Action Plan: Great Crested Newt

The Great Crested Newt is the largest but most threatened newt species in Britain. It is still quite widespread throughout the country with the British population being amongst the largest in Europe, where it is threatened in several countries. They are protected by European law, under the EC Habitats Directive and by British law, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. It is an offence to kill, injure, capture or disturb great crested newts in any way.

Great crested newts hibernate on land during winter under cover, emerging in spring to breed in ponds, where the female will lay up to 300 eggs on submerged water plants. Adults will leave the water in mid-summer to live on land.

The main causes of decline of this species are due to the loss of habitat, both aquatic and terrestrial. The number of suitable breeding ponds has declined due to deliberate infilling, drainage or natural silting processes. Suitable foraging habitat has been lost due to increased human activity and fragmentation. In addition pollution and toxic effects of agrochemicals have had a negative effect on great crested newt populations.