If you have a pond in your garden or allotment, you might have already observed frogs and toads visiting, but have you seen a newt? Newts conceal their eggs and can be a little trickier to spot…
Smooth Newts
In the UK, we have three native newt species, and the most common one you may encounter in a garden pond is the Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). These newts typically reach 10cm in length and have smooth, velvety brown skin. Males and females have orange-coloured bellies with black spots that extend onto their throats. However, during the breeding season, males develop a striking wavy crest along their back.
They spend winter on land where they seek shelter in damp spaces or the muddy banks of ponds. However, as spring arrives, they migrate to freshwater habitats in preparation for the breeding season.
Spring sightings
April is the best month to see if you can spot a Smooth Newt in your pond. Simply head out in the dark and shine a torch onto the water — you might just catch a glimpse of their courtship dance. Male newts will ‘dance’ with their tails, all in the hope of winning over a female. If successful, mating occurs, and the female will go on to lay between 200 – 300 eggs throughout the pond. Eggs are deposited individually onto vegetation, and the leaves are carefully folded over. This is very different to frogs and toads, which deposit eggs in large masses or strings.
Garden benefits
Newts are valuable garden pest controllers as they feed on a wide range of invertebrate prey both on land and in the water. In ponds, they feed on things such as pond snails, midge larvae and leeches and on land, they eat caterpillars, snails, slugs, and beetles — making them a great garden ally!
Frequently asked questions
- How can I encourage newts into the garden?
- If you don’t already have a pond, creating one is the best place to start. Keep the pond free of fish and ensure you have a mix of vegetation, as this creates suitable places for egg laying. Additionally, create damp sheltered spaces where newts can overwinter on land. This includes log piles, large stones, compost heaps and areas of long dense grass — even if you don’t have a pond, these features can entice nearby newts.
- What do I do if I disturb a plant and find a newt egg?
- Upon finding vegetation with a newt egg attached, simply place it back into the pond and do not unfold the leaves. For pond maintenance, it’s advisable to do so in September and October to avoid disturbing eggs, young tadpoles, and adults returning to hibernate in pond banks.
- What species of newts are in the UK?
- The Smooth Newt is the most likely garden visitor, but there are two other native species you may encounter, the Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus) and the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus). Great Crested Newts are protected by law. They cannot be knowingly disturbed or their habitat damaged. To find out more, visit gov.uk website.
Learn more
Our ‘Reptiles and Amphibians’ fold-out WildID guide features 13 species of reptile and amphibian which breed in Great Britain. Beautiful colour illustrations highlight the key characters for each species. Also included are pictures of the spawn, tadpoles, froglets and newtlets. There are separate images of males, females and juveniles for the lizards, slow worm and snakes. Text on the reverse side explores the key identification characters and distribution in Britain and Ireland for each species.
We also provide training courses that explore amphibian ecology, identification and surveying techniques. Courses take place in locations across England, Scotland and Wales, and we also offer online training with flexible learning opportunities. You can view our amphibian courses here.
This article was originally published in Amateur Gardening magazine 2024.