Great crested newt surveys may be needed if potentially suitable habitat (including waterbodies, grassland, hedgerows, woodland, log piles) exists within or near to a proposed development. The first step is to establish whether suitable habitat is present by conducting a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) Assessment. Waterbodies that have potential will then need more surveys which can only be conducted between mid-March and mid-June.
What is a great crested newt?
Great crested newts or GCN as they are commonly known are the largest native UK newt and are protected by a range of legislation and planning policies that may impact your development. They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulation 2017, as well as being a species of principal importance for conservation under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. They use waterbodies for breeding and can spend a large amount of time on land.
Why do I need to survey for great crested newts?
The legal protection afforded to great crested newts means that any development of land up to 250m or 500m of a waterbody which has the potential to support great crested newts, could result in killing or injuring individuals, and would therefore constitute a legal offence. It is also an offence to capture or disturb them or to damage or destroy their resting places. Mitigation licences from Natural England are required for all works which could impact on individual great crested newts, their resting places (such as woodland, hedgerows, rough grassland and scrub) or their breeding sites (ponds and ditches).
What are great crested newt surveys?
Great crested newt surveys are formed of two parts. The first is a habitat assessment which is based on the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) calculation which assesses the quality of the habitat and calculates the likelihood of great crested newts being present.
The second stage, if the habitat is considered suitable can constitute environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and/or presence/likely absence and population estimate surveys.
eDNA sampling involves visiting a waterbody between 15 April and the 30 June and sending a sample of water for analysis to determine if great crested newt DNA is present. If presence is detected, follow up survey work is often likely to be required, meaning the eDNA survey timing needs to be carefully planned to avoid the risk of needing to carry out further survey the following year (i.e. a population estimate survey).
Standard presence/likely absence and population estimate surveys require:
- Three different methods per visit (often torch survey, bottle trapping and egg searching);
- Up to four survey visits between mid-March and mid-June with at least 2 visits in peak season (usually mid-April to mid-May) for presence/likely absence;
- At least six survey visits between mid-March and mid-June (if newts were found during eNA sampling or during the first four presence/likely absence visits) with at least three visits between mid-April and mid-May;
- Each survey visit will usually comprise of an evening visit and follow-up early morning visit.
What happens if great crested newts are found?
If surveys confirm great crested newts presence and it is not possible to avoid impacting on them (their habitat and individual newts), it will be necessary to implement appropriate mitigation under a European Protected Species Mitigation licence which is issued by Natural England.
Licensed mitigation could include:
- Hand searching the site for individual newts;
- Installing great crested newt fencing;
- Supervision of contractors on site;
- Physical translocation of newts;
- Creation of aquatic and terrestrial habitat; and
- Post development population and habitat monitoring.
What Deepdene Ecology can do for you
If you think your project may require great crested newt assessments or surveys, Deepdene Ecology can help by providing advice and licensed surveyors.
Deepdene Ecology Ltd 