Great crested newts

[Jules]

Two years ago I created a large wildlife pond in my garden. No fish which has meant that frogs and newts have quickly moved in. The newts are either common or palmate (I've only just found out that palmate newts have webbed hind feet so I'll have to look a bit closer next time to find out which they are).
The question is; how can I adapt the habitat so that I attract great crested newts as well? Or would great crested newts jeapordise the wellbeing of the other newts(?), in which case I'll stick with the latter. Maybe I'm just in the wrong part of the country for great crested? Anyone got any ideas please?

[gfl]

Hi Jules,

I am lucky enough to have Great Crested Newts in my garden pond and they live happily along side other newts.

We dug the pond 4 years ago and although there is not another pond for 200 meters or so we discovered a GRN when digging the pond, but at the time didn't recognise it. Last year I took a couple of pictures and send it to the local country records office so that it could be added to offical records as a location of GRN. I was told that it was the first submission of a record for GRN in the parish. So maybe worth getting in touch with them an seeing if GRN have been recorded in the area.

Our pond is not that large but is fish free and also frog free. To improve the habitat for newts I did a bit of research on the web and found a couple of fact sheets that explained building newts friendly structures in the garden like a newt house and log pile.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Gavin

[Nick the Grief]

Can't manage GC newts but I found this in the greenhouse when I was diggin the border. he now lives under some seed trays

I've called him Tiny .... cos he's my newt( minute - get it :D)

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/nick_the_grief/today/Tiny.jpg

[Nuthatch]

Lucky you Nick and welcome!

[Cyberslitheen]

Hi, I've recentely had tadpoles hatch in my pond and soon after 2 great crested newts moved in. I think it might be that the newts diets attracted them to my pond:D