Great crested newt translocation

ADAS undertook an ecological assessment near the A338, Oxfordshire. Great Crested Newts were found and we undertook mitigation actions.

Background

On behalf of Network Rail, BAM Nuttall commissioned the ADAS ecology team to undertake an ecological assessment of a bridge near the A338, north of Wantage, Oxfordshire as a part of the Great Western Modernisation scheme.

During the ecological assessment, we found two ponds suitable for great crested newts (GCN) within the footprint of the proposed new road bridge. Further surveys confirmed the presence of a population of GCN. We undertook a careful translocation programme to move the GCN population from the project site to a specially created habitat.

Actions taken

ADAS submitted a Natural England development licence application and method statement for works at the site. Appropriate mitigation actions included:

the creation of three ponds
habitat enhancement including the creation of three hibernacula
setting up a long-term monitoring programme for the new ponds.

Once the new ponds and hibernacula were established, we installed exclusion fencing around the north and south portions of the site before pitfall trapping and translocation commenced. After 81 days of trapping, a supervised destructive search of hibernacula on site helped to remove the remaining newts.

Impact

Overall, 300 GCN were successfully translocated to an adjacent site. Initial monitoring has revealed that GCN are already successfully breeding in at least one of the ponds. Future monitoring will continue to review the success of this translocation.