Conserving Dobcroft Nature Reserve

Tools are needed to provide suitable Great Crested Newt habitat for breeding, hibernation, food supply. The work involves
1. Breeding – Improvements to a pond that has become shaded by willow and devoid of suitable marginal vegetation.
. Clearing Willow growth within the water body to create open water.
2. Hibernation.
Creating hibernaculum for winter hibernation and for daytime refuge when the newts are active.
. Collecting material such as bricks, stone, logs etc. to build hibernaculum.
. Digging out shallow areas to take logs or rotting wood.
3. Food supply.
Aquatic invertebrates should move in naturally with improved water quality. Work is needed on land surrounding the pond to develop a suitable balance of rough grassland, scrub, woodland.
. Selective tree removal.
. Plant as needed to increase diversity.
. Introduce herbaceous plants.
The project will be done in a year. It will be necessary to revisit until the area is established.