Work has begun to restore ponds and create new habitats for endangered great crested newts at two sites in the Harborough district

Vital work to restore ponds and create new habitats for endangered great crested newts has been launched at two sites in Harborough.

Leicestershire County Council has joined forces with Natural England to help conserve the native orange-bellied amphibians.

Work is now going ahead at Brabazon Farm in Mowsley, near Fleckney, and a Kibworth Schools Trust site to support beleaguered great crested newts.

The twin sites are being targeted by Natural England, the Government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, as it battles to boost the struggling species.

Great crested newts, one of the UK's three native newt species, have suffered a devastating decline in numbers over the last 60 years.

The creature is battling to survive despite being heavily protected by law.

The catastrophic loss of their natural habitat due to a drastic increase in housebuilding and more intensive farming is largely to blame.

Cllr Blake Pain, Leicestershire County Council’s acting deputy leader and cabinet member for action on climate change, said: “The protection of the county’s green lands and its wildlife are essential in delivering a greener future for Leicestershire.

“By developing and conserving these sites, we’re not only helping to build more resilience into our living landscapes, protecting the great crested newt for future generations, but we’re also strengthening our commitment to biodiversity.”

The new project aims to make existing ponds more attractive to the newt and introduce new ponds, expanding their habitat range.

Annabelle Phillips, great crested newt strategist at Natural England, said: “Our innovative licensing scheme works by creating bigger, better, and more joined-up habitat for this iconic and threatened species.

“We’re delighted to be working with Leicestershire local authorities and partners to bring this about.”

As well as focusing on Brabazon Farm and the Kibworth Schools Trust site, future habitats could also be created in Leicestershire’s country parks.

Preparation work has already begun on one of the sites.

And that’s set to be completed by the end of this year in a further bid to protect and defend great crested newts in Leicestershire.