Great Crested Newts (Surrey) - Ecology, Survey and Licensing

• ID & ecology of Great Crested Newts
• Legislation protecting newts
• Habitat Suitability Index
• Survey standards and techniques, including Environmental DNA.

PLEASE NOTE THIS COURSE ALSO RUNS ON 8/9th MAY IN SURREY AND THE COURSE RUNS TWICE IN THE NEW FOREST.

This course offers an introduction to the ID and ecology of GCN, protective legislation, survey techniques and standards, and result analysis. The course is designed to refine practical survey techniques, and provides an insight into how GCN are considered through the planning system.

The course includes an online presentation with a test element, and a site survey which includes an informal assessment. On satisfactorily passing these, attendees will be issued with a certificate, which can be used in lieu of one reference for a licence application*.

It is essential that attendees accompany the tutor on an evening of torch surveys and to collect in bottle traps the next morning.

This course is intended for; Consultant Ecologists, Local Authority Ecologists, Reserve Rangers and Land Managers.

Holly Stanworth has 12 years experience in ecological consultancy, with first-hand experience of completing great crested newt surveys, designing and implementing appropriate mitigation, and managing habitats for amphibians. In addition to being a consultant, she is a Conservation Officer at The Species Recovery Trust and is very passionate about conserving our rarest and most protected species.

Holly will be delivering the online content and will be joined by Jamel Guenioui, another qualified ecologist, for the field training.

Photo credit top: Jamel Guenioui

If attendees perform satisfactorily in the assessment they will be issued with a certificate which can be used within 3 years in lieu of one of your references for a survey licence. Natural England's guidance on this has been changing over the last few years, but we have had written confirmation that we can issue certificates and these can be used as one reference.

As the guidance is in a constant state of flux we will do our best to let you know if this alters prior to the course, but cannot be responsible for sudden changes in NE's guidance around licensing. The latest advice can be found here.

If you do not need a certificate or already have a licence you can leave the course slightly early at the end.

Please note attendance on the course is no guarantee of gaining the course reference. We will do our best to work with any attendees who are struggling, but ultimately you must demonstrate adequate skills to gain this reference.

29th April or 30th April - online training

Half day of online training. To provide some flexibility on when you can watch the online element of this course, the 3-hour video will be available from 5pm on the 29th April until 5pm on the 30th April.

30th April - Site Survey

4.30pm–7.00pm Meet on site for initial survey, eDNA collection and deployment of bottle traps. (end time approximate)

7:30-9:30pm Break. An evening meal will be provided, details to be confirmed closer to the time.

9.30–11pm (ish) Torchlight surveys

1st May - follow up site survey

7:00 – 9:00am Return visit to collect traps and carry out ID test

You will be given a written assessment to complete within 3 days of completing the course.

There are toilets on site. If you arrive early, the gates may be closed, but I'll be there in good time to let you all in.

• Waterproof outdoor clothing and wellies
• Pencil and paper
• Plenty of warm clothing if the weather demands it.
• For the evening session you will need a powerful torch (>1million candlepower) for the survey work plus a ‘normal’ torch to get around with.
• TICKS are present on the site, so please be 'tick aware'. A leaflet will be circulated prior to the course providing information about what they are, health risks and how to avoid them.

Please inform us of any medical requirements/conditions we should be aware of prior to the course.

Please make sure that clothing/footwear/equipment is appropriately dried/disinfected before and after the site visit.

To get the most out of the course it is recommended that attendees read up on the subject in advance. Suitable publications are;

Oldham, R.S., Keeble, J., Swan, M.J.S., and Jeffcote, M (2000). Evaluating the Suitability of Habitat for the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus). Herpetological Journal, Vol. 10, pp. 143-155.

Froglife (2001). Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook. Froglife, Halesworth.Gent, A.H. and Gibson, S.D. eds (1998). Herpetofauna Workers Manual. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.English Nature (2001). Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines. English Nature, Peterborough.

Meet at Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve Car Park (map below). Please park in the second car park, at the bottom of the hill, not in the coaches area. Holly will be there to meet you, but the gates may be closed if you turn up too early!

Postcode for Satnav: KT22 8QA

Google map here

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve - Visitors by appointment only, Mill Way, Leatherhead, United Kingdom