alpine newts, but neither garden or field ponds which were further afield showed evidence
of colonisation (Bell & Bell 1993)
However a population in Kent has shown that the species can spread over 1 km over 3
years (Beebee & Griffiths). It seems that it is possible that the newts in Willow Park
could have come from Kingswood by their own steam (around 1.2km distance). Another
suggestion could be that the newts were in existence in the pond when it was a 'Plotland'
garden (Wisby. J, pers. comm. 2002) before the Essex Wildlife Trust took it over in
1989 (Gunton 2000).
With this in mind there may be other colonies of this species around Basildon and other
parts of Essex. Garden pond surveys in Southend have revealed reports of at least two
maybe three sites where Alpine newts have been introduced along with Great Crested and
Palmate Newts. Further survey work that is being planned by the Essex Amphibian and
Reptile Group may reveal more information on the distribution of this species within Essex.
References
Beebee, T. & Griffiths, R. (2000) Amphibians and Reptiles. A Natural History of the
British Herpetofauna. The New Naturalist, HarperCollins
Bell, A.P. & Bell, B.D. (1993) Distribution of the introduced alpine newt Triturus alpestris
in Shropshire, England, and its impact on the native T. cristatus and T. vulgaris.
Abstracts of the second world congress of herpetology Adelaide, p. 21.
Cranfield, J. (2002) European Green Frogs in Essex. Essex Field Club Newsletter 39: 6-7.
Griffiths, R.A. (1996) Newts and Salamanders of Europe, Poyser Natural History
Gunton, T. (2000) Wild Essex A guide, to the nature reserves and country parks of Essex
and east London. Lopinga Books, Wimbish, Essex.
Scott, D. (2002) Edible and Marsh Frogs in Essex - notes for 2001. Essex Naturalist
(New series) 19: 70-71
Book review: The Butterflies of Colchester and North East Essex
ISBN 0-9516312-1-7. 115 pages including 12 pages of colour plates, by Ted Benton and
Joe Firmin with additional material by Ian Rose. Published by Colchester Natural History
Society and available by post from CNHS, 41 Oaks Drive, Colchester C03 3PS, cheque
for £11.49 (£9.99 + £1.50 p&p) payable to Colchester Natural History Society.
For me modem books on butterflies are depressing statements on the state of our
countryside, and I found the most interesting text to be where reasons are examined for
the decline and loss in Essex of some of our most attractive species. The chapter on
where to watch butterflies describes the best places to see butterflies today in north east
Essex, but also looks at the changes that have taken place since the 19lh century, when
the area was one of the richest butterfly haunts in Britain. Surprisingly little woodland
has been lost since the first Ordnance Survey, but the effect of changes in management,
fragmentation and agricultural intensification are admirably described for Weeley Woods,
where we read of the wood formerly being surrounded by open scrubby heathland which
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 40, January 2003
21