This dataset identifies areas where the addition of new ponds would benefit Great Crested Newt populations. The core areas contain a pond density of 2+ ponds and are located within a 1km square where great crested newt presence has been predicted. Fringe areas contain a pond density of 1 and are located within a 1km square where great crested newt presence has been predicted or are within a 250m of a Core Area. Higher scores are associated with darker colouration and represent a greater presence of suitable habitat features such as grassland (+250m buffer), woodland (+250m buffer), and within 100m-1000m range of a river. These suitable habitat features have been given a score of ‘1’ and where more of these features overlap, there is a higher score. Arable land is also included but has been given a score of ‘-1’. Urban areas greater than 2ha (+400m buffer), roads (7.5m buffer) and rivers (+7.5m) have been excluded.Full metadata can be viewed on data.gov.uk.