Great Crested Newt eDNA Surveys – West and North Yorkshire

Client – Natural England and FERA Science Ltd.

Key Services – Species Surveys

Duration – Spring and Summer 2019

Project Overview –Great Crested Newt eDNA sampling of 359 ponds within the Leeds, Harrogate and Richmondshire districts

Ecological Input – Haycock and Jay Associates were commissioned by Natural England to provide baseline data of great crested newt distribution across the districts to support Natural England’s District Level Licensing Scheme; an alternative approach to great crested newt licensing for development, gradually being rolled out across the country.

The work led surveyors on a grand tour of the districts with ponds randomly selected by Natural England in a diverse set of locations, including woodlands, chicken farms, country parks and even the top of Great Whernside. Information on the suitability of each pond to support the newts was also recorded and egg searches were carried out to provide supplementary information.

Outcomes – Over 400 ponds were visited during the project with 370 ponds surveyable owing to an unusually dry spring causing many of the selected ponds to dry out.

The results of the surveys are now available on the Natural England open data source site, and the data arising from our samples will provide evidence to inform strategic compensation areas for great crested newts across the three districts.