Scheme to Create Ponds for Great Crested Newts
Over the last century, the populations of great crested newts has rapidly declined. According to Natural England this is largely a consequence of habitat loss, from both building development and neglecting ponds. A scheme has therefore been introduced in Essex and Cambridgeshire to encourage farmers to create habitats on their land for great crested newts in a bid to reduce the decline in population.
The scheme, introduced by a Natural England and EnTrade partnership, is being incentivised by providing owners of land with the opportunity to set prices for constructing new ponds on their land to provide a new habitat for the newts, away from land which has been outlined for development.
Landowners are able to register for the scheme at entrade.co.uk, with the deadline being Friday 13th November.
Lauren Draper