Great Crested Newts/Amphibians

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 – even more so across most of Europe. As a consequence the species is protected under the provisions of the Habitat Regulations, making it a European Protected Species.

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 over twenty years' experience of assessing sites where great crested newts might be at risk. So if you need this service, please give us a call, we can guide you as to the appropriate level of effort and the timing of surveys.

How we can help:

  • Presence/absence surveys
  • Bottle trapping
  • European protected species licences
  • Habitat assessments
  • Hand netting
  • Mitigation plans
  • Pitfall trapping
  • Pond torching
  • Egg searching

We offer Great Crested Newts/Amphibian surveys in the following areas:  

Brecon Beacons, Powys, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Swansea, Herefordshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Carmarthenshire, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, South Wales, Ceredigion, Bristol, Vale of Glamorgan, Somerset, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pembrokeshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent, Forest of Dean, Devon and Gower.

Great crested newts habitat assessments

Did you know?

Did you know that all amphibians have a terrestrial as well as an aquatic phase in their annual lifecycle? So, if you find a smooth newt under a rock in your garden that might just be where it belongs!