This week we have been joined by two ecologists, whose job it is to ensure that the great crested and common newts that share our school environment are safely rehomed when the old small Portakabin is demolished to make way for our new building. Great crested newts are a protected species, so special care has to be taken to ensure that they have a safe haven when buildings are moved, or erected.
As you can see from the photo in the gallery, a plastic fence has been erected around the perimeter of the school field and a hibernaculum has been built, so the newts can be moved to this safe place whilst the building commences. Our children were fascinated to be shown one of the great crested newts which was found when Vicky, one of the ecologists was working on the new hibernaculum. Our children will be taught about the newts and they will be encouraged to place any stray newts that they find in the hibernaculum. The photo below shows a female newt which is much darker than the beautiful orange-spotted male. How many newts do you think the ecologists will find when the Portakabin is removed?
As our old Portakabin was removed and the concrete foundations were lifted, a total of around 50 newts were rescued and rehomed in the purpose-built hibernaculum by George, Mary, Oscar and Sophie.
Please see the beautiful drawings that the children have done of the hibernaculum in the photo gallery,
