Great Crested Newt Surveys

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Great Crested Newts

Great Crested Newt (GCN) Triturus cristatus are legally protected as European Protected Species, under the Conservation of Habitats and Species 2019 and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, making it an offence to: 

  • Deliberately capture, injure, or kill a GCN
  • Damage or destroy a resting or breeding place
  • Deliberately disturb a GCN in a way that is likely to impair its ability to survive, breed, or reproduce, this includes GCN eggs

Great Crested Newts (GCN) can be impacted by development activities, including:

  • Loss of breeding ponds, including infilling, drainage, or modification of waterbodies
  • Degradation of terrestrial habitat, such as rough grassland, scrub, woodland, and hedgerows used for foraging, shelter, and hibernation
  • Habitat fragmentation, which disrupts movement between breeding and terrestrial habitats
  • Construction activities, including excavation, groundworks, and vegetation clearance that may harm or kill individuals
  • Pollution and changes to hydrology, affecting water quality and suitability of breeding ponds
  • Disturbance from increased human activity, lighting, or noise during construction and operation
  • Barriers to movement, such as roads, fencing, or built development that restrict dispersal
  • Storage of materials or machinery, which can create refuges and increase the risk of accidental harm during works

The best time of year to conduct surveys can be found in our ecology calendar.

If your Preliminary Ecological Appraisal identifies potential constraints relating to GCN within your site - you may need the surveys listed below:

Adonis Blue will work with you to carry out the necessary surveys for your site.

GCN Surveys

Here are the main types of GCN surveys used in development contexts:

Habitat Suitability Index (HSI)

  • Purpose: To assess the suitability of ponds and surrounding habitat for supporting Great Crested Newts (GCN). The HSI does not confirm presence or absence, but helps inform the likelihood of GCN occurrence and the need for further surveys
  • Method: The assessment is based on ten standard habitat variables, including factors such as pond size, water quality, shading, and surrounding terrestrial habitat. These variables are combined using a geometric mean calculation to produce an overall suitability score for the pond
  • Timings: Any time of the year. However, they are most effective when carried out during or just before the breeding season (typically mid-March to mid-June), when pond conditions are most representative
  • Number of surveys: one visit, commonly undertaken as part of, or following a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

eDNA

  • Purpose: To determine whether Great Crested Newts are present or likely absent through detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) within pond water samples
  • Method: A single sampling kit is used per pond, 20 water samples are collected from around the pond margin, spaced evenly. Samples are combined and preserved before being sent to a laboratory for analysis
  • Timings: eDNA surveys can be carried out between 15 April and 30 June, in line with current guidance
  • Number of surveys: Depends on the number of ponds, normally one visit

Presence/Absence

  • Purpose: To determine the presence or likely absence of Great Crested Newts (GCN)
  • Traditional method: Surveys should use at least three of the following techniques: Torchlight survey, Bottle trapping, Egg searching, Netting and Terrestrial searches (where appropriate).
  • Timings: Surveys are undertaken between mid-March and mid-June, with the optimal period being mid-April to mid-May. Surveys should be carried out under suitable weather conditions, typically when: Night-time temperatures are above 5°C (ideally above 8–10°C), Conditions are damp or humid and Heavy rain, strong winds, or very dry conditions are avoided
  • Survey effort: A minimum of four survey visits is required to demonstrate likely absence. Each survey visit typically includes an evening survey (e.g. torching, trapping) and a morning check (for bottle traps). At least two of the four surveys must be undertaken during the peak period of mid-April to mid-May

Population Size Class Assessment

  • Purpose: To estimate the population size class of Great Crested Newts (GCN) at a site (i.e. small, medium, or large), which is used to inform impact assessment, mitigation design, and licensing requirements.
  • Traditional method: Surveys should use at least three of the following techniques: Torchlight survey, Bottle trapping, Egg searching, Netting and Terrestrial searches (where appropriate). Population size class is determined based on the maximum count of individuals recorded during surveys, using standard Natural England class size thresholds
  • Timings: Surveys are undertaken between mid-March and mid-June, with the optimal period being mid-April to mid-May. Surveys should be carried out under suitable weather conditions, typically when: Night-time temperatures are above 5°C (ideally above 8–10°C), Conditions are damp or humid and Heavy rain, strong winds, or very dry conditions are avoided
  • Survey effort: A minimum of six survey visits is required to determine population size class. Each survey visit typically includes an evening survey and, where relevant, a morning check (e.g. for bottle traps). At least three of the six surveys should be undertaken during the peak period of mid-April to mid-May

District Level Licensing (DLL)

Some planning authorities operate District Level Licensing (DLL) schemes, which enable a strategic, landscape-scale approach to Great Crested Newt (GCN) conservation.

If your development is likely to impact GCN, DLL can provide an alternative to traditional surveys and a site-specific mitigation licence.

Under this approach, impacts are compensated through off-site habitat creation and enhancement, funded by a conservation payment, rather than on-site mitigation.

Securing permission through DLL is often faster, more cost-effective, and lower risk than the traditional licensing route.

Our ecologists can advise whether DLL or alternative survey approaches (such as eDNA surveys) are most appropriate for your project.

Protected Species Licensing

Where District Level Licensing is not suitable or available, you may need to obtain a European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) licence. In England, this licence is issued by Natural England and is required where development proposals are likely to:

  • Disturb Great Crested Newts
  • Damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places
  • Affect their ability to survive, breed, or reproduce

 

The EPSM licence process typically requires:

  • Detailed survey data (e.g. presence/absence and population assessment)
  • A mitigation strategy, including measures such as translocation and habitat creation
  • A clear demonstration that legal tests can be met

 

Our experienced ecologists can guide you through the entire process — from survey and impact assessment to licence application and implementation — ensuring your project remains compliant and progresses efficiently.