Pond Newt

DogTailRed2 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2007, 03:17 PM

Hi,

I've got some pond newts after I just built a wildlife pond in my garden and have two questions for you.

1. How do I make my wildlife pond frog, toad and newt friendly? It's a small pond that contains hornwort, red stemmed parrotts feather, a dwarf lilly and various other plants. I've placed it near to a shrub for cover but so that it still gets a few hours sunlight for the plants to grow. A roll of large bore cane (used for lawn edging) is hidden under the bush to give shelter to small insects and animals like bees and small frogs. Curved bark is also hidden under the bush to give shelter to large toads and frogs. Surrounding the pond on three sides are a variety of cover giving plants as well as ones attractive to butterflies and bees. The pond sides are shallow allowing creatures to escape and also a ramp in case anything gets stuck. Is there anything else I can do to increase amphibs chances of survival?

2. I have managed to attract frogs and toads to my pond but alas am in a newt free area. Is there any way I can legally obtain newts with the view of building a small population in the pond?

Regards,

Dog.

ecocumbria · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 06:25 PM

What you have done is about right, keep your pond free of fish. If there are no newts in your area you really need to know why before considering introductions,
perhaps the terrestrial habitat cannot supports a newt population.

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 06:59 PM

In my experience if you have frogs and toads ,newts will invariably follow
IF they are in the area if they are not do not feel deprived just cherish
what you have

The pond area sounds wonderful, well done

demicav · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2007, 07:04 PM

It's strange and sad how things have changed. As a child I used to collect newts from my local patch, there were plenty of them and on growing up there was still plenty of them, even when my newt collecting days were over. Now I don't know what has happened but I've recently been all over the same area and not a single newt in sight. Things I held dear to me as a child are no longer around for my children to enjoy. Now they're so rare they have to be protected. I'm not against them being protected, just upset that so many things are disappearing.

Krewella · #5 (**permalink**) 14-05-2007, 10:51 PM

Wow I can only say that you deserve to have newts with a pond like that. I bet the frogs think there in heaven. Having read some of the posts on here it may be a matter of time some poeple have waited years. I know that you shouldnt get them from a friends pond because that could spread diseases and of course by your post you know they are protected. Would it be worth contacting some kind of rescue centre I am assuming there must be one for frogs and stuff that people have collected.

Digifrog · #6 (**permalink**) 19-05-2007, 04:21 PM

I was glad to see a small newt in my pond a couple of weeks ago. I think if you build the pond to a good standard (which by the sounds of it is what you have done) and maintain it properly (clearing it out each October and replacing the old oxygenating weed with new and replacing the plants, and adding fresh water (I tend to use tap water with a chlorine neutralizer and blanket weed neutralizing granules)), they will come.

Personally I think you might need to place a small stack of slate stone close to the pond for heat shelter and maybe a small stack of small logs to shelter insects, frogs and anything else which can make it a home. I've done that to my small pond, I've also planted some ferns (polystichum) and some grass plants as long grass is perfect for the froggies.

m1.carson · #7 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 08:11 AM

Hi krewella,

I thought it was only crested newts that were protected and you could still catch smooths, and is there much difference between a friends pond and a wild pond where diseases are concerned, I would have thought the friends would be safer as they should know whats happening in it.

Max.

JeffH · #8 (**permalink**) 28-05-2007, 08:24 AM

DTR2

I'd be inclined to just let nature takes its course and let the newts find your pond.

I completed the building of my wildlife ponds in early 2005 and hadn't previously seen a newt in our garden during the 30 years of living here. However, last summer a smooth newt turned up out of the blue, along with all sorts of other creatures including pond skimmers, water boatmen, 2 grass snakes and even a Kingfisher!

So, for what it's worth, my theory is that if the pond is a suitable habitat the creatures will find it

Jeff