CONSERVATIONISTS have slammed vandals for dumping building materials into a pond that is home to a protected species of newt.

Members of the Popley Conservation Volunteers were horrified to discover polystyrene, which had been stolen from the nearby Marnel Park development, clogging up Popley Ponds, in Basingstoke.

The site is a designated nature reserve and important habitat for the great crested newt.

The group warned that, although the people behind the incidents may not realise what they are doing, it is illegal to harm or kill the creatures, or threaten their habitat.

David Glover, chairman of Popley Conservation Volunteers, said: "It is a major pollution hazard.

"It can kill life in the pond as well as making a terrible mess.

"We are very concerned about it and, all in all, we are quite upset that these incidents are taking place - and taking place on a fairly regular basis."

He added: "If this stuff spreads across the whole of the pond, which it could well do because it is very windy and it floats very easily, it will cut the light out and things will start to putrefy within the pond.

"The protection of these animals is taken very seriously, so any incidents like this which jeopardise them and their habitat are taken really quite seriously.

"There have been prosecutions in the past where people have deliberately interfered with the habitat of these creatures."

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has spent the last two days clearing out the polystyrene, and believes 12 eight-foot-long bags of the material were dumped in the pond.

Developer George Wimpey has agreed with the council to keep materials securely locked away.

Newt Factfile</</b>

  • Great crested newts are Britain's largest newt species
  • They can live for up to 27 years and grow to up to 17 centimetres long
  • They are found in mainland Britain (but not in Ireland) and across northern Europe l
  • Their habitat is usually weedy ponds and small lakes
  • Other newts, tadpoles, worms, water snails and insects are among the creatures that make up an adult great crested newt's diet
  • The creatures are nocturnal and hibernate between October and February
  • It is illegal to catch, possess or handle great crested newts without a licence and it is also illegal to cause them harm or death, or to disturb their habitat in any way