An exciting project to create eight hectares of high-quality terrestrial habitat and seven clean water ponds to benefit great crested newts and other species is planned to start at Stoke Park Farm this summer.
Eastleigh Borough Council has teamed up with the Newt Conservation Partnership to create the new wildlife area, which will include the excavation of new ponds along with hedgerow creation, scrub planting, tree planting and grassland enhancement.
The pond creation is planned to take place in the summer, with hedges and trees being planted the following autumn and winter.
The new clean water ponds will differ in size and depth to provide a variety of different habitats, helping great crested newts as well as other priority species like toads, water voles, damselflies and dragonflies.
Enhancing the land around the new ponds will provide shelter and food sources, as well as benefiting invertebrates, birds and mammals.
The initial work and the long-term wildlife monitoring will be carried out by the Newt Conservation Partnership.
Eastleigh Borough Council and the Newt Conservation Partnership have also entered a 25-year agreement securing beneficial management of the site by the council to an agreed Management Plan.
This is all funded by the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme, which enables contributions from developers to finance great crested newt conservation work. NCP have a great track record, having created 485 ponds at 149 sites across their operating area since 2018.
Pictures by Newt Conservation Partnership. Handling and photography under licence.
