Newts!

greatnorthernexotic

I've discovered a pair of newts in our pond as I was moving a few rocks around. First time I've ever seen a newt in my life! When we moved in in August 2019, the pond had no water in it, and prior to that had been used as a koi pond. I've turned off the pump and added some marginals, oxygenators and added rocks for entry/exit points for wildlife. I've also added logpiles and leafpiles behind the pond for habitats.

 The garden is surrounded on all sides by concrete-based fence panels, so I'm just amazed how the found us!

Does anyone else have newts in their pond? What can I do to help them / encourage their continued presence in our pond?

WorcesterPark

We found a baby newt in our wildlife pond for the first time today! So I'm also interested in any advice to help encourage them! 

bertrand-mabel

We have newts in what we call our lily pond.

This is a long pond area with lily (natives) and water soldier plants.

We did though inherit duck weed which we are trying to remove.

The newts though seem to like this pond and we rarely see any in our other wildlife pond.

We don't get tadpoles from frogs...newts like them...as well as grass snakes.

If they are in your pond they will find their own niche and hopefully give you more to see.

Wilderbeast

We have newts in our pond, it's only 18 months old, so far we've managed to count 18 all on the surface together. We haven't done anything special for them but clearly they like it

madpenguin

crgnnn said:

I've discovered a pair of newts in our pond as I was moving a few rocks around. First time I've ever seen a newt in my life! When we moved in in August 2019, the pond had no water in it, and prior to that had been used as a koi pond. I've turned off the pump and added some marginals, oxygenators and added rocks for entry/exit points for wildlife. I've also added logpiles and leafpiles behind the pond for habitats.

 The garden is surrounded on all sides by concrete-based fence panels, so I'm just amazed how the found us!

Does anyone else have newts in their pond? What can I do to help them / encourage their continued presence in our pond?

I think if you have newts turn up you are already doing something right.
So just keep doing it!

BenCotto

Mine just turned up ... Facebook messaging or similar I suspect. We have about 60.

What I like most about them is that the garden rule says that when sitting by the pond for a breather you cannot get up to do the next task until you see 12 newts in a single sighting.

Posy

I think once you've got them, you've got them. They turn up and set about breeding and before you know it, there are dozens. Obviously, your pond needs to provide food and shelter so you must allow it to be natural enough to do so and it shouldn't freeze solid or dry out. Otherwise, job done.

Dovefromabove

Log piles and flat rocks around the pond and the rest of the garden for them to live under ... long grasses and leafy litter ... shallow areas with marginal plants for them to lay their eggs on ... sounds perfect newt territory to me.

We used to have a large colony of the wonderful Gt Crested Newts on our smallholding.  Every autumn some of them would make their way into our kitchen (squeezing under the doors, through air bricks, goodness knows how, and try to hibernate under the big coir doormats ... silly things ... people walk on door mats ... no wonder they're an endangered species 

philippasmith2

Be aware too that Newts can bury themselves in the ground at some distance from your pond for the winter so you need to be careful if you are doing any clearing/digging/planting at that time.

NewBoy2

4 Newts and 210 tadpoles.....sorry 208....many pond skaters and water boatmen and Honey bees coming to drink.

Went to the allotment yesterday for 2 hours and di 10 minutew watering the rest of the time sat watching the pond life.

Im truly blessed

greatnorthernexotic

An update since I found a couple of smooth newts in our large pond last year.

I've since emptied the pond as it was far too big for our garden, and was generally in a state of increasing disrepair.

I managed to rescue 10 newts (including a juvenile) and a single frog from the pond. In it's place, I've created a barrel pond into which I've added the pond plants I had. I've also built a hibernaculum beneath a second barrel, into which I've planted gunnera manicata.

The newts seem happy in their new home - I've been lucky enough to witness their mating ritual. My next job is to add more plants onto which they like to lay their eggs. Watercress seems to be a popular choice. I'll also be filling the gaps in shady the border with more grasses, ferns etc. to offer more cover when they're not in the water, and habitats for insects for them to feast on.

Anyone else have newts? I'd love to hear your experiences.