Protected species: good or bad selling point?

G_M

I have an old property in a rural location. Some years ago I built a wildlife pond and within 12 months Great Crested Newts, which are a protected species, had migrated to it.

There is now a regular colony breeding each year. Consequently, it is illegal to interfere with the pond or newts in any way.

I have never reported their presence to anyone (not even sure if you're meant to, or to who).

However in the event of my selling the property, would you as a potential buyer consider their presence, if informed of it, an attraction, or a limitation on, for example, future landscaping or conversion of the pond for fish?

edit: of course it also means the Highways Authority cannot build a motorway through the garden either!

marliepanda

For me, a big plus. Something I would be interested in for certain, (heck I'm excited if I get some tadpoles in the pond at home...)

But as mentioned anyone with 'plans' for the garden would see it as a negative I suppose, but to be honest if you havent declared it, what are the chances they won't and just do it anyway

Yorkie1

I'd be concerned that I might get into trouble for inadvertently disturbing them e.g. through lawnmowing or something. I might be completely misinformed in my concern, but that's the fear I would have.

G_M

Yorkie1 wrote: »

I'd be concerned that I might get into trouble for inadvertently disturbing them e.g. through lawnmowing or something. I might be completely misinformed in my concern, but that's the fear I would have.

No lawn. As the pond is up against the boundary fence they're more likely to be disturbed by the farmer's bullocks!

Actually they seem pretty resilient. In autumn I pull out some of the excess plant growth (as well as leaves etc on the surface)and occassionally a newt comes out too. I always leave the stuff on the side of the pond for 12-24 hours and they (and their other smaller friends) just crawl back in

Better_Days

There's some detailed info here from the Natural England website (p22 of the pdf) on licencing required to disturb GCN's.

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/wlmsfaqs_tcm6-3859.pdf

It would be an enormous plus for me. I have a very small pond, but I still have frogs and ordinary newts (they have beautiful colouring on their tummies).

But I suppose it would come down to what any buyer proposed to do with the land. Are there questions put by solicitors during the sale process which addresses protected species (I suspect bats would be more common)

Minniethemoocher

I would love to have such rare and interesting creatures in my garden. The local wildlife trust would be worth contacting too. They normally keep a record of rare/protected species and it would help them to know where they are found.

motherofstudents

Yes, definitely a plus for me. Our pond has lots of frogs and 'ordinary' (?) newts. I love bats too. I think you would have to notify somebody like natural england and inform prospective buyers so that they would not inadvertantly disturb/destroy them. I think it's important to conserve and protect wildlife.

DVardysShadow

Having GCN's is a privilege and a responsibility. Buyers will vary on the degree of responsibility and privilege they perceive and there may even be some buyers who would perceive neither. I think the only buyers this would cause a problem for is those with small children who would be concerned about the pond.

Lizling

It'd be a huge plus for me! I'm so jealous I'm wondering how I can get interesting wildlife on a towerblock balcony (bat boxes maybe?)

This might be of interest to you http://www.froglife.org/advice/FAQs/newts/gcn.htm, and you can also fill in a report here: http://www.arguk.org/recording

Strapped

I guess it would depend entirely on what the buyer wanted to do with the property/garden. Anything that limits development is likely to be a downside tbh. However, if you're in a rural area, esp outside of a development boundary, then I guess any development is limited anyway.

martinsurrey

G_M wrote: »

Actually they seem pretty resilient. In autumn I pull out some of the excess plant growth (as well as leaves etc on the surface)and occassionally a newt comes out too. I always leave the stuff on the side of the pond for 12-24 hours and they (and their other smaller friends) just crawl back in

Do you have a licence to pull out the vegetation?

if not you are breaking the law.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/protecting-wildlife/legislation-licenses-protect-wildlife/species-protected-eulaw/

ANY thing that disturbs their environment requires a licence, and this will require a specialist to come and do an assessment, which will cost £££'s.

Like everything involving DEFRA and animal protection, its great in principle, but a pain in the rear practically, so it would be a definite no no for me.