Pond creation and restoration grants

Great crested newts have seen dramatic declines in their populations over the last 60 years, despite being protected under UK and EU law. Since 1900, an estimated 50% of the UK’s ponds have been lost, reducing the availability of suitable newt habitat. 

District Level Licensing aims to mitigate against great crested newt habitat loss by creating a network of interconnected habitat at a landscape scale. Help us to support this rare amphibian and other local wildlife, while also enjoying the benefits of a pond on your land.

Would you like to have a pond created or restored on your land? 

In support of Natural England’s District Level Licensing (DLL) we are offering to design and create or restore ponds to provide habitat for great crested newts on your land, at no cost to you. 

Eligibility 

Natural England have used their understanding of great crested newts and their habitat requirements to produce target areas known as Great Crested Newt Strategic Opportunity Areas; these are the most suitable areas to create and restore ponds. 

You can see if your land falls within the Strategic Opportunity Areas for the Pond Scheme for great crested newts by clicking below to use the MAGIC website. Suitable locations are coloured in pink (core areas) or blue (fringe areas). 

See if your land falls within the Strategic Opportunity Areas for the Pond Scheme

At present we are unable to create ponds that require planning permission and therefore can only work on ponds that would fall under agricultural exclusion from planning –  

• The pond is located on agricultural land that is part of a holding of more than 5ha, and are not sited on a separate parcel of land of less than 1ha
• The works will not damage or destroy any priority habitat
• The works will not damage or destroy important archaeological features. 

Ponds created or restored for District Level Licencing must: 

• Be between 150m² (12.25m x 12.25m) and 1000m²
• Hold water for at least one summer in every three
• Eventually have good coverage of native pond plants
• Have areas of open water to encourage courtship behaviour
• Have good quality habitat around the pond
• Have grassland and maybe scrub for at least 3m around
• Have plenty of insect prey
• Be close to other ponds (within 250m generally)
• Not be shaded on the south side
• Not contain fish and have no or few waterfowl
• Have good water quality, with no run-off from agriculture and roads 

For restoration your pond must: 

• NOT currently be suitable to support great crested newts
• Be either overgrown with scrub and trees, or entirely covered by plants with no or minimal water
• Have a base of thick black sediment with no or minimal water
• Be located close to existing suitable habitat, such as grassland
• NOT be fed by pipes and ditches that drain arable fields
• NOT support highly valuable trees or protected/priority habitats or species
• NOT support invasive species, like New Zealand pigmyweed 

Northumberland Wildlife Trust can: 

• Carry out a survey to confirm the location is suitable for a great crested newt pond.
• Arrange and fund any required checks or consents (such as archaeological surveys.
• Design and create or restore up to six ponds on your land and associated fencing if required. 

If you are interested in pond creation, please email WilderNorthumberland@northwt.org.uk with your contact details and the location of your proposed ponds.