wes_von_papineäu
Our Roving Correspondent
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MALVERN GAZETTE (UK) 12 October 07 Trees planted to provide council houses for newts (Robert Hale)
A Protected species of newt has been discovered living around an old oak tree on land owned by Malvern Town Council.
The tree, on a field off Greenfield Road, is surrounded by rubble which has become covered by undergrowth over the years.
The council's operations committee heard this week that the rubble cannot now be cleared because of the great crested newts living there.
Over recent months, the council has been looking at the possibilty of using the site for allotments.
Town clerk Richard Chapman said the council hired a consultant ecologist who confirmed there were newts there and said they could well use the rubble for hibernation.
"They don't live in ponds, they just go to ponds to spawn," added Mr Chapman.
He said the council had applied to Natural England for permission to place an artificial hibernating structure on the site, so the rubble could be carted away, but had been refused.
Instead the authority was advised to put turf down on the rubble and plant willow trees, to create a sanctuary for the newts.
The operations committee agreed to plant the willows at a cost of £150.
The great crested newt is protected by European law, making it illegal to move them off the site or destroy their habitat.
The town council will now wait until the district council publishes its report on Malvern's open spaces in the spring before discussing what to do with the rest of the land off Greenfield Road.
http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/ne...nted_to_provide_council_houses_for_newts.php
A Protected species of newt has been discovered living around an old oak tree on land owned by Malvern Town Council.
The tree, on a field off Greenfield Road, is surrounded by rubble which has become covered by undergrowth over the years.
The council's operations committee heard this week that the rubble cannot now be cleared because of the great crested newts living there.
Over recent months, the council has been looking at the possibilty of using the site for allotments.
Town clerk Richard Chapman said the council hired a consultant ecologist who confirmed there were newts there and said they could well use the rubble for hibernation.
"They don't live in ponds, they just go to ponds to spawn," added Mr Chapman.
He said the council had applied to Natural England for permission to place an artificial hibernating structure on the site, so the rubble could be carted away, but had been refused.
Instead the authority was advised to put turf down on the rubble and plant willow trees, to create a sanctuary for the newts.
The operations committee agreed to plant the willows at a cost of £150.
The great crested newt is protected by European law, making it illegal to move them off the site or destroy their habitat.
The town council will now wait until the district council publishes its report on Malvern's open spaces in the spring before discussing what to do with the rest of the land off Greenfield Road.
http://www.malverngazette.co.uk/ne...nted_to_provide_council_houses_for_newts.php
