New-t project to save species

Feb 12 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

STUDENTS from Oatridge College in West Lothian are playing their part in helping save an endangered species.

Countryside Management students from the Ecclesmachan college are taking steps to halt the decline of the Great Crested Newt, which is near the top of the list of priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The students, studying for Higher National Certificate or Diploma courses, have been working to improve the creatures’ habitat on West Lothian’s only designated local nature reserve, Easter Inch Moss and Seafield Law, near Bathgate, before the breeding season in the spring.

Students cut back willow trees to allow more light into the breeding pond and reduce the amount of leaf litter falling into the water.

They also used the cut vegetation to create habitat piles for the amphibians to shelter under when on land.

Future projects will include pumping water out of the pond to reduce the numbers of fish, which eat newt eggs and larvae.

The work is being carried out on behalf of the Lothian Amphibian and Reptile Group.

The Great Crested Newt (triturus cristatus) is the largest of three newt species in the UK, growing to 15 centimetres or five inches long.

And although it can be found right across the country, its numbers have been falling rapidly because of the destruction of its habitat.

The creatures are protected under European legislation, but there are thought to be less than 1000 individuals left in Scotland.

Students from Oatridge have been working on the Easter Inch Moss and Seafield Law site since before it was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2006.

They carried out a visitor-use survey as part of the designation process and since then have been systematically surveying the area.

In May, an HND group will undertake a habitat survey as part of their studies.

The information they gather will be passed to the nature reserve’s management group and will be used to support future planning decisions.

Niall Evans, the Countryside Management Team Leader at Oatridge says: “Both our HNC and HND student groups are registered as a Community Liaison Action Network, which means they can get involved in this sort of project.

“At Oatridge College we have set up a student-based ranger service, which provides opportunities like this for the students to get more hands-on practical experience, while working in partnership with external organisations.”