The great crested newt, with its fiery orange belly and prehistoric crest, is one of the UK's most talked about amphibians. Unfortunately, like much of our wildlife, it faces significant challenges from habitat loss. As our towns and villages grow, the ponds and wild spaces these newts rely on can disappear.

Since 2020, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has been acting as a habitat delivery body for Natural England’s District Level Licensing (DLL) scheme. In simple terms, this scheme allows developers to invest in the creation and restoration of high-quality newt habitats, mitigating the impact of their construction projects.

Ponds, Ponds, and More Ponds!

Across the country, the DLL scheme has already funded the creation of over 3,800 ponds. Here in Wiltshire, we’ve been busy making our own splash! Since joining the scheme in 2020, we have successfully created or restored 62 ponds across the county, breathing new life into the landscape for our amphibious friends.

And we’re not stopping there. This year, we are set to restore an additional 10 ponds, including a new site at our Green Lane Wood nature reserve. This restoration work is carefully timed, usually taking place in the late summer and autumn. This ensures the breeding season for amphibians and birds is over, and the ground is still dry enough for the necessary machinery to work without causing unnecessary disturbance.

From Pond Water to Proof: The Science of eDNA

How do we know if our new ponds are successful? We become wildlife detectives, using a fascinating piece of science called environmental DNA (eDNA).

Every creature leaves behind microscopic traces of itself wherever it goes – this could be skin cells, saliva, or other secretions. We can collect a simple water sample from a pond and send it to a laboratory. There, it is tested for the specific eDNA of the great crested newt. It’s a non-invasive way to confirm if newts have moved in, without ever having to see or disturb them.

The process involves collecting samples between mid-April and the end of June, the peak of the newt breeding season when they are most active in ponds. We then test the ponds for the first four years after their creation. After that, we continue to monitor them periodically over the scheme's 25-year lifespan to ensure their long-term success.

The Results Are In!

Last year was a fantastic year for the project. We sampled 45 eligible ponds (one was dry, so 44 samples were sent). The results were incredible: 23 of these ponds tested positive for the presence of great crested newt eDNA. This is a brilliant success rate and shows that by creating the right habitats, we can effectively help this protected species to thrive.

This year, our team has been even busier, sampling 57 ponds across the county. We are eagerly awaiting the results, which should arrive in the autumn.

We are also trialing an innovative second sampling method using filtration. It will be fascinating to compare the results from both techniques, helping us to refine our monitoring methods for the future.

This project is a perfect example of how, with the right approach, we can make space for both people and wildlife. Each new pond is a stepping stone, helping to build a more resilient and connected landscape for great crested newts and a huge variety of other wildlife, ensuring a wilder future for Wiltshire.

If you want to contribute to projects like this you can donate to our Nature Recovery Appeal here or if you have some time to spare you can volunteer with our water team here.