Protesters keen to stop some unwelcome housing development are always delighted to discover the presence of great crested newts on the site.

The newts are a European Protected Species and may not be disturbed, so their discovery in Kent is usually enough to slow down any planning application while mitigation measures are put in place, and sometimes scupper it altogether.

However, the reverse is true for a planning application in Hildenborough.

The Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP) is seeking permission from Tonbridge and Malling council to create a 200sq metre pond specifically as a haven for the creatures.

The chosen spot is currently a wildflower meadow in the grounds of the privately owned Hollanden Park Oast in Riding Lane.

The site lies within Natural England’s core Strategic Opportunity Area where great crested newts have been recorded before. There are several ponds in the area, and the addition of the pond at Riding Lane will hopefully create a “stepping stone”, to enable the newts to migrate between ponds as necessary.

The MVCP said: “The scheme is to effectively connect newt populations impacted by high levels of development and is aimed at increasing numbers and improving habitat.

“The site has good interconnecting habitat made up mainly of hedgerows, mature trees, scrub and meadow grassland and these green corridors will allow all sorts of creatures, including newts, to move around safely.

“Newts are terrestrial over winter, but hide in damp areas, and come out to feed on milder days.

“It is better to have ponds in clusters within a 250 to 500 metre range, rather than having a pond in isolation.

“There are more than 10 ponds in the 1km square of the proposed pond, but some of these are connected to streams where there may be fish present, and others are known to be stocked with carp and other species (which are a threat to the newts).”

It is not the intention to stock the pond with newts transferred from other sites, but rather to provide suitable habitat and let the pond “naturalize.”

Great crested newts are almost black, with “warty” markings. The underbelly is orange. It is only the male that has the distinctive crest down its spine.

They can grow to be 17cm long and may live up to 15 years. They hibernate over winter.

The planning application can be viewed here.

Application number 23/01695 refers