Bushes, Buckhurst Hill. They were present here during the period 1953-1959 in
fair numbers. One of the two ponds, the upper, was ideal being covered with
duckweed which made it dark. The Epping Forest Conservation Centre has
records of crested newts at Fairmead Pond in 1971 and at Baldwins Hill,
Blackweir and Fairmead Ponds in 1972, one at Blackweir Pond in 1973. Mr K.
Hoy of the Suntrap Field Centre has found young specimens hibernating in the
garden there in the last two years and also knows of their presence in the Jubilee
Retreat and Golf Course areas of Chingford during the same period.
Smooth or Common Newt (Triturus vulgaris (Linnaeus))
This newt is well distributed throughout the Forest although according to
Malenoir less common than the palmate newt. His records during 1958
mention Earls Path pond Strawberry Hill pond and ponds at Golding Hill,
Baldwins Hill, Blackweir, Bell Common and craters on Sunshine Plain and
Fairmead Bottom. Also the ponds in the Walthamstow area of the Forest were
well stocked with this species. It was common in Lord Bushes and Knighton
ponds at Buckhurst Hill during my study of 1953-1959. Records from Ep-
ping Forest Conservation Centre include Paul's Nursery, High Beach two newts
in 1971 and several under logs at the Centre. Also from Blackweir pond in 1972
and 1973 and in the Centre ponds. Blackweir and Baldwins in 1973. Tadpoles
and adults were observed at the Centre ponds in 1976 and 1977 and several
adults in Little Wake Valley pond in 1977. The Suntrap Field Centre record
them in 1977, adults and young.
Palmate Newt (Triturus helveticus (Razoumoski))
In 1958 and 1963 Malenoir records this newt from the same Forest ponds
as the smooth newt although larger numbers were present. It was common in
Lords Bushes and Knighton ponds during the 1953-1959 period although ac-
cording to my records numbers were no greater than those of the smooth newt.
Older records include Stubbs (1920) in a pond at High Beach and in a pit near
Chingford Station (Boulenger, 1887) and at Buckhurst Hill (Cole, 1900). One of
the problems in recording this species is identification because of the similar
appearance to the smooth newt. The males are more straightforward as the
palmate is smaller than the smooth, less crested and has the familiar tail
filament and palmated or webbed hind feet. The female is the difficult one and
the main difference is the throat, spotted in the smooth but plain in the
palmate. The Forest Conservation Centre records it in 1974 at Baldwins Hill
pond and in 1977 at the Centre ponds.
Common Toad (Bufo bufo (Linnaeus))
This is descibred by Malenoir as the most common amphibian in the Forest
and is certainly more numerous than the frog. Recording in the 1958 survey he
lists Goldings ponds, Wake pond, the crater near Wake pond, Baldwins Hill
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