Newts

Hi Jo no expert but we do have a small pond with newts in and it seems important to have a large area of weed where they can hide,we have quite a lot of fish in as well.Think newts spend a lot of time on land perhaps only going in water to breed.Think that if you need to repair the pond perhaps best to leave until autumn and make sure to put plenty of weed back in.If you have to use mortar it is very toxic I think until the water is changed several times.Welcome to the forum.

Hi Jo,

How lucky to have newts in your pond! :-)

I think the first thing would be to find out what type of newt you have in your garden as it is illegal to damage the habitat of great crested newts.  Though it is unlikely that these are the ones in your pond I would suggest taking a close look to see just what species you have there.  This leaflet may help you discover what type of newt you have - http://www.narrs.org.uk/Documents/nasdocuments/Amphibian_identification_guide.pdf 

At this time of year the newts will be spending much of their time in the water, the females laying their eggs on pond vegetation.  They lay eggs throughout April-June/July time so it would be best to try and avoid doing too much work during these months.  However, if the pond is in a bad state (and you don't have great crested newts in your pond) then you could do bits at a time - hand-pulling up vegetation and leave it at  the side of the pond so any newts or other pond creatures can get back to the pond. 

Though if possible, I would try and leave it until August to do any pond work when most of the newts should have left the pond. 

All the best with your newts,

Kat

Hi Jo. Newts have been living in my pond for the last 4 or 5 years now. If you remove the weed do it in the late autumn when breeding has finished. I have read that two thirds of the water should be 'covered' and one third of the surface area be clear. If you get frogspawn it might be wise to remove it to a large container where the tadpoles can develop without being eaten by the newts. I regularly do this each year. Whe the tadpoles are just about to grow their legs I put them back in the pond so that they are large enough not to be eaten by the newts.

Great news!

Rockeries, piles of logs and long grassy areas are good for the newts and their prey insects.

Put the pondweed on the edge of the pond making sure their are no eggs otherwise put it back in, these look very simular to frogspawn. This lets wildlife crawl back in and wait until Autumn to finish clearing the weed but don't clear it all.

Encourage more wildlife with yellow flag irises, marsh marigolds, water forget me nots, yellow lily pads (keep water clearish), purple loosestrifes and oxygenating plants would be good too. Do not put any goldfish or any other sort of fish into the pond as these will eat newt and frogs spawn.