Project example
Filey, North Yorkshire
Residential development
Client: Britannia Developments & David Wilson Homes
Contract value: £35,000
Key Services: Great crested newt survey and mitigation, including translocation
Barrier fencing
Checking barrier fencing
AMA undertook baseline survey and obtained a DEFRA licence for trapping and translocation of amphibians at Filey, Yorkshire, prior to residential development.
An adjacent Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve supports a large population of great-crested newt. The proposed development site adjacent to the reserve comprised a single field of about 4ha, dominated by tussocky grassland – ideal habitat for newts during the terrestrial phase of their life cycle.
Several kilometers of amphibian barrier-fencing was installed in 2003 and trapping continued into 2004 over 240 trapping sessions, during which extremely high numbers of amphibians were caught and moved to the adjacent reserve. Over 7500 animals were moved, including over 1800 great crested newts.
In addition to trapping, we helped negotiate purchase of eight acres of additional compensation land adjacent to the western boundary of the Nature Reserve; in which were created several new ponds and hibernation sites.