DNA testing for newts

 

We've taken some water samples in the Top Pond (the pond in the corner of the Upper Meadow) to find out whether we have the rare Great Crested Newt on the Reserve. Common newts have been seen in this pond, but it's important that we know about any Great Crested Newts in case we decide to carry out pond improvement works there.

The Top Pond dries up in the simmer, butfrom late autumn to spring it is an important "staging post" for water flowing from neighbouring farmland, then on via the Wapley ditches to the pond towards the River Frome.

Newts emerge from hibernation on land in the spring, and the purpose of the water sampling is to test for newt eDNA (environmental DNA) durimng their breeding season, Samples have to be taken between April 15th and June 30th for the results to be accepted by Natural England.

We expect to receive the results in a couple of weeks - we'll keep you posted.