New habitats for one of the UK’s most iconic protected species could be created in Nidderdale if a planning application is approved.
Wildscapes, a community interest company (CIC) owned by the Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, has applied to create two ponds at Delves Ridge, near Thornthwaite, to help boost the population of great crested newts.
The species, also known as the northern crested newt or warty newt, is Britain’s largest amphibian, reaching lengths of up to 17cm (nearly 7 inches). Globally, it is regarded as being “of least concern”, but in the UK, where habitat loss has seen a sharp downturn in numbers over the past century, it is considered to be at risk and is protected under law.
To help halt its decline, Natural England has established a programme of district level licensing, and property developers whose projects have been identified by Natural England as having caused the loss of great crested newt habitat have applied to join the scheme to offset the damage.
As a result, a number of ponds suitable for increasing population of great crested newts must now be created or restored in North Yorkshire.
Wildscapes CIC is Natural England’s habitat delivery body and creates around 100 new ponds a year for great crested newts. It has identified the Thornthwaite site, which is within the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly known as the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONB), as a perfect location.
But the ponds will not be entirely new to the locality, which is on land off Menwith Hill Road. According to the planning document submitted to North Yorkshire Council:
“Evidence of current and previously existing pond structures can be seen in the surrounding area, including those which have been lost to agricultural development.
“Creation of ponds on this site will return these features to the landscape and enhance the local wildlife and biodiversity.
“As a local feature this is well within keeping with the existing landscape as well as offering a significant opportunity for enhancement.”
The two proposed ponds could be just the start of a great crested newt renaissance if local conservation plans are successful, with more being created not far away, in the Washburn Valley.
According to the planning application, Wildscapes has been in discussions with the Nidderdale National Landscape project ecologist, Kate Wright, who said she believed the proposed site was a “good location”.
She added:
“We did have a potential new pond for a site south along Meagill Lane, but it didn’t go ahead due to planning issues. There’s a very large toad population in the Washburn valley just over 1km WSW.
“I don’t believe I’ve had any contact with this landowner as part of the previous project. But it’s within our desired development area for wetland creation in 2023/4.
“We’ve received some interest from other landowners in the area, including potentially a series of ca. 3 ponds just west over the Washburn Valley.”
The consultation period for the application started on Monday (December 4) and is due to end on Thursday, December 28. The planning application reference code is ZC23/03802/FUL.
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Three newt ponds to be built at Long Lands Common
Work will begin in January to build three ponds for Great Crested Newts at Long Lands Common in Harrogate.
The team behind the community-funded nature reserve and woodland between Bogs Lane and Bilton Lane hopes the ponds will become a flagship for biodiversity in the area.
The ponds will be built in places that already have seasonal flooding and semi-wetland communities.
Surveys have found the common toad, common frog, smooth newt and Great Crested Newts all within 2km of the site. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will carry out the works.
The animals will use the ponds to breed between March and June and will use the habitat that Long Lands Common will provide for the rest of the year.
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The Long Lands Common December newsletter says:
“Given the situation of the site close to an existing pond, and with the landscape corridors provided by the railway cutting and Bilton beck, once habitats on-site start to become more natural, it is very likely that this baseline will increase in both diversity and absolute numbers as well as the additional benefits for species diversity and human enjoyment of the site that the presence of the ponds will bring.”
In 2020, around 3,000 people bought shares in the land. The appeal raised £375,000 to purchase 30 acres of land near the Nidderdale Greenway and protect it from development.
An official open day was held on the land for people who pledged money in July.
A detailed plan for the site is set to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council in February. Thousands of trees will eventually be planted there.
Project launched to protect Nidderdale’s pondsCan you help save and protect Nidderdale’s ponds?
Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is looking for volunteers for a project to survey Priority Ponds, which are ponds with high ecological value and that may support species of high conservation importance such as toads and newts.
The AONB’s new Priority Ponds project officer, Kate Wright, will survey toad populations next spring, as well as carrying out clean water tests.
Ms Wright hopes to recruit and train around 50 volunteers to survey a minimum of 100 ponds across Nidderdale.
She said:
“I’m hoping to share my passion for ponds and the excitement of discovering varied species in and around the water. I am particularly fond of toads, and hope that we can learn more about their distribution through the project. It’s also a joy to be working in beautiful Nidderdale AONB.”
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As well as providing training for the pond surveys, short courses will be run in specialist areas, such as dragonfly identification and pond management.
The project is thanks to funding through Yorkshire Water’s Biodiversity Programme and is in partnership with national charity, the Freshwater Habitats Trust.
If you’d like your pond to be considered for surveying contact the AONB here.