Our Coast, Our Sea - Don’t miss Great crested newt night

26 May 2010

As part of the East Chevington Wildlife Watch project, Northumberland Wildlife Trust will be hosting a Great crested newt survey at its East Chevington Reserve on Wednesday 9 June from 10.00pm onwards.

Great crested newts have the highest level of protection in the UK under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Schedule 1 and anybody wishing to disturb, survey, touch or even photograph Great crested newts must hold a licence from Natural England. Failure to do so will lead to prosecution and a substantial fine.

The survey event offers members of the public an opportunity to join a licence holder from Northumberland Wildlife Trust and get up close and personal with these protected species.

The event, which begins at 10.00pm and which, it is envisaged, will end around 11.30pm, includes a 30 minute talk on newts, their habitats and the history of their protection and an hour on site participating in a torch light survey using high power spotlights. The cost is £5.00 and payable at the time of booking.

Wellies are essential as are appropriate clothes and a torch to find your way out of the reserve.

Places are limited so to secure a place contact Laura Lowther at the Trust on: 0191 284 6884.

The survey evening is the first in a rolling programme of events at East Chevington over the summer.