Newts and frogs

This beautiful creature is a palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus). It is a relatively small species of newt and lives in ponds, canals and agricultural land. It is endangered in many European countries but fortunately is relatively common in the UK.


Imagine my delight when I saw a glimpse of a newt in my pond last Sunday. Knowing that such creatures liked my pond enough to move in was a huge seal of approval.

Tonight when I went to visit the tadpoles I saw three palmate newts beneath the watercress stealthily watching the new activity avidly and I realised that my tadpoles have provided the equivalent of a newt 'all you can eat' buffet.

It truly brought home for me that nature sometimes does things that we don't like but we must not interfere. My newts will eat the tadpoles and in turn the surviving tadpoles will grow into young frogs who will eat the newt's eggs.

Nature knows what she is doing but that doesn't make it any easier to watch.