The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) is one of the most talked about amphibians in the UK, and for good reason. Also known as the Northern Crested Newt or Warty Newt, this variety faces threats from predators such as grass snakes, badgers, and even foxes. However, their greatest threat is not the food chain, but the loss of their habitats on land and in water. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is on a mission to secure environments where this fiercely protected species can continue to flourish. 

What are Great Crested Newts?

With a fiery orange belly and prehistoric crest, the Great Crested Newt evolved around 40 million years ago and remains one of the most fascinating creatures native to Europe. Females are larger than males and can grow up to 17 cm long, making them the UK’s largest newt. Despite their name, only males have a crest, which becomes more prominent during mating season. 

Each Great Crested Newt has a unique orange and black pattern on its belly like a fingerprint, which makes individual newts easily identifiable to wildlife trusts across the country. If that wasn’t impressive enough, they can also regenerate lost limbs and produce toxic skin secretions to deter predators from eating them. 

The Great Crested Newt is nocturnal and has been known to live for up to 15 years in the wild, favouring habitats such as large ponds with lots of weeds and no fish, rough grasslands, wetlands and compost heaps. As carnivores, they eat worms, slugs, insects, tadpoles, and water snails on land and in water. Contrary to popular belief, this newt lives mostly on land and only returns to water during their breeding season, from approximately March to June. However, this species has been known to venture 1 km away from water to find a mate. After mating, females lay 200-300 eggs and wrap them inside the leaves of pond plants to keep them safe from other creatures who might eat them. 

This species is strictly protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, meaning that it is illegal to capture, kill or disturb them and, by extension, to damage or destroy their habitats. A special license is required to handle them, and failure to adhere to these guidelines can result in a substantial fine or even a prison sentence. 

Endangered Status

Like much of our wildlife, Great Crested Newts are greatly affected by pollution and climate change. Vehicle fumes and agricultural runoff has left the newt’s natural habitats contaminated and their main food sources dwindling in numbers. The number of Great Crested Newts has declined drastically since 1960, making them an endangered species in the UK. It is estimated that their population has halved with only 400,000 left in the wild. This is largely due to the significant challenges presented to them by habitat loss. 

Around 80% of ponds in the UK have been lost or neglected, resulting in a huge loss of habitat and breeding spaces for the species. Not only that, but the terrestrial habitats relied on by Great Crested Newts are disappearing too. As our towns and villages grow, the wild spaces that form such integral parts of their ecosystem can diminish and leave them with nowhere to go.

Restoring Ponds Across Wiltshire

There is some good news for the so-called Warty Newt. 

Under the Natural England’s District Level Licensing Scheme for Great Crested Newts, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has successfully created or restored 79 ponds across the county. This means more wild spaces for this protected species to flourish and breed, and more favourable conditions to boost their numbers in the long run. 

By allowing the ponds to establish naturally, a more biodiverse environment has been encouraged and tailored to each specific location. This contributes to the ponds’ longevity and ensures their inhabitants live alongside other naturally occurring plants and creatures from the area, creating sustainably cultured habitats.

The Trust also carries out surveys throughout breeding season under a special licence. This gives us vital data to monitor the health of Great Crested Newt populations, including breeding success and the value of new or restored pond habitats, that then feeds into future conservation efforts.

Help Us Look After Our Wildlife

We need your help to look after our local wildlife and to ensure the Great Crested Newt is here for generations to come.

Ponds, especially those recently restored, are sensitive to disturbance. Please take care in the countryside, and be mindful that ponds and their surrounding habitats are home to nesting birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and other creatures, including newts. This means keeping dogs on leads around these precious habitats, and leaving the area as you found it to allow them to thrive for seasons to come.