Course: Great Crested Newts - Ecology and Surveys

This advanced course will cover great crested newt identification and ecology, survey techniques, the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI), and will include opportunities to practice netting, bottle trapping, torch, and egg searching.

This course will include:

• Species identification
• An overview of legislation
• Great crested newt ecology
• Survey methods, including opportunities to practice netting, bottle trapping, torching, and egg searching
• Survey planning
• Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for great crested newts
• Ways of recording and sharing your results

This course will be delivered through a balance of classroom learning and opportunities to survey for newts at a variety of ponds, practicing the main techniques discussed and identifying the newts found.

Please note – Natural England will accept an attendance certificate from a training course as supporting material towards a great crested newt survey licence. Please see the Natural England website for more information. All participants will be provided with a certificate for this course on the day.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Confidently identify UK newt species, with a particular focus on great crested newts, and have a knowledge of their ecology that will help you plan surveys
• Describe and carry out a range of survey techniques for sampling for great crested newts
• Share this knowledge with friends, family, fellow volunteers and land managers

This course is endorsed by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC).

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.

Please refer to the Field Studies Council website for further information and to book.