Conservation charity, Wild Ground, have been busy delivering their two-year National Heritage Lottery Funded project, Newt Networks.
The project has been focused on the great crested newt, a protected species, which like much of the UK’s native wildlife is threatened by habitat loss. By working with partners, the project has helped to increase the number and quality of breeding ponds in Flintshire, Wrexham, and Denbighshire, for the great crested newt and improved habitat connectivity between nature reserves for the species - something which will benefit all local wildlife.
North East Wales hosts several Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Areas of Conservation sites (SAC) which include Wild Ground reserves Stryt Las and, Aberderfyn in Johnstown Wrexham, Knowle Hill & Spon Green in Buckley, Maes y Grug in Alltami, and Glascoed in St Asaph. All these sites are protected and have been designated these statuses for their great crested newt (GCN) populations.
Nature reserves within protected areas are often close to each other, by working in partnership with local authorities; Flintshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council, and charity Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) the project has benefited wildlife beyond Wild Ground’s reserves.
Newts in general have a strong preference for warm, sunny ponds with shallow sides, but these ponds can quickly become overgrown with vegetation or dry up. Newt Networks has funded the restoration of seven ponds and the creation of two new ponds, increasing the number of suitable breeding ponds available and connecting amphibian populations.
Additionally scrub clearance has been carried out by volunteers, and for areas that required machinery were employed to improve the surrounding habitat. One of the areas which has benefited from the project is a small SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) area at Wepre Primary School. The project funded works to open up one of the banks in this area to let more light through to the pond uncover old paths and install a new platform for pond dipping.
Over the course of the project Wild Ground have engaged with over twenty schools improving children’s knowledge of amphibians, habitats, food chains, and the positive and negative impacts humans can have on the environment.
Charley Dutton, Senior Reserves Lead for Wild Ground commented on the project
“Through the Newt Networks project, we’ve been able to reach more people than ever before and build relationships with local schools and communities. We hope that this will evolve into more people enjoying our nature reserves in a positive way.”
Newt Networks has enabled Wild Ground and their partners to be able to continue working to enhance and conserve nature reserves and green spaces for people and wildlife in North East Wales. Newt Networks was funded by Nature Networks Programme, which is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.