Media centre

Friday 25 Jun 2004

NEWTS RETURN HOME

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Following Network Rail’s successful £3.5 million replacement of the rail bridge which crosses both the Dutch River and the Knottingley and Goole canal some very special residents are being allowed to return home. A colony of 224 Great Crested Newts, which are a European protected species, and other amphibians and reptiles had to be relocated before work could begin on the bridge.  The process involved trapping the creatures and moving them to a safe fenced area near the site.  The newts and friends have spent a year in their temporary home while Network Rail and contractor May Gurney replaced the Dutch River Bridge.  Once work was completed the important task of recreating the original habitat could begin.  In order to obtain the license to translocate the newts Network Rail undertook to improve their existing habitat.  Two new ponds have been created for the newts to breed in and materials such as wooden railway sleepers have been placed in the surrounding area to provide cover.  Planting will be undertaken to provide further coverage for the area. The safety fence has now been removed so the newts and their friends can wander back to their original habitat at their leisure. - more - Newts – 2 Graham Botham, Acting Route Director, Network Rail said: “We are investing millions of pounds in rebuilding Britain’s railway with schemes such as the replacement of Goole Dutch River Bridge.  When undertaking these massive engineering projects we also work hard to ensure minimum disruption to our neighbours, whether they have two legs or more, and to preserve lineside habitats.”