wildlife pond permission needed ????

[jono83]

Hi all just started diggind a wildlife pond, because I have a large amount of newts living in a dip that I'm filling in, and my neibour asks " have you had permission from the council, you need to ask because of enviromental laws" is there any truth in this please, has anyone else heard anything like this, many thanks
Jono

[Stormforce]

i know your not allowed to disturb a Newts habitat so it may pay just to enquire from the council or a wildlife foundation about it just to cover yourself.You don't want to end up in the soft and smelly stuff for the sake of a phone call or 2

[Alison]

It depends on what sort of newts, common are OK but great crested have to be dealt with specially. Not that they're rare round here, there's loads of the blighters but apparently over Europe they're considered rare!

Re digging a wildlife pond, assuming it's on your own land and of a normal size then the council will just be confused if you contact them. Why are you filling in the dip anyway? Is it an existing pond?

[rustylady]

Why not make the dip into a pond?

[jono83]

It depends on what sort of newts, common are OK but great crested have to be dealt with specially. Not that they're rare round here, there's loads of the blighters but apparently over Europe they're considered rare!

Re digging a wildlife pond, assuming it's on your own land and of a normal size then the council will just be confused if you contact them. Why are you filling in the dip anyway? Is it an existing pond?

They are common newts no great crested I have checked and counted them all,15 in total the have only been there a week or so its when we had those high winds and heavy rain the dip appeared in the middle of my potato bed thanks

[jono83]

Why not make the dip into a pond?

good idea but it appeared in the middle of my potatoes ?? so it has to go

[rustylady]

Whereabouts are you Jono? A dip suddenly appearing in a potato bed sounds a bit worrying.

[Two_Sheds]

the [newts] have only been there a week or so ... dip appeared in the middle of my potato bed

So apart from the newt 'problem', you've got a drainage problem.

Common Newt at Animal Corner

They're in the dip to breed, and when it dries up the eggs will die. If it were me (cos I'm soft) I'd be making them a small pond too. You don't need council permission over common newts, or to build a pond. They like fairly shallow water, and there must be vegetation, because they lay their eggs underneath the foliage

[jono83]

So apart from the newt 'problem', you've got a drainage problem.

Common Newt at Animal Corner

They're in the dip to breed, and when it dries up the eggs will die. If it were me (cos I'm soft) I'd be making them a small pond too. You don't need council permission over common newts, or to build a pond. They like fairly shallow water, and there must be vegetation, because they lay their eggs underneath the foliage

Being a Wiccan, their safety is paramount to my veg, so its operation newt lol. My mate next door has a pond, and kindly let me pinch some "dogweed"? the tiny little green plants that grow on the surface? and that was teeming with little creatures, also let me have half the water from his pond so hopefully everything will be comfy and happy. Pond finished today will post pics tommorrow.

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice

[Nicos]

Interesting to hear you are a Wiccan. Those newts should be in safe hands

Out of interest- please could you put your rough location into your profile??- ta !

[jono83]

Photos of new pond

Well here it is, done in 4 hours, and hopefully It'll be good enough for em, they been staying put for the past 24hrs, and seem to be quite happy but they are a little camera shy lol

Also phoned council and enviroment agency,and the reply from both was "why are you telling us this?"
So I'm Guessing my neighbour is talking nonsense!
ATB, Jono

[Two_Sheds]

Also phoned council and enviroment agency,and the reply from both was "why are you telling us this?"

We did tell you that

(why do people ask for advice and then not take it, huh? Huh? *Rolls eyes*
*strops off for more coffee*)

[Two_Sheds]

Well here it is

Do you have a shallow end, really sloping, so they can easily get in and out? They can't jump like frogs do.
As you already probably know, newts spend most of their lives on land, hiding in long grass and leaf litter: I would start planting up the pond edges for shade, and putting in hidey places like half-pots full of leaves

[jono83]

Do you have a shallow end, really sloping, so they can easily get in and out? They can't jump like frogs do.
As you already probably know, newts spend most of their lives on land, hiding in long grass and leaf litter: I would start planting up the pond edges for shade, and putting in hidey places like half-pots full of leaves

that I have, and lots of hiding places and pond lillies etc just have to wait for them to grow

[jono83]

We did tell you that

(why do people ask for advice and then not take it, huh? Huh? *Rolls eyes*
*strops off for more coffee*)

I know Iknow lol, but as stormforce said, it was worth phoning just to be on the safe side