The Palmate Newt (Triturus helveticus) spends most of the year on land, only visiting ponds and slow-flowing streams during the early spring months. It prefers the gently sloping muddy bottoms with a good covering of vegetation that our wetland provides. The females may lay up to 400 or so eggs, attaching each of them to strands of vegetation. The young, water-bound newts called efts will eventually leave the water during July and August to overwinter in moist areas relatively close to their breeding. They will eat worms and other small insects.
Other amphibians and some reptiles you may see but not shown on the interpretation board, include:
Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) and Common Frog (Rana temporaria) have both been confirmed as breeding in the pool areas since the completion of the project.
The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)can often be seen swimming across the open water and may feed on frogs and newts.
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Illustration by Helen Joubert Design
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