GREAT CRESTED NEWTS FACTFILE In Britain there are three species of newt – the great crested, smooth and palmate. The great crested, or warty, newt is the largest. Because of their scarcity great crested newts are protected by law, in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the European Union’s Habitats and Species Directive. This means it is illegal to interfere with young or adult newts, their eggs or tadpoles. Over the last 50 years the population across Britain has plummeted, largely due to the degradation of the ponds in which they live. Without proper management, ponds quickly become choked with weeds and rushes, eventually turning into dry land. Ponds overshadowed by trees become too shaded and cold for newts. Ponds can be managed to encourage newts. General guidelines include working on ponds only in the winter when newts are absent, making sure ponds do not become choked with weeds, keeping them fish-free, allowing long grass around ponds in summer, keeping overhanging shrubs under control and providing piles of leaves and sticks for newts to feed and hide in. Newts spend much of the year on dry land. They breathe air. In water they can absorb some oxygen through their skins, but they need to rise to the surface regularly to take gulps of air. They return to water to breed at the end of the winter. Males then develop breeding crests and both sexes become more brightly coloured. Courtship is elaborate. The male chases the female, fans her with his tail and adopts striking poses. Great crested newts are seldom seen on land in daylight unless disturbed. They are most active at night. They spend their lives within about 200-500 metres of their breeding pond. They feed on land and in water, eating mostly small creatures such as water fleas, water lice, shrimp, insect larvae and small land invertebrates. They feast on worms! | 
