Great Crested Newts at Berrow Dunes
The Green Estates Team checked for great crested newts at Berrow Dunes. They were very happy to see that these special newts are living and breeding there.
Great crested newts are protected in Europe, so the UK’s newts are very important. There are three types of newt that live in the UK. The great crested newt is the biggest. Most of the time, these newts live on land, in places like woods, hedges, and grassy areas. They eat insects and other small creatures. In early spring, the newts go to ponds to breed. The male newts grow a long, wavy crest on their backs and do special dances to attract the females. Female newts can lay up to 200 to 300 eggs each spring. They wrap each egg in a piece of plant to protect it.
The ranger team at Berrow Dunes worked hard in winter 2024 to improve a pond that had too many willow trees around it. Now, the great crested newts are using the pond again. After this year’s nesting, the team will keep working. They will cut back more trees from other ponds. This will stop too many leaves from falling into the ponds and help keep them healthy for the newts.