On the hunt for 'newt recruits'

People interested in getting a bird's eye view of Walsall's watery wildlife are being invited to help with surveys for Great Crested Newts at the borough's nature reserves.

Walsall Council's countryside services team is appealing for 'newt recruits' to help carry out the work this spring.

Great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) are a protected species of amphibian, very rare throughout Europe, and can only be surveyed by a team with a special licence.

Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council senior countryside ranger, said: "The surveys will provide valuable information on the distribution of all of Walsall's amphibians, which include frogs, toads and three species of newts.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to build up experience in conservation or ecology, or even people just wanting to get a close look at Walsall's watery wildlife."

Volunteers can help with surveys either during the day or in the evening by torchlight.

People need to be aged 18 or over and will need to be able to make their own way to the different nature reserves in the borough.

Those taking part will receive training in the identification of amphibians, and also in survey techniques and habitat assessment.

To find out more about volunteering, email bowersm@walsall.gov.uk.

Anyone who thinks they have seen great crested newts can send their records in to the countryside team at countrysideservices@walsall.gov.uk.

As well as survey volunteers, the countryside services team is also appealing for donations of two litre plastic pop bottles.

Morgan added: "We survey newts by placing traps made out of the plastic pop bottles which can safely capture them to enable us to identify and record them before placing them back in the wild, unharmed.

"We need around 300 clean pop bottles – without tops – in preparation for the survey season in March."