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No Newts is Bad Newts!
Gloucestershire Biodiversity Partnership's project, 'No Newts is Bad Newts', is going from strength to strength. Thanks to £34,396 of funding from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust with landfill tax contributions donated by Cory Environmental, the project will now continue to run for a further two years. And is now due to end in the autumn of 2010.
This project implements the local Species Action Plan (SAP) for the great crested newt, a national priority BAP species, through working with local communities to enhance large areas of land for their benefit and future conservation.
The great crested newt is the UK's most strictly protected amphibian. To survive, they need a combination of pond habitats, where they will breed during the spring, and unmanaged land with rough grass and/or woody areas to live, feed and hibernate in.
Despite having a wide-spread distribution, populations of these newts are still in decline due to the loss of such habitats and it has been estimated that up to 50% of Gloucestershire's ponds have been lost since 1950. During the spring of 2007 60 ponds were surveyed and only 14% were found to have great crested newts present.
To combat this, the 'No Newt is Bad Newts' Project Officer is involved in activities such as pond surveys for great crested newts and other amphibians, pond restoration and creation projects, the construction of artificial hibernacula and the creation of 'habitat corridors' which improve the links between the newts breeding ponds.
Newtscapes in Gloucestershire
The project focuses on five areas with existing populations of great crested newts which have been identified as important 'Newtscapes' in Gloucestershire. The 'Newtscapes' areas are:
- Forthampton
- Cinderford Linear Park
- Robinswood Hill and Whaddon
- Stonehouse and Eastington
- Kempsford and Whelford
Local people, pond and landowners who want to help with a survey of great crested newts or who are interested in restoring and/or creating newt friendly habitat should contact the Great Crested Newt Project Officer.
The Project Officer is based at: Gloucestershire Biodiversity Partnership c/o Gloucestershire County Council Environment Directorate Planning and Development Landscape and Ecology Shire Hall Gloucester GL1 2TH Direct line: 01452 426566 Email: info@gloucestershirebap.org.uk
Download the survey form
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Great Crested Newt
