GCN’s are on the European protected species list, and so you require licenses from Natural England before you can do anything within their existing habitat. To learn more about the GCN go to link

We firstly spent 3 months catching newts from within the site, so that we could work without endangering them.

We then removed 200 Tons of gravel, sorting machinery removed 10,000 Tons of hard-core, and then proceeded to dig 6 new ponds, creating newt hibernation areas and a bat cave. We finished off by spreading 1000 Tons of Topsoil around the area to landscape it, before allowing regeneration to take its course.

The great crested newt is one of the rarest amphibians in Europe, although their population in Britain is the largest, throughout Europe they have suffered considerable decline. They are a designated protected species, and it is an offence to capture, kill or disturb them without official approval as they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and also the Habitat Regulations Act of 1994.

The great crested newt is the UK’s largest newt, which can reach up to an overall length of 170mm as an adult, with a expected life span of 27 years. They spend most of the year around weedy ponds and lakes, being nocturnal during the day they will hide on land under logs, leaves, stones and other vegetation. GCN hibernate between October and late February, once out of hibernation they head straight for breeding grounds, spending the day in deep water and at night moving to shallower water to breed.

A main reason in the decline is due to environmental change since the 2nd world war. Such as:
• New piped water supplies
• Field enlargement
• Agricultural intensification
• Unmanaged, filled in, and destroyed ponds
• General lowering of ground water levels in urban, and industrial areas
• Damage done to surrounding habitat
• Pollution