Cold Springs Great Crested Newt Ponds, Penrith

Cumbria Wild Trust 

Three new ponds were created each averaging 250 - 350 sqm

The objective for these ponds is to create suitable habitat for great crested newts GCNs prefer small to medium sized breeding ponds, with smaller ponds especially used where they occur in clusters. Breeding ponds support aquatic vegetation for egg laying, but there should be open, less vegetated areas within the pond to allow adult males to display in clear view of females.

• Surface area between 150m2 and 1000m2

• Maximum central depth of 1m (exceptionally up to 2.5m for the largest ponds)

• Variable bank gradients of 1:10, or ideally 1:20

• A range of depths across the pond