The following techniques were applied:

• Egg searches – submerged vegetation was checked for folded leaves
• Dusk torchlight surveys – searching for newts using high-powered torches
• Bottle-trapping – traps placed around the pond edges in the evenings and checked the following mornings for great crested newts

All 22 ponds were surveyed on four occasions, while seven were visited on two further occasions to determine population size class.

Outcome

More than 300 great crested newts were recorded over the survey season, together with numerous eggs and larvae, indicating that a healthy metapopulation of breeding GCN was present across the survey area. Several smooth and palmate newts were also recorded. As none of the breeding ponds were to be affected by proposed development, recommendations were devised to avoid the risk of impacts to individual newts during hibernation or dispersal, including:

• Works to be carried out to an agreed method statement and between mid-August and September only
• A minimum buffer of 5m to be maintained between the construction zone and areas of better quality habitat for GCN
• No new site access to be constructed, and works to be carried out under ecological supervision

If you’re thinking of submitting an application for a site in your portfolio, and want to know the site’s ecological value or the implications for development, please contact us now.