The great crested newt is the UK's most strictly protected amphibian.
To survive, they need a combination of pond habitats, where they will breed during the spring, and unmanaged land with rough grass and/or woody areas to live, feed and hibernate in.
Despite having a wide-spread distribution, populations of these newts are still in decline due to the loss of such habitats and it has been estimated that up to 50% of Gloucestershire's ponds have been lost since 1950. |