Great Crested Newt Surveys
Where development or significant landscape change is proposed within 500m of suitable aquatic habitat the potential for impacts to great crested newts to occur needs to be considered. Great crested newt typically move between a cluster of ponds during the breeding season and also spends a proportion of their life cycle on land. The potential for impacts to both aquatic and terrestrial great crested newt habitat within and adjacent to development areas must be considered.
Great crested newts are afforded protection under UK and European legislation and any potential development impacts to this species is subject to a European Protected Species licensing process.
Great crested newt survey work is best undertaken whilst newts are focussed on their breeding ponds and this creates a fairly narrow survey window (mid-March to mid-June). Seasonal life-cycle factors such as this also affect the timing of mitigation work. It is important that survey work to establish the presence / absence of this species is considered at an early stage.
Most of CSa’s ecologists hold Natural England licences to survey great crested newts and our team contains a wealth of experience with this species. All of our great crested newt surveys and mitigation designs are tailored to comply with the stringent requirements of EPS licencing. CSa have developed dozens of mitigation packages including modest on-site solutions, translocations and pond creation work. We can offer:
- Pond assessments / Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) calculations
- Great crested newt surveys
- Great crested newt mitigation strategies
- EPS licence applications
- Installation of amphibian fencing
- Pond and hibernacula design and creation
For more information, or to obtain a quote, please email us or call 01386 751100
