Down Barn Farm on Behalf of Lightsource Renewables BP Chapter 6: Biodiversity Appendix 6.1: Ecological Baseline
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Down Barn Farm on behalf of Lightsource Renewables BP Chapter 6: Biodiversity Appendix 6.1: Ecological Baseline CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................. 3 2 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 3 2.1 Objectives .......................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Desktop Study .................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Field Surveys ...................................................................................................... 4 3 RESULTS ........................................................................................ 7 3.1 Desk Study ......................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Field Surveys ...................................................................................................... 9 ANNEXES Annex 1: Photographs Annex 2: Biological Records Received from WSBRC within 2km Down Barn Farm Appendix 6.1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This appendix has been prepared to accompany Chapter 6: Biodiversity of the Proposed Development Environmental Statement (ES). 1.1.2 It presents methodologies and results of desk study and field surveys completed to establish baseline conditions, and should be read with reference to the following figures: • Figure 6.1 – Statutory Designated Sites; • Figure 6.2 – Phase 1 Habitat Plan; and • Figure 6.3 – Stone-Curlew Survey Plan. 1.1.3 The Study Areas adopted can be summarised as: • Desk study - statutory designated sites within 5km grid reference: SU221437; • Desk study - non-statutory designated sites, protected and notable habitats and species (e.g. Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act (2006) Species of Principal Importance and Priority Habitats) within 2km grid reference: SU221437; • Desk study – stone-curlew records within the Proposed Development and a 3km radius of the Proposed Development boundary; • Field survey habitats - land within Proposed Development and immediately surrounding land (where this could be surveyed from publicly accessible land or with third party permission). The surrounding land was surveyed so as to apply appropriate context and value to habitats identified within the Proposed Development; and, • Field survey stone-curlew – Proposed Development and adjacent land, as provided in Figure 6.3, where access permitted. 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Objectives 2.1.1 The objectives of the baseline studies were to: • Establish the spatial distribution of habitats and vegetation communities which may be impacted by the Proposed Development; and, • Identify the presence or potential of protected and notable species within the Proposed Development or surrounding area. 2.2 Desktop Study 2.2.1 A desktop study was undertaken to identify any known existing features or species of ecological importance within the study area (as defined below). 2.2.2 The following key sources were consulted: Down Barn Farm Appendix 6.1 3 • National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Database1; • Multi Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC)2; • Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)3; • Wiltshire Biological Records Centre (WSBRC); and, • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). 2.2.3 The desk study included a review of relevant policy and guidance and sought to identify any statutory designated sites for nature conservation through a review of the Natural England, JNCC and MAGIC websites. A 5km search radius was adopted for all statutory designated sites (centred on grid reference: SU221437). 2.2.4 The Cholderton Estate works closely with the RSPB and it is known that the wider estate supports stone-curlew. The RSPB performs annual monitoring of stone-curlew at managed scrapes4 in the vicinity of the Proposed Development. Correspondence with the RSPB revealed that the Cholderton Estate (landowner) has an agri-environment scheme which is thought to relate to stone-curlew, although no details have been obtained. 2.2.5 The RSPB was approached for records of stone-curlew within the last 10 years within the Proposed Development, and within 3km of the Proposed Development Boundary. 2.2.6 Reference was also made to Ordnance Survey maps of the wider area and online aerial images (www.google.co.uk/maps) in order to determine any features of nature conservation interest in the wider area. 2.3 Field Surveys Key Guidance 2.3.1 Survey methodologies and subsequent interpretation of results have made reference to the following key pieces of guidance; • JNCC (2010). Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey - a technique for environmental audit. Revised Reprint 2010. JNCC, Peterborough; and • Green, R.E. and Taylor, C.R. (1995) Changes in stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus distribution and abundance and vegetation height on chalk grassland at Porton Down, Wiltshire. Bird Study 42 (3), 177-181. 2.3.2 The following surveys have been completed: • Extended Phase 1 habitat survey; and, • Stone-curlew surveys. 1 https://nbn.org.uk/ (Accessed September 2019). 2 http://www.magic.gov.uk (Accessed September 2019). 3 http://www.jncc.gov.uk (Accessed September 2019). 4 Areas of open bare ground with sparse vegetation. Down Barn Farm Appendix 6.1 4 Extended Phase I Habitat Survey 2.3.3 An Extended Phase 1 habitat survey was undertaken on the 10th September 2019 by Ms Samantha Turner BSc (Hons) MSc GradCIEEM. The survey followed UK industry standard Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Phase 1 Habitat Methodology (JNCC, 2010) and with reference to the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), Technical Guidance Series Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal 2nd ed. (CIEEM, 2017). 2.3.4 Habitats were mapped and described using a series of ‘target notes’ (TNs) and notes for trees with features showing bat roost potential (BRP) and ponds to assess the habitat suitability for great crested newts Triturus cristatus. The survey was extended to include the additional recording of specific features indicating the presence, or likely presence, of protected species, invasive species and other species of conservation significance. Stone-curlew Survey 2.3.5 A habitat assessment of the Proposed Development and immediately surrounding land (as shown on Figure 6.3) was undertaken to appraise the potential for stone-curlew, which was subsequently followed by stone-curlew surveys. 2.3.6 Stone-curlew surveys were undertaken in July 2019, at least 1 week apart and comprising three visits. Surveys were undertaken by an experienced ornithologist, Mr J. Thomas and the surveys followed the method summarised in Green & Taylor (1995)5, and involved the surveyor systematically searching for stone-curlew (individuals, pairs, young, eggs) in the development site and additional survey area. 2.3.7 Any observation of stone-curlew was mapped on a plan in the field, and their behaviour noted. The surveyor was aware of the sensitivities of the species and therefore took the upmost care to ensure no birds were disturbed by following the methodology stated. 2.3.8 Other species considered noteworthy, such as quail, were also recorded. 2.3.9 The survey area is presented on Figure 6.3. 2.3.10 All surveys were undertaken during daylight hours and in fine conditions (dry, warm, light breeze, no rain and no fog), and survey and weather details are presented in Table 3.1. Table 3.1: Survey and weather details Survey Number Date (2019) Start Time (24hrs) End Time (24hrs) Weather Conditions 1 5th July 09:15 12:40 Bright and sunny, with light cloud, clear, approx. 25°C 2 15th July 07:30 10:30 Cloudy at start, sunny with less cloud by end of survey, clear, approx. 19°C 3 24th July 09:45 12:25 Hot and sunny and clear, approx. 25°C 5 Green, R.E. and Taylor, C.R. (1995) Changes in stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus distribution and abundance and vegetation height on chalk grassland at Porton Down, Wiltshire. Bird Study 42 (3), 177-181. Down Barn Farm Appendix 6.1 5 Limitations of Survey 2.3.11 No limitations were encountered during the field surveys or the desk study. However it is acknowledged that stone-curlew surveys commenced later in the breeding season than the optimal period. Whilst this could theoretically lead to an under recording of stone-curlews, the existing record data (from RSPB), habitat appraisal and field survey observations are consistent in their results and the area is well monitored for the species by RSPB. Subsequently the survey results are considered suitable for the purposes of impact assessment when combined with other data sources. 2.3.12 The land outside the Application Site was surveyed from public rights of way, allowing visible coverage of some, but not all areas of the 600m buffer. Habitats likely to be those areas to be most affected by any development, were however, visible (and thus any gaps in coverage are not considered a limitation to the study). 2.3.13 The Extended Phase 1 habitat survey was completed during the optimum period for undertaking habitat surveys. Down Barn Farm Appendix 6.1 6 3 RESULTS 3.1 Desk Study Statutory Designated Sites 3.1.1 Table 3.1 provides a summary of statutory designated sites for nature conservation located within 5 km of the Proposed Development. The distances specified are from the Application Site boundary to the designation boundary at its nearest point. Table 3.1: Statutory Designated Sites (SSSI: Site of Special Scientific