Great crested newt. females

[ricwine]

We moved into a new house this time last year. Backing onto woodland with a country estate beyond. We found a newt under a paving slab which was used to keep flower pots on. It was very sluggish indeed and we identified it as a female great crested newt. So we put it behind the shed. This year i was digging an old tree stump out of the lawn. I released it and left it overnight. The next day i was digging out the hole and a newt appeared on my shovel. A god six inches under soil and pulped wood. It again was a female GC newt. This time more active and moving about. Lucky escape from under all that debris. I released it over my fence into some woods. I found another one a few days later under a paving slab in a cool shaded spot. Which seemed to be happy with its home and accompanying bugs. I checked every few days and after a few weeks it was gone. Hope it wasnt me!!.

The nearest pond is about 300 metres away behind some woods and grassland. Its a housing estate all around the other way. So where do they come from and what are they doing in my garden My guess is they cannot get any further and stay in my food rich garden. But any knowledgable people are welcome to comment.

thanks Richard

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

[Lance Morgan]

Peterborough - says old brick pits to me. There is a healthy population of GCN living in these.

[dampflippers]

They only go into a pond during the breeding season. Otherwise they live on land. They are nocturnal, so during the day they hide away in cracks and crevices. They come out at night to hunt on land.

Have you thought about making a pond of your own? I'm biassed, but that's the first thing I would do if I were you!.

They can travel I think it is quite an enormous distance from a pond.

During the winter they hibernate in rock or log piles, or in dry stone walls, under tree stumps etc.

[ricwine]

Thanks for that. It was the first thing which sprung to mind. A pond would be tricky here but doeable. We are moving out in September to secure a school place. And lets hope the new owners notice or take care of the newts.

richard

[meinchewster]

Originally Posted by ricwine

Thanks for that. It was the first thing which sprung to mind. A pond would be tricky here but doeable. We are moving out in September to secure a school place. And lets hope the new owners notice or take care of the newts.

richard

They have to! the best thing you can do is report your newt details to the county amphibian and reptile group, the peterborough branch. This then enusres any planning orders are aeare of their presence and thus they recieve proper protection from the authorities.

I know it was accidental, but by law your not allowed to disturb GCNs in a place of shelter, so bear this in mind if you plan to disrupt your garden further.

[dampflippers]

Froglife are (or were) based in Peterborough, and they do alot of public events which you would find very interesting.... I have just looked on their website and I can't find any about to happen.

They have a garden survey you can do here: Froglife - conserving native frogs, toads, newts, lizards, snakes
For your ‘Reptiles and Amphibians in your Garden’ pack please call The BTO on 01842-750050 or email: gbw@bto.org

Froglife - advice

Froglife - advice

You can find your county recorder on the arg website- look for "local groups"
http://www.arguk.org/
ARG-UK - Amphibian & Reptile Group of United Kingdom

[ricwine]

No sign of any more newts for a few weeks. but they could be anywhere in my 'untidy around the edges' garden. i have contacted the links below and will let you know how that goes.

thanks richard