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Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus

The Great Crested Newt grows to about 16 centimetres long and is the largest of Britain's three native newts. They are dark in colour, often black, and patterned with small white spots. They have orange or yellow bellies with black blotches, a warning to would-be predators that they are poisonous to eat. During the breeding season males develop a high, wavy crest along their backs and another along their tails. The tails have a broad silvery streak down each side. Females do not have a crest and their tails are yellow-orange along the bottom edge.

Great Crested Newts need several different types of habitat during their lives. They spend much of the year on land and can be found in woodlands, scrub and grassland, where they feed on earthworms, insects, spiders and slugs. Great Crested Newts hibernate from around October to February, often amongst tree roots, in crevices and amongst piles of stones and fallen or stacked wood. Towards the end of winter adult newts return to the water to breed, usually to the pond in which they were born. They prefer small to medium sized ponds with vegetation and areas of open water. Females lay several hundred eggs on underwater leaves near the edges of ponds. The larvae develop underwater and the young newts leave the leave water between July and October, they mature on land over two to three years.

Current Status

The Great Crested Newt has suffered a major decline in Britain over the last century. Exact figures on the rate of decline are difficult to calculate because of the shortage of detailed historical information and a lack of recent data for large areas of England. Surveys have estimated the rates of colony loss in England at between 0.5% and 4% a year during the 1960s to 1990s. Forty-thousand Great Crested Newt breeding ponds are thought to have been lost in this period. A similar pattern of decline has been seen across the European range of the Great Crested Newt. England is thought to support an important number of Great Crested Newt breeding sites on the European scale. Despite the widespread distribution of Great Crested Newts in England, it is considered to be of conservation concern because populations are still being lost or damaged.

There are very few confirmed records of Great Crested Newts in Hull and very little is known about their distribution. They have been recorded on Priory Park East in the west of the City and more recently at North Carr in the north-east.

Current Factors Affecting Great Crested Newts

One of the main impacts on Great Crested Newt populations has been the destruction of habitat; both ponds and places newts use when on land. Ponds are deliberately filled in for development or for agricultural purposes.
Ponds deteriorate through neglect or misuse. Without management silt and plant material build up causing ponds to become shallow and stagnant. Shallow areas of ponds can be completely lost as they dry out and become taken over by plants in a process of natural succession. A number of the ponds at North Carr are becoming unsuitable for Great Crested Newts because of contamination from rubbish that has been dumped in them. A high level of nutrients caused by fertiliser running off the surrounding agricultural land may also make ponds less suitable for Great Crested Newts.
Introduction of fish and release of exotic species that compete with or eat newts is a problem. Newt larvae are particularly at risk of predation. Stocking of ponds at North Carr with fish for angling has led to a number of them becoming less suitable for newts.
Great Crested Newts need areas of dry land around their breeding ponds to find food and shelter. Loss or unsuitable management of these areas may affect newts because they spend a great deal of time on land. Land is often lost to development or intensive farming. Park-style maintenance of terrestrial habitats, landscaping and reclamation of derelict sites may make land surrounding ponds less suitable for newts.
Habitat fragmentation prevents movement between breeding, foraging and hibernation habitat. Long-term survival of Great Crested Newts may also depend on movement between neighbouring populations or breeding ponds. Great Crested Newts do not move more than about 1 km from their ponds so it is important to have a network of closely-spaced ponds or pond clusters.
Nobody really knows quite how many Great Crested Newts there are in Britain, or where they are, and new sites keep turning up. The lack of information on the presence of newts may lead to areas in which they live being destroyed because their presence is not recognised. Great Crested Newts are thought to occur in about 18,000 ponds nationally, although only about 20 percent of these have been identified. Even where populations have been identified, inappropriate and unsympathetic management or uninformed conservation work may have contributed to their decline.
The population at North Carr may be affected by collection by local children. Children often go pond dipping at North Carr and usually take away their catch.

Current Action

Legal Status

Great Crested Newts are protected by both British and European laws. The species is important in the European context and is therefore listed on Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive (1992) and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. The Great Crested Newt is Britain's most strictly protected amphibian. It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (1994). All native amphibians are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and the amendments in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000). It is illegal to sell, or otherwise advertise to sell, these species, or intentionally or recklessly kill, injure, possess or disturb the animals or damage their habitats. All stages of their life-cycle are protected.

The Planning Policy Guidance on Nature Conservation (PPG 9) covers Great Crested Newts and other protected species. Planning authorities should take appropriate action to check for the presence of such species and ensure they are protected through the planning process.

Management, Research and Guidance

The Great Crested Newt appears on the UK Biodiversity Steering Group 'Short List of Globally Threatened/Declining Species' and a national Great Crested Newt Species Action Plan has been prepared. This seeks to identify Great Crested Newt sites, publicise this information to landowners, managers and planners, and provide advice on pond protection and management. The plan also aims to enable the conservation of identified sites, and identify locations suitable for species re-introductions and creation of new ponds. The British Herpetological Society, Froglife and The Herpetological Conservation Trust are the joint lead partners for the Great Crested Newt national Species Action Plan.

English Nature, Froglife and The Herpetological Conservation Trust fund a national Great Crested Newt Conservation Co-ordinator to ensure that the conservation actions proposed in the national plan are carried out, and to provide information and support to people involved in Great Crested Newt conservation.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has published a five-year framework (1994-1999) for the conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the UK, in association with the statutory nature conservation agencies and voluntary bodies. A 'UK Great Crested Newt Species Action Plan Work Programme 1998-2002' was also produced.

There is a great deal of information available on management of this amphibian. English Nature produces an information leaflet 'Facts about Amphibians' which includes the Great Crested Newt and also a leaflet specifically about the species 'Facts about Great Crested Newts'. Froglife produces a range of information sheets, including 'Surveying for Great Crested Newt Conservation', 'The Planning System and Site Defence' and 'Frogs, Toads and Newts in Garden Ponds'. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee publish the 'Herpetofauna Workers' Manual' which provides comprehensive guidance on how to further the conservation of reptiles and amphibians native to the UK.

On sites proposed for development where Great Crested Newts are known or suspected English Nature is consulted and detailed surveys are requested. Conditions or planning obligations are sought, requiring measures to conserve the population where possible. English Nature have recently published 'Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines' which aim to assist those involved in changes in land-use where Great Crested Newts occur.

Within Hull, a recent survey of North Carr found Great Crested Newts to be present. The survey made recommendations for the removal of coarse fish from the small pond at North Carr in which the Newts were found. There is no action currently under way.

Action Plan Aims

To determine the current population and distribution of Great Crested Newts in Hull.
To maintain and increase the current population.
To encourage the creation of ponds.
To prevent the loss of ponds.
To ensure that potential breeding ponds have enough suitable land nearby for shelter and foraging.
To clear rubbish and accumulated silt from ponds.
To remove coarse fish from the ponds used by Great Crested Newts.
To provide advice on habitat management.
To raise awareness of the presence of Great Crested Newts at North Carr and encourage action.

What We Are Going to Do

Action	Target	Partner	Aim
Policy and Legislation
Ensure appropriate mitigation if Great Crested Newts are affected by development.	Ongoing: Ensure appropriate mitigation if Great Crested Newt sites are affected by development.	EN, KuHCC (Planning)	3, 4
Habitat Management and Protection
Restrict the introduction of fish to potential Great Crested Newt breeding ponds.	Ongoing: Provide advice on management of Bransholme Fishing Lake.	EA	7, 8
Improve ponds at North Bransholme to encourage Great Crested Newts.	Short Term: Removal of coarse fish from small pond at North Carr.	KuHCC (Area Committee), BGEEP	7, 8
Remove the accumulated silt and rubbish from ponds.	Short Term: Remove the accumulated silt and rubbish from ponds at North Carr. Ongoing: Regularly check ponds and remove rubbish.	KuHCC (Area Committee), BGEEP	4, 6
Ensure that potential breeding ponds have enough suitable land nearby for shelter and foraging.	Ongoing: Manage habitat surrounding ponds in a newt-friendly way.	KuHCC (Planning), BGEEP	5
Advisory
Ensure developers are aware of presence of Great Crested Newts.	Ongoing: Ensure developers are aware of presence of Great Crested Newts.	NEYEDC, EN KuHCC (Planning)	2, 9
Future Research and Monitoring
Determine the current population and distribution of Great Crested Newts in Hull.	Short Term: Re-survey all records over 5-years old. Medium Term: Survey all ponds suitable for Great Crested Newts. Medium Term: Review all Great Crested Newt breeding records.	NEYEDC	1
Provide advice on habitat management for Great Crested Newts.	Medium Term: Ensure Great Crested Newt ponds and surrounding habitat are managed in a newt-friendly way.	KuHCC (Planning), BGEEP	5, 6, 7
Communications and Publicity
Increase awareness of presence of Great Crested Newts and encourage conservation action.	Short Term: Talks at local schools to explain the importance of not taking away their catch when pond dipping.	YWT, HWW (Frogline)	9

What We Can All Do

Let the Hull Biodiversity Partnership know if you see Great Crested Newts in Hull.
Consider creating a suitable wildlife pond.

Links With Other Action Plans

This plan should be considered along with the Habitat Action Plans for Fresh Water Habitats, Trees, Scrub and Hedgerows, Gardens and Allotments and Grassland. Action for this species is likely to benefit a range of other species that require similar habitat conditions, for example, the Common Toad and Dragonflies.

References

Arnold, H.R. (1995) Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Britain. HMSO, London.

Beebee, T.J.C. (1996) Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians. Chapman and Hall, London.

English Nature (1993) Facts about Great Crested Newt. English Nature, Peterborough.

English Nature (1993) Facts about Amphibians. English Nature. Peterborough.

English Nature (2001) Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines. English Nature. Peterborough.

Froglife (1994) Frogs, Toads and Newts in Garden Ponds. Froglife Advice Sheet 1. Froglife, Halesworth.

Froglife (1998) The Planning System and Site Defence. Froglife Advice Sheet 9. Froglife, Halesworth.

Froglife (2001) Surveying for (Great Crested) Newt Conservation. Froglife Advice Sheet 11. Froglife, Halesworth.

Froglife (2001) Local Species Action Plans for Great Crested Newts [Suggested template for LSAP]. Froglife, Halesworth.

Great Crested Newt Species Action Plan Steering Group (1998) UK Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) Species Action Plan Work Programme 1998-2002. Version 1.1 Unpublished Report.

Holloway, S. (2001) BGEEP Biodiversity Project, North Carr, Bransholme. Bishop Burton College.

Langton, T., Beckett, C., Foster, J. (2001) Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook. Froglife, Halesworth.