Natural England
Details
This licence allows you to survey great crested newts using:
- pitfall traps - you must tell Natural England before using these traps (not covered by level 1 licences)
- hand
- nets
- torches
- aquatic funnel traps (including bottle traps)
You cannot use box traps.
You must release all great crested newts you capture as soon as youve finished examining them.
You must apply for an individual licence for survey, research or conservation work not covered by this licence, or a level 1 licence.
For development work affecting great crested newts, you must apply for a mitigation licence.
Using pitfall traps
When using pitfall traps you must:
- tell Natural England at least 5 working days before installing fences and traps using the Pitfall traps: notify Natural England before use form (A29-3) on this page
- only use a maximum of 20 metre fence line and 15 pitfall traps per site
- avoid obstructing or significantly disrupting natural migration patterns
- not use pitfall traps over the winter
- not ring-fence ponds
- not leave fences in place for more than 20 days
- check pitfall traps at least once a day between 6am and 11am
- make sure fence and trap designs comply with guidelines
Register with Natural England
Before you can use this licence, you must register with Natural England using the application form linked on this page.
When you need to pay
It costs 80 to register for a new CL09 licence.
From October 2022, it will cost 35 to renew your registration.
You must declare the intended use of the licence on your registration form. This will determine if you need to pay, such as to survey great crested newts for development projects.
Natural England will refund unsuccessful applications.
Read the terms and conditions for paying for a wildlife licence.
When you do not need to pay
You do not need to pay if the licence is used for:
- voluntary purposes - any work you do is unpaid and you are registered with an organisation or charity as a volunteer
- conservation, science or research purposes - research related to the protected species is carried out by a student or employee of an academic institution or research body
How to pay
You can pay using a bank card. Follow the GOV.UK Pay link on the application form.
References
You usually need to complete a reference to support a survey or research licence form when you register for thi