Staff from the wildlife charity joined forces with a team from UK ecology and arboricultural consultancy, EcoNorth and headed to the Cramlington site to be trained under the guidance of licensed colleagues.

In the UK, licenses may be needed to handle some amphibians such as natterjack toads and pool frogs,  particularly if individuals or organisations are involved in activities that disturb or remove them - hence the need for the training which may prove useful in the future, should they present themselves in the future. 

Great crested newts are safeguarded by law due to their declining populations, and handling or disturbing them requires proper licensing to touch and even search for them. As they are present at Northumberlandia, training is of utmost importance.

The training to date has involved searching for newts late at night by torchlight and in the early morning, which was more than worth it as the trainees were able to learn six different techniques and encountered five different amphibian species: common frog, common toad, smooth newt, palmate newt, and great crested newt. 

By the end of the sessions, the wildlife charity will be able to recommend the thirteen staff members for great crested newt survey level one licences - essential for survey work where there is a chance of species disturbance.

Made of 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay, and soil, Northumberlandia is one hundred feet high and a quarter of a mile long. Built by the Banks Group, on land donated by Blagdon Estates, Northumberland Wildlife Trust is the managing agent, working on behalf of the Land Trust.