Two-day hybrid course covering the ID, ecology, survey and legal protection of GCNs.

A two day practical course (including evening meal) and assessment giving participants an introduction to:

ID and ecology of Great Crested Newts

Legislation protecting newts

Habitat Suitability Index

Survey standards and techniques, including Environmental DNA.

Interpretation of survey results

Mitigation measures

This course offers an introduction to the ID and ecology of GCN, protective legislation, survey techniques and standards, and result analysis. The course is designed to refine practical survey techniques, and provides an insight into how GCN are considered through the planning system.

Please note, in 2027, SRT are running the 2-day GCN courses in the New Forest on 4/5 May and 5/6 May, and in Surrey on 28/29 April and 5/6 May.

The course includes an online presentation with a test element, and a site survey which includes an informal assessment. On satisfactorily passing these, attendees will be issued with a certificate, which can be used in lieu of one reference for a licence application*.

It is essential that attendees remain overnight to accompany the tutor on an evening of torch surveys and to collect in bottle traps the next morning.

This course is intended for; Consultant Ecologists, Local Authority Ecologists, Reserve Rangers and Land Managers.

Tutors: Holly Stanworth, Dominic Price & Georgina Starkie.

About the tutors

Dominic Price is a highly regarded tutor and has been running courses for all levels of ecologists since 2007. He is director of The Species Recovery Trust and specialises in the conservation of endangered species. He has 25 years experience in ecological consultancy, including managing large scale survey and translocation projects.

Holly Stanworth has 11 years experience in ecological consultancy, with first hand experience of completing great crested surveys, designing and implementing appropriate mitigation, and managing habitats for amphibians. In addition to being a consultant, she is a Conservation Officer at The Species Recovery Trust and is very passionate about conserving our rarest and most protected species.

Georgina Starkie has worked as a full-time ecologist since 2006, on a wide range of infrastructure projects, with particular expertise in protected species and licensing.

Holly will be delivering the online content and Dom and Georgie will be delivering the field training and assessment.

*Reference

If attendees perform satisfactorily in the assessment they will be issued with a certificate which can be used within 3 years in lieu of one of your references for a survey licence. Natural England's guidance on this has been changing over the last few years, but we have had written confirmation that we can issue certificates and these can be used as one reference.

As the guidance is in a constant state of flux we will do our best to let you know if this alters prior to the course, but cannot be responsible for sudden changes in NE's guidance around licensing. The latest advice can be found here. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reference-to-support-a-protected-species-licence/protected-species-licences-guidance-on-getting-references-to-support-applications)

If you do not need a certificate or already have a licence you can leave the course slightly early at the end.

Please note attendance on the course is no guarantee of gaining the course reference. We will do our best to work with any attendees who are struggling, but ultimately you must demonstrate adequate skills to gain this reference.

Schedule - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

3rd May or 4th May - online training

Half day of online training. To provide some flexibility on when you can watch the online element of this course, the 3-hour video will be available from 9am on the 3rd May until 5pm on the 4th May.

4th May - site survey

5.30pm Meet on site for initial HSI survey, eDNA collection and deployment of bottle traps

7-9pm Break including food at the Balmerlawn Hotel next door (food included in the price).

9–11pm (ish) Torchlight surveys

5th May - follow up site survey

8.30-10:30am Return visit to collect traps and carry out ID test

You will be given a written assessment to complete within 3 days of completing the course.

What to bring

Waterproof outdoor clothing and wellies/waders (please make sure the latter are clean ie. they do not have any invasive plants/animals on them)

Pencil and paper

Plenty of warm clothing if the weather demands it

Something relatively acceptable to wear in the hotel for supper

For the evening session you will need a powerful torch (>1million candlepower) for the survey work plus a ‘normal’ torch to get around with. We do have some torches to lend out on the night.

Please inform us of any medical requirements/conditions we should be aware of prior to the course. Any problems on the day please call Dominic on 07968 786390.

Biosecurity

Please make sure that clothing/footwear/equipment is appro

Description supplied by the event organiser.