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[Norman Castle]

Long story short, earlier this year some Great Crested Newts decided to take up residence in our local boating pond, which is a purpose-built Council owned facility.  Because of these critters, it is now a criminal offence for anyone to remove the weed which to all intents and purposes makes the pond unusable for its purpose.

There has so far been a couple of months of talking between the local Council and Natural England etc, but no action.  As of this morning, I am advised that the pond is likely to remain full of weed until November, and there is talk of the pond being so managed next year that 3/4 of it will be weed-free for boating and 1/4 of it reserved for the newts, about which proposal I have no comment to make in public.

So, chaps, let this be a warning.  If you sail on a pond which is intended to be used for that purpose, it might be a good idea to start thinking now of your plans for dealing with the discovery of a protected species in it.  Maybe also take whatever steps you can to make the water unattractive to such critters ... 

[Nemo]

Norman - only one GC Newt has been found! 

' The law is an a s s  '

[Charlie]

Hi Norman - has this option been considered at all?


All pond algae can sometimes be discouraged by floating a mesh bag of barley straw on the pond – about 50g of straw per sq m (1½ oz per sq yd) of water surface area is ideal. Add the straw in spring and remove it when it has turned black (usually about six months later). Sometimes lavender is added to the barley straw for additional effectiveness
Website: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=162

[Norman Castle]

Norman - only one GC Newt has been found!

That's what I thought, but apparently there's now more than one - plus a quantity of newtpoles, or whatever the babies are called.

Hi Norman - has this option been considered at all?

I doubt it, Charlie.  The problem is weeds, not algae, and there seems to be no way of tackling the weeds which is acceptable to Natural England 

[Stan]

HI Guys have look on the government web site. If you have these in your water then they command a lot of respect. I worked in water supply many years ago and we had to lay a new main through land that had these on. Before the work could continue they all had to moved until then the  work had to stop sorry not the news you may like to hear. I hope things work out for you

 

[Norman Castle]

... Before the work could continue they all had to moved ...

For reasons which are way beyond my understanding, apparently moving them is not an option in this case.  Why the newtologist who first confirmed its/their presence didn't have the common sense to see what was going to happen and just quietly re-home them before it did happen is also beyond me ...

[Stan]

HI Norman I am sure when the work was complete they were brought back and our contractors had to build small homes for them. Silly I know but that's the way things were not sure if this still the case. Check out government site for more info.

Stan.

[ballastanksian]

Because the Newtologist is more interested in the newts than the hobby of model boating. He probably has a pastime involving critters as well so his belief in the decisions he makes in work will be reinforced by his interest.

It s a bloomin nuisance and I would never reccomend moving them yourself as it would cause so much legal hassle if you got caught 

Regarding barley straw do put it in bags as a chap hired to do some part time work on our lake just split the bale up and loosley dumped dollops of it around the edge of the water to which we had several sessions of badly clogged props and not a few angry members. Our Chairman and a helper had to go out and recover a quantity of loose straw:O(

[Netleyned]

If Natural England are involved, then best of luck.
They have stopped the building of a new RNLI
Station in Cleethorpes to house a bigger boat
because it will disturb the worms in the sand
on the beach.
They are a Quango paid for by us the taxpayers
and answerable only to themselves.


Rant over


Ned

[Brian60]

Accept the situation and demand the council give you a new sailing water -  or move the newts lock stock and barrel, which they can't do.  They have provide yo a leisure facility, it is up to you to demand that they keep providing that or a similar facility.

[warspite]

It was probably the newtologist who put it there, saw a pond and thought oo what a nice place for my little friends (note - only friends), just my opinion and is not the general view of the site or its members (well maybe in the comfort of their own homes).

[Netleyned]

Wonder how long it will be before our town and city centres are
designated sites of outstanding natural history having been taken
over by pistasa newts every weekend


Ned

[Martin (Admin)]

Up (down?!) here Peterborough a few dozen of the little blighters stopped a whole township being built for years.
Cost the council £1.1m to move them on...!   

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18826194

[NFMike]

I know I could probably spend (waste) an hour researching this, but can someone tell me (us?) In one sentence why these damn newts are so vital? They can't be rare because they seem to be living pretty much everywhere anyone tries to do anything 

[U-33]

Isn't there a species of fish that would enjoy snacking on a newt or six? Perch maybe...or pike? Chub...big eels?

[Nemo]

  We have had at least two threads and many, many posts on our pond problem now, with all the same replies and advice - but the whole thing is nothing more than utter stupidity on the part of quangos who have nothing better to do than revel in their power to make life difficult for humans. May I suggest there are far more newts squashed on the highway adjacent our pond than are inconvenienced by a few old boys like me playing with boats. I say again - 'the Law is an a.s.s.' or as the text censor puts it 'the law is a bottom'! 

[Nemo]

I know I could probably spend (waste) an hour researching this, but can someone tell me (us?) In one sentence why these damn newts are so vital? They can't be rare because they seem to be living pretty much everywhere anyone tries to do anything 

Plague - applying common sense -they are no more 'vital' than frogs, toads etc IMO, and what I have discovered is they are apparently 'threatened' on mainland Europe but not so in the UK where they are abundant. Because some bug-lovers managed to convince Parliament they are under threat, we are lumbered!

Brian60 - 'Accept the situation and demand the council give you a new sailing water' - you got to be kidding! 

[TomHugill]

I know I could probably spend (waste) an hour researching this, but can someone tell me (us?) In one sentence why these damn newts are so vital? They can't be rare because they seem to be living pretty much everywhere anyone tries to do anything 

Because we have a very substantial proportion of the worlds population they're heavily protected

[Chris57]

One reason these newts appear to be everywhere, is that (allegedly ) Eco warriors have (illegally) moved some to potential building sites in an attempt to stop said development.
Like I said , allegedly!, and probably an urban myth, but we have heard how one or two have stopped sailing on a small pond...........
Chris

[NFMike]

LOL @ all.

Because we have a very substantial proportion of the worlds population they're heavily protected

So presumably humans in China and India are protected too ... ?

[TomHugill]

LOL @ all.
So presumably humans in China and India are protected too ... ?

The two situations don't really have bare any resemblance.

[TomHugill]

For reasons which are way beyond my understanding, apparently moving them is not an option in this case.  Why the newtologist who first confirmed its/their presence didn't have the common sense to see what was going to happen and just quietly re-home them before it did happen is also beyond me ...

Because without a licence I believe it's illegal and would probably cost him his job.

[kinmel]

They have provide yo a leisure facility, it is up to you to demand that they keep providing that or a similar facility.

Not so in the Uk; our model boating lake is closing next year to have houses built on the site and they would not provide a new model boating lake.

We are being allowed to share another lake with watersport clubs.

[Norman Castle]

Because without a licence I believe it's illegal and would probably cost him his job.

Not if he kept quiet about it.

[TomHugill]

Not if he kept quiet about it.

You expect a professional to jeopardise his career and risk a large fine so you guys can continue to use the pond?