Natural England

Taylor Woodrow Developments Limited based in Solihull, were fined £2,000 with £87 costs after pleading guilty to damaging or destroying a resting place of great crested newts at a development site in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex following a hearing at Harlow Magistrates Court yesterday (20 June).

The company were aware of the legally protected newts on their site and had been granted a licence by Natural England to enable ecologists to capture the newts to allow the development to go ahead. The captured newts were placed in a temporary reserve while new ponds were being created for them nearby. Once the ponds were suitable for the newts to live in they, and the temporary reserve, were to be joined to form a larger reserve.

However, in December 2006 a manager from the company instructed contractors to excavate the new ponds. The contractors drove machinery over special fencing which protected the newt reserve and placed soil from the excavation on top of where the newts had been released.

Wildlife Management Advisers from Natural England and PC Andrew Long, the Force Wildlife Crime Officer for Essex Police, visited the site after being informed by an ecologist working for the company.

The visit confirmed a breach of the law and led to yesterday’s case.

Paul Cantwell, Wildlife Management Adviser with Natural England, said: “This case highlights why developers must take extra care when dealing with their contractors who are working where there are protected species. I believe this situation was completely avoidable. I would like to commend PC Long and the Crown Prosecution Service for bringing this case to Court.”

PC Andrew Long, the Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator for Essex Police said: "This case demonstrates that Essex Police, working with agencies such as Natural England can have a positive impact on wildlife crime. Essex Police will, where possible, investigate matters of wildlife crime, and if there is sufficient evidence refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Ends

Notes for editors:

1. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

2. The offence prosecuted was the damage or destruction of a breeding site or resting place of a European protected species under Section 39(1) of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended).

3. Great crested newts and their habitat are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended). They breed in ponds but spend much of their lives on land, sometimes venturing several hundred metres from the pond. They often depend on several ponds close together, linked by suitable land habitats. Great crested newts are found in rural, suburban and urban areas. A licence is required to undertake actions affecting great crested newts which would normally be prohibited by law (such as capturing newts, or filling in their breeding ponds).

4. Information on protected species licensing and the law regarding protected species in England can be found on the Natural England internet site.

For further information contact: Natural England’s Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk.