Great crested newts and smooth newts can be seen across the nature reserve and like all amphibians come to pools in spring to breed. Both these newts prefer deeper pools but will also use shallow pools and will lay their individual eggs near pond plants – very different to the frog and toad spawn.
Palmate newts are the smallest of all the newts but look similar to smooth newts and prefer shallower pools to breed in, so you will often see them in the natterjack viewing pools near the car park. Unlike frogs and toads, newts lay individual white eggs. To protect these from the sun’s UV rays, the newt wraps them in leaves from around the edge of the pool. If you look carefully around some of the pool edges you will see leaves that have been folded over where the newts have been busy.
The rangers at Sandscale have to make weekly checks on site for trapped amphibians in unusual places. At least 5 different species have been found trapped in the road drains outside Sandscale’s car park where they have fallen in and can’t get out. Special amphibian ladders have been made so that most can help themselves climb out and the rangers still keep a close eye on any that might still be trapped.