Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus

The Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) is Britain’s largest newt and one of its most legally protected amphibians, afforded protection under both UK and European legislation. The male’s spectacular jagged dorsal crest and silver-striped tail make it unmistakable during the breeding season. It is associated with ponds surrounded by rough grassland, scrub, and woodland, and requires a network of suitable terrestrial and aquatic habitats to sustain populations. Suffolk holds significant populations across the county, with the boulder clay areas of the south and west – where pond-rich farmland persists – particularly important. Pond creation and restoration, alongside sympathetic management of surrounding terrestrial habitat, are central to its conservation in the county. Image: © Alec Karcz, iNaturalist.

Find out more: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist