Great crested newts are protected under UK and European legislation. They are amphibians spending most of their time on land, returning to ponds in the spring to breed. Both breeding ponds and terrestrial habitat within 500m of a breeding pond are protected. Great crested newt surveys focus on identifying breeding ponds and can be carried out between March and mid-June with the peak period for surveys coinciding with the period of mid-April to mid-May. Surveys utilised a variety of methods and usually comprise several night and daytime visits to a pond to determine presence or absence of great crested newts.

In 2015 eDNA analysis was introduced as an alternative method for determining great crested newt presence. A water sample is taken and sent to one of the approved laboratories where it is analysed for tiny fragments of DNA suspended within the water column. The approved sampling period for eDNA analysis is 15th April to 30th June.

Due to the restrictive survey period for great crested newts the need for surveys must be identified as early as possible and will need to be completed prior to the submission of planning applications.

Our ecologists hold Natural England survey licences for great crested newts and are very experienced at planning, coordinating and undertaking surveys for large and small scale developments. Danny also holds a Low Impact Class Licence which allows small schemes to progress with reduced cost and survey delays.