This guidance note describes reasonable measures that forest and woodland managers should follow to avoid or minimise the risk of committing offences against the great crested newt, a European protected species.

It is an offence deliberately or recklessly to capture, injure or kill a great crested newt; to disturb it while it is occupying its breeding/resting places, or while it is migrating or hibernating; to obstruct access to breeding/resting places; or take or destroy great crested newt eggs. It is an offence to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places, even accidentally.

Great crested newts in Scotland are found predominantly across the central lowlands, in Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, and in lowland areas within 30 miles of Inverness. They live in and around ponds. Within 250m of ponds, great crested newts can occur in high densities.