Newt Fencing Aims To Protect Endangered Species Called Great Crested Newt

What is Newt Fencing?
Fencing as is known is done to protect both the sides of it. In the same way, Newt fencing also is meant to prohibit the newt or Great Crested Newt as they are known from entering into the area which is for reserved for human activities. The fencing is also known as drift fencing or temporary amphibian fencing (TAF). Mostly, it is used where projects are being built up and there is a possibility of harm to protected species. While doing this, low fence of plastic sheet is buried a bit in the ground and it is being supported by light weight posts of wood or plastic so that plastic does not fly away with the wind or suffers any type of damage.

It is used to keep animals out of working areas, to keep them inside safe areas of their habitat, to intercept migration routes, or to control their movement to help their capture for trans location.

Why it is done?
Following are some of the reasons why environmental engineers advise to go for Newt fencing:

(1) To keep the animals out of working areas
(2) To keep them inside safe areas of their habitat
(3) To intercept migration routes
(4) To control their movement so that translocation can be easier
(5) To make sure Great Crested Newts are not killed or injured at the cost of human developmnet activities

Hence, in order to fulfil these purposes, it is necessary that you hire a professional ecological consultant or environmental enginners who have the license to set up the Newt fencing or capture the animals as the Great Crested Newt is a European strictly protected fauna species.

How it is done?
The Natural England/English Nature Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines have some exact specifications for erecting Newt Fencing. Let us explore them all:

(1) Great Crested Newt should be protected by a barrier fence which is based on on partially buried polythene membrane. The exposed part of this fencing is supported by timber stakes.
(2) The environmental engineers should select a UV stabilized material to extend its life. The guidelines say that it should at least last for two years.
(3) Timber stakes, usually 37x37 or 50x50mm and from 1000 to 1200mm in length are driven into the ground along the inside line of the fence.
(4) Now, the spacing of these stakes is almost 1500mm and it is done in such a way as to minimize Great Crested Newt's desire to escape and go out.
(5) Another thing to take into consideration for environmental engineers is that the polythene membrane need to be attached only to the stakes using screws, nails or staples through a plastic washer of approx. 20-25mm in diameter.
(6) Such fixing should be minimum three per post.
(7) While creating Newt fencing, the top edge of the membrane needs to be rolled over with the plastic over two or three times to create a 'tube' along the top of the membrane. The top fixing should be through this roll.

Hence, this type of Newt fencing undertaken with the help of environmental engineers to protect Great Crest Newt is a very secure and safe type of fencing where the species are prevented from climbing over the fence.