SOME OF the UK's most spectacular newts, which had made their home in a Stratton pond, have been saved from certain death.

The rare and endangered great crested newts would have suffocated in the stagnant and neglected pond, in the Church Park Conservation Area.

But over the last year volunteers and experts from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust have cleared tons of stinking silt from the pond, turning it into a clean and healthy habitat.

The future of the newts and other wildlife now appears to be secured.

Jo Sayers, the Trust project officer who led the work, said: "This is a great example of local people pulling together to save the wildlife around them, including some of the UK's most spectacular species of newt.

"By acting quickly when they saw the pond was in poor condition and calling in the Environment Agency and the Wildlife Trust, they have almost certainly saved the newts and other wildlife in the pond from suffocation."

The Church Pond, off Rainer Close, is in a small green area between Stratton village and St Margaret's Church.

In November 2002, people from the Stratton area noticed it was turning grey and starting to smell.

"This was a result of a natural occurrence that happens when vegetation builds up over a number of years," said Jo. "The rotting vegetation is broken down by bacteria that strip the water of oxygen and make a horrible smell."

After two public consultations it was decided that a community-based project should carry out enhancements to the whole area.

The pond contained a population of great crested newts which were protected under EU law and the work needed a special licence from English Nature.

Work on the trees and shrubs was carried out in October by Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, and work on the pond was done by the Cotswold Water Park Ranger Team, which specialises in creating and enhancing wetlands.

"The pond used to be smelly and green and would attract a lot of loutishness from gangs of kids," said Bob Blake, clerk of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, which underwrote the £12,000 project.

"The project was about protecting the species and securing its future."

In the course of the work no fewer than seven great crested newts, two smooth newts and 19 common frogs were found.

These were placed in a nearby hedgerow where they will spend the winter in the undergrowth before returning to the pond in spring.

The Swindon Water for Wildlife Project is happy to help restore ponds and wetland areas throughout the Swindon area, and needs as many people as possible to become involved.

To find out more, contact the Trust's Swindon office on 01793 526228/9.

atate@newswilts.co.uk