Newt Help Please

[GrayB]

Hi All,

I know next to nothing about Newts so any help, anything at all will be much appreciated.

I recently found a WWII Anderson Shelter in my back garden which I've been digging out, it's brick lined and has a depth of around 3ft with a solid floor, so my intenstion is to turn it into larger pond than the one I already have, which is only around 2ft x 2ft.
While I was removing soil from inside it today I spotted what I thought was a colourful worm but picking it up it turned out to be a Newt. The Newts underside has Orange spots on it but other than that all I can say for sure is that it is a Newt.

What I'd really like to know is why it was so far underground? Is this what Newts do during the winter months? And I'd also like to ask if anyone can tell me what to do with it now? At the moment I've just left it on the edge of my pond.

Once again, any help with this would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Gray.

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like a Smooth Newt that was hibernating.I would find an area that is not in your digging path in your garden, make a little pile of rocks and soil and pop it in a crevice where it can rest up ready for the spring. If it's exposed, being little, its likely to be predated.

[GrayB]

Wild-Woman,
Thank you very much for the quick response and the advice given, much appreciated.
Cheers
Gray.