Plans to save newts in Eastleigh have been unveiled.

Eight hectares of high-quality habitat and seven clean water ponds will soon appear in Bishopstoke.

Eastleigh Borough Council has teamed up with the Newt Conservation Partnership (NCP) to help save great crested newts and other species at Stoke Park Farm.

Anna-Marie Dennis, project officer for the NCP said: “We are very excited about the project, which will bring together the creation of new ponds with hedgerow creation, scrub planting, tree planting and grassland enhancement.

“The new clean water ponds will differ in size and depth to provide a variety of different habitats benefitting great-crested newts as well as other priority species like toad and water voles, dormice, damselflies and dragonflies, butterflies and breeding birds.”

The creation of ponds and the planting is all funded by the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme, which see developers pay into a fund that directly finances conservation work.

The work in Eastleigh is due to start in the autumn.

The habitat is to be secured for the long term and will be managed by Eastleigh Borough Council under agreement for 25 years.

Annual monitoring will be undertaken by the Newt Conservation Partnership to ensure the ponds and habitat is managed well for the benefit of wider biodiversity.