Great Crested Newts had been discovered in the council recycling depot at Dean Pits in West Oxfordshire. To prepare for the translocation of the newts, JPR Environmental was contracted to create three ponds on the adjacent nature reserve to provide suitable wetland habitat for the newts.

Working to plans drawn up by the landscape architect we created 3 ponds of various sizes and depths using excavators and used the spoil to re-profile the surrounding landscape. The ponds were then lined with bentonite (a fine clay contained between two sheets of geotextile). The ponds were filled to test their integrity and were found to hold water to the correct depth.
The plans also called for 2 hibernacula to be created between the ponds which was done using the excavator to dig 2 holes of approximately 2mx2mx1m which were lined with large stones and rocks and filled with dried and decaying willow bundles. The hole were then refilled with soil but still allowing gapes between the protruding willow rods to allow access below ground level.
The whole pond and hibernacula area was then fenced for safety considerations.

Smaller pond prepared for lining with bentonite

Once the pond is lined the surface is covered with soil.


The larger pond on completion