Monitoring plays a vital role in understanding whether conservation initiatives are truly delivering for nature. It provides the evidence to show what is being achieved. The NatureSpace licensing schemes for great crested newts deliver fully funded, long-term monitoring of compliance, population, landscape and wider nature benefits. But monitoring isn’t only about accountability, it’s also about recognising success.
We’re thrilled to share this year’s monitoring report from our partners at Newt Conservation Partnership shows habitats are being created and restored to an exceptional standard, and our compensation sites are already being widely used by great crested newts, with many also supporting other regionally and nationally rare wetland plants and animals.
What’s more, these outcomes are being delivered locally and strategically, supporting Local Nature Recovery Strategies and bringing benefits to wider nature for the long term.
Here are some of the headlines:
۰ 90% of mature compensation sites occupied by great crested newts
۰ 96% of ponds have a Habitat Suitability Index score of Excellent or Good
۰ 91% of ponds meet confirmed or provisional ‘Priority Pond’ status and
۰ 95% have clean water
The results demonstrate that our schemes are creating high-quality habitats for newts, restoring clean water to the countryside and delivering measurable gains for wider nature. We’re proud of the conservation outcomes our cross-sector partnership is achieving – and we’d encourage you to take a deeper dive into the full report.
Dr Tom Tew, CEO of NatureSpace Partnership, said:
“This scheme proves that protecting wildlife and enabling development are not opposing goals. District and organisational licensing gives developers certainty, speed and legal clarity, while ensuring high-quality habitat is created locally and in advance. These results show that this isn’t box-ticking mitigation – it’s a model that genuinely works for nature and for development.”
Newt Conservation Partnership CEO, Dr Pascale Nicolet said:
“The ponds we’re creating and restoring work for newts and other species because we know what’s needed: well-designed ponds with clean water located in the right place so local wildlife can colonise naturally. Newts are so often used as the scapegoat for development delays. But these results show what can be achieved when local planning authorities, environmental charities, landowners and developers work together. It’s a real conservation success.”
Dr Tony Gent, CEO of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, said:
“Good conservation outcomes don’t happen by accident. These results show the value of long-term monitoring and evidence-led habitat creation. The NatureSpace schemes are delivering consistently high-quality ponds that outperform those in the wider countryside, benefiting great crested newts and other amphibians.”
Professor Jeremy Biggs, CEO of Freshwater Habitats Trust, said:
“This report shows the transformative effect this scheme is having on our landscape. Strategically creating and restoring ponds in carefully selected locations extends and links together existing wildlife hotspots, building a network of habitats for Great Crested Newts and other freshwater species.”
Emeritus Professor Richard Griffiths, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, said:
“The monitoring is proving just how well strategic licensing is working and these are incredible results – when the scheme started just over seven years ago, no-one would have predicted that Great Crested Newts would occupy 90% of mature compensation sites.”
