We love it when a plan comes together. After excavation of a new pond to enhance a site for amphibians and dragonflies, our on-going licensed monitoring surveys have detected both great crested newts and smooth newts.
The survey involves setting bottles around the pond margins in the evening and returning the following morning to check and empty the traps. Torchlight surveys can also be carried out after dark to view newts carrying out their courtship display and egg laying activities.
Following a careful search an egg (and many water mint plants with characteristic folded leaves) were found too.
The survey information will contribute to the evidence to be provided to Lancashire Environment Record Network to support the designation of the site as a Biological Heritage Site (a local non-statutory designation).
