Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Newts- I need to fill in our pond, but what do I do with the newts?
Hi there
We are very happy to be about to move into a house in the area that has a garden. However, it also has a pond and we don't think this is safe as we have one little daughter and another on the way, so we wish to fill in our pond. However, when we looked at the place in the summer there were newts in the pond. What should I do with them? My husbands suggestion is to flush them down the loo, but this seems a little cruel. Does anyone fancy rehoming them? or giving us some advice?
Please help
Lizzy
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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Lucky you, I wish I had more than my half-barrel pond. I reckon these guys would love to help you:
http://www.froglife.org/london/
Harming the newts is probably illegal as I think they are protected.
Re your pond, would it be possible to reduce its depth? Rather than destroy it, which would be a lot of work and a great shame as there is a desperate need for more city ponds, could you fill it with loose rocks to leave just a shallow layer of water on the top, but which still makes a proper pond for all your grateful wild beasties and plants? Then as your little ones grow, the rocks can come out a bit at a time. I've seen this done for real elsewhere.
BTW Frogs, newts and toads are the best way to get rid of your slugs.
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Permalink Reply by NIck and Lizzy on
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Froglife is a great site, thanks, seems to have a lot of relevant info on it
Lizzy x
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Hi Gill.
Do you still have any interest in the newts?
If so please let me know. We had to dig out the ponds for safety reasons, at the mo the newts are in a bucket in my garden. If you want them they are yours!
Lizzy
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Permalink Reply by maggie on
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Hi Nick and Lizzy, I have an allotment where there are newts, frogs, and toads roaming free. There are often newts nesting in my compost heap and swimming in the water butt. I would happily take them up there and ensure that they have a good rehoming. Either way they need to be moved soon as keeping them in a bucket may harm them. I live on the ladder and can collect tomorrow (Wednesday). If there are no other takers and you would like me to collect could you PM me to make arrangements, thanks. (I have sent you a connection request)
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Permalink Reply by Gill on
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Yes I would love to have them. I am around today. What time and where? (excited)
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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I think you should flush your husband down the toilet !!
These valuable animals can be transported to the site of any development of which we don't approve - Heartlands for example :)
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Permalink Reply by Sam R on
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I have newts in my wildlife pond here in harringay which is about 3ft by 4ft wide and maximum about a 1 ft deep so I agree with Pamish fill yours in with rocks. You can do this at this time of year as you won't find the newts in the pond at this time as in winter (from November to March) all newts take cover in frost free shelters; deep inside piles of rubble, compost heaps, etc.
Adult newts only return to mate and lay their eggs in the pond and will normally only spend about four months between March and July in the pond.
If you then put lots of barriers aroun the pond such as pots rocks logs etc your children won't be able to get near the pond and it then gives extra shelter for the newts.
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If I can make it shallower without damaging the newts taking cover, this sounds a good idea. I am intrigued by ponds but have never had one so am a complete ignoramus. All the advice I've been given is that they are muddy death traps for children. A safe pond seems a good idea though.
So glad I consulted Harringay Online!
Lizzy
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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Please think about not filling in the pond - in addition to their importance ecologically, children love them and it's so valuable to give them contact with their very own wildlife. Can't you fence it in somehow, or as suggested make it more shallow, or cover with a grill? Or make it much smaller?
My son actually fell in a neighbour's pond when he was about 18months old - the first I knew about it was he was led dripping wet into the kitchen by their two-year-old, who had pulled him out. So, very lucky, I guess.
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If you are definitely going to destroy the pond, you could speak to Railway Fields and see if they will take them. There's always a worry about cross-contamination in moving creatures between ponds, though - even frog spawn.
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Thanks, all this advice is great, I will no doubt be in touch when we move in next week. I hadn't thought of making it shallower but its a good idea.
Gill, will be in touch if you can take the newts.
My husband was joking btw, we'd never really flush them!
Thanks
Lizzy
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