Great Crested Newt

The great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) is the largest of the three newt species native to the UK. Also known as the warty newt, males have a large, jagged crest along their backs, which is present only during the breeding season and is most obvious when the animal is in the water. Females do not have the crest. Like all amphibians, the great crested newt requires water to breed, and adults may inhabit the breeding pond for several weeks. For the rest of the year, great crested newts live on land, favouring damp habitats, grassland and woodland where there is suitable daytime cover (they are nocturnal) and plenty of food, usually within 250m of the breeding pond. They are carnivorous and will eat aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates as well as smaller newts, and tadpoles. Female great crested newts lay eggs singly, on plant leaves or other suitable substrates, which they wrap around each egg and stick together with a glue-like excretion. The population of great crested newts has suffered a huge decline over the last century, largely as a result of the loss of wetlands. The UK now has the most significant remnant population in Europe.

Legislation

Great crested newts are listed under Schedule 5 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981, as amended) which affords them protection under Section 9.

The Act makes it an offence to:

• intentionally kill, injure, take, possess or trade in great crested newts
• interfere with places used for shelter or protection or intentionally disturb animals occupying such places
The great crested newt is also listed in Annexes ll and IV of the European Habitats Directive 1992 (EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora). In the UK the Directive has been transposed into national laws by means of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended 2007 & 09). These are known as ‘the Habitats Regulations’. Under this legislation a person commits an offence if they:

• deliberately capture, injure or kill great crested newts
• deliberately disturb great crested newts in such a way as to be likely significantly to affect-
iii) the ability of any significant group of animals of that species to survive, breed or rear or nurture their young
iv) the local distribution or abundance of that species
• damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place
The great crested newt is an IUCN Lower Risk/Conservation dependent species (i.e. without conservation effort, it would become a high risk category species within 5 years). It is also listed in the Bern convention, Appendix ll and is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species.

Survey

The main great crested newt survey season is mid March to early June. Surveys to detect the presence of the species are carried out at breeding ponds, and methods include torch survey, bottle trapping, egg search and larval netting. Torch survey and bottle trapping are carried out at night, when the species is active, whilst egg search and larval netting are usually daytime activities. Four survey visits are implemented, with two being between mid April and mid May. If great crested newts are found and a Natural England development licence is required, a further two survey visits are necessary to produce a population size class assessment. Surveys can only be carried out by a licensed person.