An article written by Louise Redgrave, The Landmark Practice’s principal ecologist, has featured in this month’s edition of ‘In Practice’, the bulletin of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM).

The article describes the innovative great crested newt mitigation strategy that The Landmark Practice has developed along with David Wilson Homes at Marnel Park, Basingstoke

Download the IEEM article here

The Landmark Practice ecologists have been monitoring the effectiveness of the great crested newt mitigation strategy at Marnel Park, Basingstoke. Monitoring has been undertaken since the commencement of the project in 2004 (on behalf of David Wilson Homes) and preliminary analysis shows that the breeding population of great crested newt in Popley Ponds Site of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC) may even be expanding.

The mitigation strategy for great crested newts at Marnel Park includes the creation and maintenance of high quality terrestrial habitat for the newts (species-rich grassland and scrub) with purpose-built hibernation sites, including two 40 m wide habitat corridors through the site linking to open countryside beyond.

To accommodate access to the development, the corridors include innovative underpasses beneath the roads. The culvert system was designed because there was a lack of evidence that great crested newts use standard amphibian tunnels and their effectiveness is being closely monitored. Amphibian-friendly road drainage systems have also been employed with dropped kerbs to avoid trapping any newts within the road network. The development also incorporates Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to minimise any adverse hydrological impact on the breeding pond.

Enhancements are also being provided, including creation of two new breeding ponds with the aim of establishing a link to a known breeding colony, approximately 2 km west of Popley Ponds.

The newt habitat has been created on a staged programme in advance of each phase of development to provide compensation for loss of habitat in those areas and the majority of the newt mitigation is now in place.

Monitoring has shown that great crested newts are utilising the corridors, that newts have been shown to pass through the culverts in both directions and usage of the corridors appear to be increasing.

To raise local awareness of the scheme, information regarding the importance of the great crested newt population, mitigation strategy and responsibility for management of the newt habitat is being provided to residents in “Home Buyers’ packs”. Interpretation boards are being provided at strategic points within the newt habitat.

The development also features a great crested newt mosaic, designed by local school children and the internationally-acclaimed artist Julieann Worrall Hood in a project sponsored by David Wilson Homes.

Our Principal Ecologist, Louise Redgrave, coordinated development of the mitigation strategy for great crested newts, which breed in a pond adjacent to the site, and managed the phased translocation of newts from the development areas. She has since managed site monitoring which has found that the development has had no significant impact on the great crested newt population and that mitigation works have been very successful.

Central to the mitigation strategy is raising public awareness of great crested newts at this site. As well as the high profile mosaic project, explanatory leaflets have also been issued to home buyers and interpretation boards have been installed.