The Vale of Glamorgan Pond Survey

To be able to protect Great Crested Newts we need to know where they are.

When the Local Biodiversity Action Plan was being written we held very little up to date information on where Great Crested Newts were living and breeding in the Vale. So one of the key actions set out in the Local Biodiversity Action Plan was the need to identify current breeding sites.

In 2003 Stephen Lowe, a volunteer licensed surveyor began the Vale of Glamorgan Pond Survey, to try to identify current breeding sites for Great Crested Newts in the Vale. In the first year Stephen visited 55 ponds and discovered 12 new Great Crested Newt breeding ponds. The following year he was joined by Simon Clarke, one of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Rangers and between them they have now visited 71 ponds!

Of these 71 ponds, 22 were found to support Great Crested Newts! So far this survey has quadrupled our number of known Great Crested Newt breeding sites in the Vale area!

If you would like to find our more about the survey or if you know of any ponds which may have newts in please contact:

The Vale of Glamorgan Council's Ecology Team

Tel: 01446 704627.