© John Bridges
Great-crested Newt surveys
SWT Ecology Services provides Great Crested Newt surveys for private homeowners, developers and multi-disciplinaries, as well as public organisations and landowners in Surrey and across the South East.
About Great Crested Newt Surveys
Our biggest newt, the great crested newt is almost black in colour, with spotted flanks and a striking, orange belly. It has warty skin and males have a long, wavy crest along the body and tail during the breeding season.
You will need Great Crested Newts Surveys if you are planning a development that could harm or disturb Great Crested Newts.
For example, developments that contain suitable habitats (eg. log and rubble piles) or those within 500m of a pond are higher risk for Great Crested Newts. For some developments, protected species surveys will be required to get planning permission.
Legislation
The great crested newt is strictly protected by British and European law which makes it an offence to: kill, injure, capture or disturb them; damage or destroy their habitat; and to possess, sell or trade.
Great-Crested Newts are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Listed as a European Protected Species under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive.
Types of survey
Great Crested Newt Surveys can only be conducted during a short window in the year: eDNA can only be done between 15th April and 30th June; trapping and torch surveys can be done between mid-March and mid-June.
N.B. If your development is in one of the qualifying boroughs, District Licensing may be more appropriate. Find out more about District Licencing here.
© Tom Marshall
All specialist surveys
View survey listSWT Ecology Services’ pragmatic advice has been much appreciated and their recommendations not onerous for us to fulfil. This has been invaluable for us to deliver our portfolio of projects!McCarthy & Stone