

District Level Licensing (DLL)

District level licensing consists of calculating a mitigation fee based on either survey data or the zone the site falls withing (green, amber, red). Pricing depends on where the site is located and once the mitigation fee has been provided, license certificate is signed/dated and submitted with a planning application. The Greenlight team can assist you with your application through Natural England or NatureSpace, depending on your project.

Mitigation & Enhancements

Our mitigation strategies and enhancement designs are tailored to specifically address issues raised at the site in question and which protected species are identified. Some examples for great crested newts are:

• Installation of amphibian fencing;
• Translocation of individual great created newts;
• Creation of artificial ponds, hibernacula and grasslands;
• Pond restoration;
• Planting of hedgerows.

European Protected Species (“EPS”) Mitigation Licences

A mitigation licence will need to be granted by Natural England in order to proceed with any works that are expected to have an impact on great crested newts. The licence should include sufficient information on the presence of the great crested newt population on or near the site (survey results), and appropriate mitigation measures.

Installation & Removal of Mitigation Fencing

Amphibian-proof fencing is used to seal the perimeter of a site for development in order to help capture great crested newts within the site and to avoid re-colonisation. We can both install and remove this mitigation fencing, as necessary.