THE great crested newt colony at the pond at the Civic Offices is still doing well, some 19 years after mitigation measures were put in place to secure its future when the car park was extended.
A council spokesman said: “This time of year the newts are thinking about hibernation, but can be found under logs and refuges close to the pond. Thirteen great crested newts were found in one survey of the refuge sites last week.
“As a protected species it is illegal to disturb great crested newts without a licence.”
Epping Forest District Council’s countryside manager Paul Hewitt is licensed to work with great crested newts as part of his work, which includes handling them for surveys and education work.
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