Summary
This guidance note outlines reasonable measures that forest and woodland managers should implement to avoid or minimize the risk of committing offences against the great crested newt, a European protected species.
It is an offence to deliberately or recklessly capture, injure, or kill a great crested newt; to disturb it while it is occupying its breeding or resting places, or while it is migrating or hibernating; to obstruct access to breeding or resting places; or to take or destroy great crested newt eggs. It is also an offence to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places, even accidentally.
Great crested newts in Scotland are predominantly found across the central lowlands, in Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, and in lowland areas within 30 miles of Inverness. They live in and around ponds. Within 250 meters of ponds, great crested newts can occur in high densities.
