Great Crested Newts

Great crested newts –
how can we help you?

One of the most popular services we offer is with respect to great crested newts, Triturus cristatus. Like much of our wildlife great crested newts were once common across the United Kingdom, but now sadly is considered to be rare and endangered – a situation that is also reflected across most of Europe. As a consequence the species is protected under the provisions of the Habitat Regulations.

The species has an ill deserved reputation for holding up developments, or demanding costly mitigation provisions. However, this is seldom the case, and the press are very good at casting these amphibians in the bad light. Of the newt species found in Britain, only the great crested newt demands this high level of legal protection – but most of our native newts have some legal protection – so it is important to survey for them and establish which species are present.

Given the legal protection afforded to great crested newts being able to call on past experience is vital in assessing the presence of the species. Our staff are fully licenced to carry out all types of survey for the species and we have nearly twenty years experience of assessing site where great crested newts might be at risk. So if you need this service, please give us a call, we can guide you to the appropriate level of effort and the timing of surveys.

Services

• Amphibian surveys
• Bottle trapping
• European protected species licences
• Habitat assessments
• Hand netting
• Mitigation plans
• Pitfall trapping
• Pond torching