As the delivery body for the NatureSpace Partnership (NSP) District Licensing scheme, the Newt Conservation Partnership (NCP) has been working with landowners for six years across 11 counties on projects that prove that development and nature recovery can go hand in hand.

Through the scheme NCP mitigate development impacts on great crested newts by creating new clean water ponds or restoring existing ponds, by managing trees, removing fish or re-profiling margins, in areas strategically important to existing populations. Habitat around the ponds is also considered for restoration, creation and management, as great crested newt populations rely on joined up areas of woodland, scrub or rough grassland, where they spend the majority of their adult life.

All creation, management and monitoring is 100% fully funded by the NatureSpace District Licensing scheme, with NCP compensating their landowners via annual payments for 25 years. Such long-term funding provides financial reassurance to landowners as well as providing enduring nature benefits for newts and many other freshwater species. The scheme allows for renewal every 5 years so landowners have flexibility to opt out. The presence of great crested newts on farmland does not affect farming nor cause bureaucratic restrictions and is a sign of successful land management.

Exceptional conservation outcomes of the NSP District Licensing scheme include the creation of four ponds for every great crested newt occupied pond lost to development and the ponds are more than twice as likely to be colonised by great crested newts than the national average pond. Over half the ponds have already reached priority status, proving the high quality of the conservation habitat delivered in partnership with national experts Freshwater Habitats Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Get Involved

If you think you have land which may be suitable for use by the scheme, or would like to view our 2024 Monitoring Report that outlines our conservation successes in more detail, please visit www.newtpartnership.org.uk for more information.

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