Wrexham Industrial Estate Towards a Living Landscape

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Protecting Wildlife for the Future Contents

Page

Foreward 05

1. Introduction 1.1 A Living Landscape 08 1.2 The Wrexham Industrial Estate 08 1.3 The value of the Living Landscape 10 1.4 Improving the Living Landscape 11 1.5 The Living Landscape as an asset for everyone 12 1.6 The Living Landscapes Development Project 13

2. Mapping Biodiversity on the Wrexham Industrial Estate 2.1 Species 16 2.2 Habitats 19 2.3 Designated sites and habitats 23

3. Enhancing the Wrexham Industrial Estate for Wildlife, People and Business 3.1 Enhancing the estate for wildlife 27 3.1.1 Protecting habitats 27 3.1.2 Improving habitats 29 3.1.3 Creation of new habitats 33 3.1.4 Maintaining and enhancing connectivity 35 3.2 Enhancing the estate for people and business 40

4. Conclusions and Future Actions 44

5. Bibliography 45

6. Appendix - Prescriptions for Landholders 46

Protecting Wildlife for the Future 4

Front cover: Redwither Brook © Clare Williams (Butterfly Conservation) This page: Narrow-bordered Five Spot Burnet Moth © Clare Williams (Butterfly Conservation) Foreward

A natural place to build a better business

breaks between meetings and the opportunity to take a little gentle exercise in the open air have all been shown to improve staff morale and general well-being. A business in attractive surroundings, with a calm atmosphere is a pleasure to work in and creates a very positive impression for commercial business partners when they visit. Working in a natural green environment has also been shown to increase job satisfaction, lower the levels of absenteeism and reduce staff turnover. For all these reasons the Living Landscape in and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate is an enormous natural asset that can be helped to grow in value over time. If managed well, it ature on the doorstep is good for can bring lasting benefits for local residents, people, and it is also very good indeed businesses and visitors as well as the wildlife Nfor business. There is plenty of sound itself. scientific evidence to show that access to nature brings lasting health benefits. A break There is plenty of international research to of as little as three or four minutes in green confirm these claims, but in fact most of us surroundings is enough to reduce stress to a know it anyway. People with the greatest measurable degree. The pulse rate slows, tense choice prefer to live in tree-lined streets and muscles relax and people feel calmer. The leafy neighbourhoods. We know that a walk economic benefits that accessible greenspace in the park, an hour in the garden or a round brings to business are rather less well known. of golf help us to feel better, and it is no coincidence that the senior executives in most Most businesses have a dependence on organisations have the offices with the best biodiversity, either directly or indirectly. views in the building. Natural systems provide many raw materials, renewable energy, waste processing and a host In the pages that follow it will become clear of other services. It is also becoming clear that just how rich a resource the Wrexham there are other, less obvious commercial gains. Industrial Estate’s Living Landscape already Research shows that a view of natural greenery is. The green spaces that weave their way from the window can aid concentration, between the buildings, the car parks and roads improve problem solving and reduce tension in create a mosaic of wildlife habitats far richer the workplace. The sound of birdsong on arrival than any equivalent area of land in the farming at work, some natural breathing space for countryside. The survey and mapping of this 5 habitat network undertaken via this project has easy and enjoyable. Increased levels of on-site provided an authoritative record of the estate’s information and interpretation will help those natural resources, and the findings so far are visiting the landscape to learn more about impressive. The overall impression is one of their surroundings and discover some of the rich natural diversity, but there are also some hidden secrets of the natural landscape. Their rare and uncommon species living here. This observations will help to increase awareness is a Living Landscape with an abundance of and understanding of the Wrexham Industrial song birds, with a great variety of wildflowers Estate’s wildlife and through the involvement and emerging woodland, and with important of school study projects, special interest populations of butterflies, newts, hedgehogs groups and practical volunteering there will be and many of the other wild plants and animals a great many opportunities for local people to that help to make close contact with nature so become actively involved with the developing interesting and enjoyable for people. landscape.

The Living Landscape of the Wrexham The North Wales Wildlife Trust sees members Industrial Estate is already an attractive place of the industrial estate’s business community in which to do business, but it could be even as some of its most important long-term better. Clearly it is very important to protect partners. Active enjoyment of the Living the most sensitive pockets of habitat and there Landscape for the people who work here is one is plenty of scope for improving the existing of the Wildlife Trust’s highest priorities, and in habitats through skilled management. Over return there is an opportunity for businesses time these special areas will extend their to contribute to nature conservation in a host influence and spread their wildlife throughout of inspiring ways. The potential for positive the network of green corridors and other less partnerships is very powerful. As commerce, well-established green spaces. Importantly, in conservation and the community combine the future the built environment itself can make forces, this will become a model of best more of a contribution. Some improvements practice. It will help to attract new businesses, such as bird feeding stations and the planting to justify further inward investment and to of more flowers for pollinators would be inspire and encourage more environmentalists simple. Others, such as green roofs, green to collaborate with business leaders. The walls, surface drainage wetland schemes Wrexham Industrial Estate’s Living Landscape and car park planting programmes would promises to become a natural leader in the be more ambitious. There is also scope for field of sustainable development. Together we businesses to make more creative use of the can set new standards for mixing work and Living Landscape. There are opportunities wildlife at a time when creative conservation, for volunteering as a part of corporate team- job satisfaction and creativity in the workplace building, for working with schools and other have never been more important. local organisations as a contribution to corporate social responsibility. Business could CHRIS BAINES also use the landscape as creative breakout space and as a testing ground for new ideas.

Many of these positive improvements to the Wrexham Industrial Estate will also provide valuable benefits for the people who live in the area. This is a Living Landscape which combines attractive surroundings and extremely rich wildlife habitat with many practical facilities for people. There is extensive off-road car parking and the growing network of well signed footpaths and cycleways will make access increasingly 6 1 Introduction

Polecat (Mustela putorius) © Russell Ede (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) larger, greater in number, be better managed 1.1 A Living Landscape and better connected, both within and between sites, improving the ability of species to A Living Landscape is a recovery plan for move through the landscape. Management nature championed by The Wildlife Trusts since to improve connectivity involves removal of 2006. It is a new way of thinking about how we barriers to dispersal as well as management manage land to do more for wildlife, people to improve habitat availability within the and the economy. landscape and this can include the whole range of land-use types from national parks Nature conservation in the UK has traditionally and nature reserves to parks, gardens and focused on the preservation of specific sites. road verges. An important component of this But outside these few places, natural habitats approach is that it integrates protected sites, have been lost on an unprecedented scale and nature reserves and all other areas of high many species, both common and rare, are in biodiversity value and thereby both uses long-term decline. As the demand for land for and strengthens their special roles in wildlife agriculture, housing and development has conservation. increased, so the room for wildlife and natural processes has decreased. This has resulted in A Living Landscape involves the creation of small oases of wildlife-rich protected land, such robust, resilient and connected landscapes as nature reserves, becoming surrounded by on a large scale that are highly valued and an otherwise inhospitable landscape for many accessible to people; full of wildlife and plants and animals. rich in opportunities for learning, health, well-being and economic development. We This has slowed but not stopped the decline wish to reconnect fragmented habitats so in biodiversity as these areas alone cannot that wildlife can move more freely and to prevent continuing declines of many species reconnect local people with their natural of flora and fauna. Now, especially in the face environment, providing easy access to high of climate change, it is essential that we take quality, biodiverse greenspaces and improving a broader view of the environment, in which their health and well-being as well as offering economic, social and natural processes are opportunities for learning and development. encouraged to operate sustainably to the What is good for wildlife is also good for benefit of people and wildlife. To rebuild nature people, communities and businesses. and ensure that future generations succeed, a new more ambitious approach to wildlife conservation is needed. 1.2 The Wrexham The Wildlife Trusts are aiming to transform the environment we live in: restoring, recreating Industrial Estate and reconnecting wildlife-rich spaces in rural and urban areas by working together with The Wrexham Industrial Estate is situated to partner organisations, local communities, the east of Wrexham town in North Wales. landowners, schools and businesses. Our aim At around 550 ha in size it is the largest is to create a landscape within which wildlife industrial estate in Wales and one of the largest thrives and people prosper together in clean, in Europe. It is home to approximately 300 healthy and sustainable environments. businesses and provides employment for around 7000 people. We need to develop a more integrated landscape-scale approach to wildlife The Wrexham Industrial Estate has its origins conservation and land management to as a Royal Ordnance Factory established soon benefit all our native species and habitats after the start of World War II in 1939 to produce across networks of sites throughout entire cordite, an explosive propellant for shells. landscapes. Areas we conserve need to be The factory complex was deliberately spread

8 out to minimise damage from any aerial attacks. After the war, the demand for cordite decreased significantly and the facility was closed in 1945. Many of the buildings and much of the infrastructure was left in place and the land abandoned. From the late 1940s businesses began to re-occupy the site, many using the disused Royal Ordnance Factory buildings. Some of the disused buildings were also converted for housing for key workers and this established the Pentre Maelor housing estate to the south west of the site, which is still present and occupied by a small local community. In due course, major companies such as British Celanese and Firestone established factories on the site and others were later encouraged Fig 1. Three Pillars of Sustainable Development by the Welsh Development Agency, which designated the site as the official Wrexham of species that have been recorded within the Industrial Estate in the late 1970s. Businesses Wrexham Industrial Estate include Water vole, have come and gone but today the Wrexham Otter, bats, Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper Industrial Estate remains a major centre for butterflies, Great Crested Newt, Barn owl and employment with companies such as JCB, Kingfisher. Some of these important species, Kellogg’s, Calypso and Wockhardt having especially those that require very specific factories based there. The new Wrexham Prison habitat conditions, are threatened on the is situated on the site formerly occupied by Wrexham Industrial Estate due to habitat loss the Firestone tyre factory (which closed in the and fragmentation as a result of development, 1970s). and deteriorating habitat suitability. As populations decline and become more isolated As the Wrexham Industrial Estate was formerly the chances of local extinction increase. Should low-lying traditionally managed farmland, a local population become extinct, good woodland and scrub, with many hedgerows, connectivity allows natural recolonisation to ponds and trees present, the site has always occur. supported a range of habitats and species. The Wrexham Industrial Estate’s history, Due to the special attributes of the Wrexham including the occupation, abandonment and Industrial Estate; its wildlife, businesses and reoccupation of land has proven beneficial to people, it presents an excellent opportunity many species. Plots of land left unmanaged to try to properly integrate the Three Pillars of for long periods of time, free of pesticides and Sustainable Development (Social, Economic fertilizers, developed into rough species-rich and Environmental elements of society) in a grassland and scrub, supporting mammals, mutually beneficial way. amphibians, reptiles and birds. The demolition of disused buildings often provided bare and With good future planning the Wrexham rubble-strewn ground which is important for Industrial Estate can continue to develop early colonising species. as a strategic employment centre fostering economic growth and prosperity in the region, Today, the Wrexham Industrial Estate still being an attractive place to live, work and visit, contains an important network of habitats, whilst also benefitting wildlife and becoming including County Wildlife Sites, which support an exemplar site for sustainability in Wales and a diverse range of wildlife, including many beyond. species that are protected and/or Welsh Priority Species (NERC Section 42). Examples 9 of green development were fostered by 1.3 The value of the commerce and industry. It was the more Living Landscape imaginative businesses that recognised the way in which a leafy work environment There is a very long history of mixing nature could encourage company loyalty, creativity, and the built environment. From the fabled productivity and profitability. That idea was Gardens of Babylon and the monastery revived in the 1970s and 80s in New Towns gardens of the Middle Ages, right up to modern such as Warrington and Redditch, and it is times, enlightened people have seen the value thriving again today, with politicians of all of providing green spaces close to where parties working with industry to develop eco- people live and work. In the 19th Century towns and a new generation of garden cities in Britain led the world in commerce, trade and several areas of the country. industry and a key feature of the industrial revolution was the public parks and gardens The greening of towns and cities is being that grew up alongside factories and homes in adopted on a grand scale in many of the the fast expanding towns and cities. Business world’s major cities. Beijing is planting a forest leaders and local politicians recognised of tens of billions of trees to create the Great the good sense of providing easy access to Green Wall of China as a way of filtering sand fresh air and gentle exercise in natural green storms and purifying the capital’s air. In Seoul, surroundings. It was seen as an effective way capital of South Korea, an eight lane urban of keeping workers and their families fit and motorway has been completely removed in healthy. Those urban parks and tree-lined order to restore ten miles of the buried river avenues are still prized features of our urban Cheonggyecheon. This remarkable decision heritage today. has brought a ribbon of green parkland into the heart of the city, and provided a more A hundred years ago, Britain led another ecological solution to the recurring problem of world-class green revolution with the planning storm water flooding. Stuttgart, in Germany, of garden cities such as Letchworth, Welwyn, is a particularly green city where the public Bournville in Birmingham and Port Sunlight transport system provides a striking network on the Wirral. Again, most of these models of wildlife corridors alongside bus and tram

High Line Park in New York City © David Shankbone (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 10 Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, South Korea © Janette Asche (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) routes. Malmo in Sweden and Portland in the more successful recruitment of key personnel. USA are just two of the places where a blue/ An attractive green setting also creates a good green land use strategy is helping to deliver impression for customers, clients and visitors. more absorbent urban landscapes, clean up water pollution and reduce flood risk. In New York the greening of a redundant elevated railway viaduct to form the “Highline” linear 1.4 Improving the Living park is credited with kick-starting the economic Landscape recovery of whole downtown neighbourhoods. The Living Landscape of the Wrexham Green spaces between buildings can help Industrial Estate has grown up largely unaided to reduce the impact of flooding, clean and as nature has established a wild network of cool the air and bring people and nature green spaces amongst the existing buildings. closer together. Planners now refer to this The relative absence of agrochemical pollution strategic approach to the Living Landscape and human disturbance has created a rich as functional green infrastructure. For most landscape that is already full of wildlife. The people it is simply recognised as providing a detailed habitat surveys and the landscape more attractive environment where wildlife, appraisals that form the basis of much of this physical comfort and the changing seasons can document provide an exceptional knowledge- be enjoyed on a daily basis. This undoubtedly base from which to improve the landscape has great popular appeal and it can lead to a even further. whole range of commercial benefits. Research has shown that homes in green streets are As a first priority it is essential to protect the frequently valued 15% to 20% more highly than very richest pockets of wildlife habitat, and to those in less well treed neighbourhoods. On manage them in ways that will conserve and green and leafy commercial developments, enhance them. They are important assets and tenancies may be sustained for longer and some of them are irreplaceable. The species- businesses tend to benefit from greater levels rich ponds and small patches of wildflower of staff retention, reduced absenteeism and 11 meadow, the oldest of the hedgerows and enjoy Wrexham’s wildlife at close quarters. the long-established water courses all have vital roles to play. They can provide models The new prison with its 2,000 residents, its for the new and improved habitats that will training and education programmes and its be established across the wider landscape. workshops, nursery facilities etc. offers a They will also serve as small reservoirs of the unique opportunity to add particular value species of wild plants and animals that will be to the Living Landscape of the Wrexham encouraged to extend their range across the Industrial Estate. The prison landscape whole of the Wrexham Industrial Estate and its itself can provide a relatively undisturbed greenspace network. environment for wildlife, and there should be scope for the prison service to manufacture There is ample scope for traditional nature items such as nesting boxes, benches, conservation work here, with space for footbridges, signboards and a whole range new planting to strengthen the ecological of other products that can help to enhance corridor system, for improvement to the access, enjoyment and understanding in the various ponds and streams by managing the surrounding Living Landscape. There may be waterside vegetation and by introducing more scope for working with prisoners to catalogue wildflowers into areas of established grassland. wildlife records, to grow trees, shrubs and The buildings themselves offer additional wildflowers from locally harvested seeds, opportunities for habitat improvement. Low and to assist in communicating the features key and low cost schemes to erect nesting of the landscape and its wildlife to the wider boxes and bat roosts can make a considerable community. There is also considerable difference and there is also scope for more evidence of the therapeutic role that contact ambitious projects. It should be possible to with nature can play in such relatively stressed establish green walls and green roofs on some communities. of the existing buildings, and to incorporate such ecological features when new buildings are being designed. These green elements will undoubtedly benefit the wildlife, but with care 1.5 The Living Landscape they can also improve the energy efficiency of as an asset for everyone the buildings, help to harvest rainwater and make the structures more attractive. As the network of footpaths and bridleways becomes better signposted and managed, the In the immediate vicinity of buildings each Wrexham Industrial Estate is likely to become associated landscape can be designed and an increasingly popular destination for local managed to add further ecological value to the people to enjoy. There is great potential for the whole Wrexham Industrial Estate. A surface car estate to become a valuable environmental park need not be a bleak sheet of tarmacadam. education facility for local schools and colleges, Instead it can be treated as a useful and and it will also become a focus for practical attractive addition to the habitat network. conservation work by volunteers, for work New trees can provide welcome shade in the experience and for community service. summer and shelter in the winter, whilst the surface rainwater can be drained into open The development of a long-term partnership ditches as additional habitat for wetland plants between the North Wales Wildlife Trust, the and animals. Where there is room for more local authority, Natural Resources Wales decorative planting adjacent to work places, and the local business community will also then these office and factory landscapes can present all of them with opportunities to make function as habitat for butterflies and other creative and productive use of the Living wildlife, and also offer scope for regular bird Landscape. Resident businesses will have feeding. Equally importantly they can also a facility on the doorstep which can help to serve as important breathing spaces where provide staff training, which can appeal to workers, visitors and the local community can 12 employees families and friends, and which selling point. However there are very few that can make Wrexham an increasingly attractive give such a positive emphasis to the value of and successful working environment. The the natural world, and which can offer such Wildlife Trust will enjoy an increasingly fruitful easy access to high quality wildlife habitat. In relationship with a large number of successful an era when stress in the workplace is being local enterprises and organisations, and the so clearly linked with health, well-being and local authority will benefit from an enhanced productivity, the Living Landscape of the reputation for fostering such an innovative Wrexham Industrial Estate should be actively demonstration of sustainable development. marketed as a flagship example of the natural working environment of the future. As Wrexham’s reputation for industrial innovation in such natural green surroundings achieves wider publicity, then it is reasonable to expect that this will attract more inward 1.6 The Living Landscape investment. The Living Landscape is a concept Development Project that is bound to appeal to companies that depend on their commercial success, attracting The North Wales Wildlife Trust secured and retaining high calibre professional staff. funding from the Welsh Government’s There are many successful science parks and Resilient Ecosystem Fund (REF) to begin to enterprise estates around the country where develop a Living Landscape scheme for the the quality of the environment is a major Wrexham Industrial Estate. As described above, the long-term aim of this scheme would be to successfully integrate the needs of the economy, environment and society in a genuinely mutually beneficial way, making the area attractive to businesses as well as providing benefits to wildlife and people.

The North Wales Wildlife Trust worked with a number of partners on this project: Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Wales, Wrexham County Borough Council and Professor Chris Baines.

This Living Landscape Development Project undertook three main activities:

1. Data collation, habitat surveys and mapping

2. Engagement with businesses and other stakeholders

3. Development of an ethos, vision and long- term strategy proposal for the Wrexham Industrial Estate

In order to protect, restore and join-up habitats, it was important to determine what is often described as the ‘Green Infrastructure’ present on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, i.e. the types, locations and status of habitats on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The importance of Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) © Sue Loose 13 each habitat was considered along with which • Create draft proposals for a connected species they might support, how areas may be network of habitats across the estate that is used by wildlife, habitat connectivity as well capable of protecting habitats and species, as actual and potential threats to habitats and accessible for people and allows development species. In addition to this, the project also to proceed assessed the ‘Amenity Infrastructure’ present on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, i.e., public • Put forward proposals for the maintenance, and permissive footpaths, walking routes (via enhancement and creation requirements WCBC Urban Walks booklet), recreational identified within this wildlife network areas, benches and green spaces. Species data was provided primarily by Cofnod (the • Use the information gathered to put together Local Record Centre for North Wales) and an initial set of proposals as to how the site can habitat (extended Phase 1) surveys were be improved for wildlife, people and business undertaken for the entire site. Targeted surveys for discussion, approval and future refinement for certain rarer species were also carried out. The information collected was then used to In addition to this, where immediate produce a number of maps of the Wrexham opportunities arose, some work identified Industrial Estate. through this project to create and improve habitats for wildlife has already been Businesses present on the Wrexham Industrial undertaken using funding from SP Manweb Estate were approached to discuss the project and further work is planned to be carried out and gain buy-in and support for its objectives. in the coming years. The information outlined In addition to this, the project explored above can be found in Section 2 of this report. potential opportunities for improving the business landholdings for biodiversity and people. Following site visits, outline land- management prescriptions were produced for individual landholdings. The above activities enabled the project to:

• Identify key sites throughout the estate which are important habitats and/or support some of our rarer wildlife

• Identify the current condition of these areas and management required to maintain/ improve/extend areas. Prioritise for protection/ subsequent targeted management

• Identify where gaps exist in the habitat network and how connectivity can be improved for wildlife and for people

• Explore opportunities for public access to areas

• Marry up interested businesses with the habitat networks to allow priorities for management to be targeted

Wrexham and the Wrexham Industrial Estate © Christopher Jones (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 14 2 Mapping Biodiversity on the Wrexham Industrial Estate

Grizzled Skipper © Andy Ingham Bats - Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) and 2.1 Species a Pipistrellus species have been recorded from various buildings on the Wrexham Industrial Birds Estate. The significant areas of plantation The following species have been recorded woodland and pockets of broadleaved within the Wrexham Industrial Estate, and are woodland across the Wrexham Industrial a conservation priority in Wales (NERC Section Estate, may be important foraging areas for 42): bats. Cavities in old trees may be used by roosting bats. All bat species are their roosts Linnet are legally protected under the Wildlife and Cuckoo Countryside Act, 1981. Kestrel Black-headed Gull Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) - a report Herring Gull by the British Trust for Ornithology revealed Skylark that the hedgehog population in Britain has Spotted Flycatcher declined by a quarter over the last ten years. Reed Bunting The hedgehog benefits from partial protection Curlew under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), Lapwing and the species is now a conservation priority House Sparrow in Wales (NERC Section 42). Tree Sparrow Starling Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) - there are Song Thrush undocumented observations of this species Dunnock along Redwither Brook. The habitat here is Bullfinch entirely suitable, with an abundant supply Yellowhammer of food plants and riverbanks for excavating Yellow Wagtail burrows. The water vole is a conservation Grasshopper Warbler priority in Wales (NERC Section 42) and is Barn owl (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Hobby (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) Countryside Act, 1981.

Mammals Flora - a significant database of plant records Badger (Meles meles) - there are numerous from the Wrexham Industrial Estate exists, records for badger across the Wrexham but rare species occurring on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. Hedges and woodlands may Industrial Estate include Dittander (Lepidium contain setts, and areas of rough grassland and latifolium) and Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista scrub are important foraging areas. Badgers tinctoria). Black Poplar (Populus nigra) is a are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act local biodiversity action plan species, and 1992. is commonly planted with other scattered amenity trees on the Wrexham Industrial Polecat (Mustela putorius) - there are a few Estate. records from across the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The polecat is a conservation priority Invertebrates in Wales (NERC Section 42), and is listed on Apart from butterflies and moths, minimal Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside invertebrate species recording has taken Act, 1981. The polecat was trapped to place on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, and extinction in many areas of Britain in the 19th this needs to be improved through public century, however the species has once again engagement and training provision for local recolonised many areas following the cessation volunteer groups. A wide range of conservation of trapping. Evidence suggests that polecats priority Lepidoptera (NERC Section 42) have make particular use of woodland edges and been recorded on the Wrexham Industrial hedgerows, hunting rabbits and rodents. Estate, including: 16 White-letter Hairstreak Countryside Act, 1981. It is also listed as a Wall Brown species of principle importance on Section Small Heath 42 of the Natural Environment and Rural Latticed Heath Communities Act 2006, as well as the Wrexham Cinnabar Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). Small Phoenix Oak Hook-tip Common Toad (Bufo bufo) - occurs throughout Shaded Broad-bar the Wrexham Industrial Estate and the Small Emerald surrounding area (NERC Section 42 priority Figure of Eight species).

The Grizzled and Dingy Skipper butterflies Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) - infrequent occur in isolated locations on the Wrexham records from the south of the Wrexham Industrial Estate, and are a conservation Industrial Estate (NERC Section 42 priority priority in Wales. Both species are found in species). warm habitats that provide shelter and sparse vegetation, such as woodland edges and rides, Adder (Vipera berus) - infrequent records from unimproved grassland, and brownfield sites. the south of the Wrexham Industrial Estate (NERC Section 42 priority species). Amphibians and Reptiles Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) - Invasive non-native species occurs throughout the Wrexham Industrial A number of invasive non-native species occur Estate and the surrounding area. A number in isolated locations on the estate; including of managed mitigation areas are currently in Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed and place to safeguard this species. Great Crested Himalayan balsam. Newts, their breeding sites and resting places are legally protected under the Wildlife and ± Records of priority herptiles

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!?!? Legend !? !? Adder !? Common Toad !? Great Crested Newt !? Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, increment P Corp., NRCAN, Esri Slow-worm Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community 17 ± Records of priority lepidoptera

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?!!? Legend ?!!? !? ?!!? ?!!? Figure of Eight !? !? !? ?!?! Small Emerald ?!!? !? Wall Brown !? !? White-letter Hairstreak !? Shaded Broad-bar ?! Oak Hook-tip !? !? ?! Small Phoenix ?! Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, increment P Corp., NRCAN, Esri Cinnabar Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), TomTom, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community 18 Freshwater 2.2 Habitats The Wrexham Industrial Estate and the surrounding farmland has an important Grassland provision of ponds, some of which support Most grassland within the Wrexham Industrial populations of Great Crested Newt (Triturus Estate is classed as semi-improved neutral cristatus). Redwither Brook is a tributary of grassland, but there are significant areas of the River Clywedog and incorporates areas of improved and amenity grassland which is swamp dominanted by Common Duckweed managed intensively. Roadside verges and (Lemna minor), Great Reedmace (Typha latifoli) vacant development plots usually contain and Fools Watercress (Apium nodiflorum). areas of rough, species-rich grassland, which Dominant marginal vegetation along Redwither function as important wildlife corridors Brook includes Common Hogweed (Heracleum between adjacent habitats. These areas provide sphondylium), Meadowsweet (Filipendula hunting grounds for Kestrel and Barn owl, ulmaria), and Cow Parsley (Anthriscus and provide an important nectar resource for sylvestris). Wet ditches are common on the pollinating insects. Occasionally, these rough periphery of landholdings and along woodland grasslands contain ant hills, which are an edges, and function as important wildlife important food resource for Green woodpecker. corridors. Most wet ditches are inundated with The surrounding agricultural land is mostly algae and are unsuitable for Great Crested improved grassland for pastoral farming. Newt. Ponds and linear aquatic habitats are recognised as an LBAP habitat and NERC Woodland and scrub Section 42 habitat of principal importance in There are some small, isolated blocks of Wales. semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the Wrexham Industrial Estate and in the Ephemeral/short perennial 1.5km surround. Due to the area’s impeded These are areas of early successional drainage, ditches are common on the edges vegetation which occur on previously and sometimes through the middle of these developed land. Demolition and ground blocks of woodland. Dominant species are disturbance by machinery creates the Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Field Maple (Acer conditions necessary for colonisation by plants campestre), Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) such as Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Ash (Fraxinus and Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), excelsior). There are some important pockets important larval foodplants. These areas of wet woodland dominated by Alder and usually contain a range of microclimates and Crack willow, and these areas may support niches, supporting diverse and often specialist Otter. Large areas of dense scrub exist across invertebrate communities. This habitat equates the estate, and in some areas, such as the to a very small proportion of the habitats ‘Oaks wildlife site’, scrub is encroaching onto on the estate, and is also one of the most valuable grassland due to lack of management. threatened due to its location on areas that Some areas of amenity grassland have been are earmarked for development. Open mosaic planted with specimen trees of various origin, habitat on previously developed land is and some landholdings contain areas of mixed recognised as a NERC Section 42 habitat. plantation woodland, which may or may not be managed. The surrounding farmland contains Other habitats small fragments of semi-natural broadleaved Other significant habitats on the Wrexham woodland and wood pasture, usually including Industrial Estate include areas of tall ruderal mature oak trees. Wet woodland, wood pasture vegetation dominated by Tufted hair-grass and lowland mixed deciduous woodland are all (Deschampsia cespitosa), Rosebay Willowherb recognised as NERC Section 42 habitats. (Chamerion angustifolium) and Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum). Areas of bare ground are common on brownfield sites and these warm microhabitats benefit basking invertebrates. 19 y t i n u m m o c r e s u S I G

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t n l a r d l r r m r h n i p l a o d a a a e e a a e m r l r c a c r a p w o u a m n s S A I A H P B S S B E T M S W P B H C e a g e P h L

20 Grassland

Legend Semi-improved grassland Amenity grassland Improved grassland Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Woodland, hedges and scrub

Legend Hedge with trees Plantation broadleaved woodland Scattered trees Scrub Broadleaved semi-natural woodland Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 21 Disturbed ground

Legend Bare ground Ephemeral/short perennial Arable Tall ruderal vegetation Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Wetland

Legend Marsh Swamp Watercourse Pond Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 22 Restored Ancient Woodland Sites (RAWS) 2.3 Designated sites and These are predominantly broadleaved habitats woodlands, which are believed to have been continually wooded for over 400 There are no statutory sites with formal years. At some point in the past, non-native protection on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, conifer species will have been removed, however there are a number of non-statutory and the woodland may still be under active sites which are recognised for their importance management. ‘Erlas Black Wood’ is a RAWS in conserving biological diversity and their site in the centre of the Wrexham Industrial value to local heritage and recreation. Some Estate. of these sites have multiple designations. Through desk based research, the following NERC Section 42 Habitats site designations have been found: There are a number of habitats on or surrounding the Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wildlife Sites which are recognised for their rarity in Wales There are four designated Wildlife Sites on under Section 42 of the NERC Act (2006). the Wrexham Industrial Estate. These sites These include wood pasture & parkland, are recognised by Wrexham County Borough wet woodland, lowland mixed deciduous Council as being important for biodiversity woodland, hedgerows, arable field margins, and support populations of rare and protected lowland calcareous grassland, rivers, ponds, species, such as Great Crested Newt and and open mosaic habitats on previously Grizzled Skipper butterfly. They are known as developed land. ‘The Oaks’, ‘Erlas Black Wood’, ‘Big Wood’ and ‘Bryn Lane Nature Reserve’. Wrexham Local Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats Mitigation Sites These are areas which have been allocated • Derelict and Industrial Land during the planning/development process, • Garden due to the potential disturbance of protected • Linear aquatic habitats (rivers, streams) species and habitats. There are managed • Ponds mitigation sites on Bryn Lane and Marlborough • Upland Moorland Road, and new ones are due to come into • Woodland management, such as the new prison site. • Lowland raised bog • Lowland wood-pasture and parkland ‘Woods for People’ • Wet Woodland This is publicly accessible plantation woodland that has been identified by the Woodland Trust and the Foresty Commission as playing an important role in urban/community forestry. A young broadleaf plantation exists on an east- facing slope, along the public footpath at the south of the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands (ASNW) This is woodland which has existed since 1600, and is usually much older. ASNW is a priority for conservation in the UK; it is irreplaceable and is more biodiverse than more recent plantations. Small fragments of ASNW exist in and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Great Crested Newt © Alexandre Roux (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 23 Mitigation Sites

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Wildlife mitigation area on Marlborough Road

24 Bryn Lane

Big Wood Erlas Black Wood

'The Oaks'

Legend Wildlife Sites Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Designated Woodlands

Legend Ancient semi natural woodland Restored ancient woodland 'Woods for People'

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 25 3 Enhancing the Wrexham Industrial Estate for Wildlife, People and Business

Barn Owl © Randy von Liski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Redwither Brook is a key wildlife corridor 3.1 Enhancing the estate running through the centre of the Wrexham for wildlife Industrial Estate. It connects wildlife sites and pastoral land in the south of the Wrexham Industrial Estate, with large areas of species- The Wrexham Industrial Estate is unique in rich grassland and pockets of woodland in the that it contains a wide range of important north. Redwither brook may well support Otter, habitats within a relatively small area. The Water vole and reptiles. Bank-side vegetation challenge is knowing what needs to be such as Bramble provides an important protected and where, and how these habitats foraging resource for many pollinators, can be connected to form a sustainable including the Small Heath butterfly, and in wildlife network. Isolated blocks of woodland dense areas supports breeding Whitethroat. and patches of semi-improved grassland are important refuges and foraging areas for birds, The former Firestone site at the south of the mammals and invertebrates. However, these Wrexham Industrial Estate is an important area fragmented habitats do not allow populations for Great Crested Newt, Grizzled and Dingy to disperse and ultimately colonise new areas. Skipper butterflies, Badger, Barn Owl and Through the phase 1 habitat survey and many other breeding birds. The new ecological through consultation with project partners, mitigation area as part of the current prison we have assessed the condition of existing development, will function as an important habitats and prioritised areas for conservation stepping-stone for species between ‘The Oaks’ management. We have also identified key Wildlife Site to the east, and woodland, ponds areas where wildlife connectivity should and streams to the west. It is anticipated be improved. Through simple and effective that this new ecological mitigation area will conservation interventions such as hedge maintain and protect important ephemeral planting and sensitive grassland management, habitat, ponds, scrubland and grassland. wildlife will be able to move more freely through the estate.

3.1.1 Protecting habitats

The existing wildlife sites and ecological mitigation sites on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, all require ongoing maintenance and enhancement, as their original biodiversity value is being lost through neglect and a lack of coordinated action. It is imperative that these sites are managed and monitored for the range ‘The Oaks’ Wildlife Site © Buglife of species they support. ‘The Oaks’ Wildlife Site Many private landholdings on the Wrexham ‘The Oaks’ Wildlife Site (approx 22 hectares) Industrial Estate contain important habitats supports a wide range of species such as and support threatened species. If planned Polecat, Barn Owl, Grizzled Skipper butterfly, properly, some habitats on the Wrexham and some rare plant species such as Dyer’s Industrial Estate can be recreated to Greenweed. This Wildlife Site is in need of compensate for losses due to development. urgent management and long term protection. Other habitats however, are irreplaceable, Large areas of species-rich grassland and and should be exluded from development. ephemeral areas are being lost to encroaching The following key sites have been identified scrub. The unregulated access of off-road as requiring protection and conservation land vehicles is also disturbing nesting birds and management. damaging these important habitats. Key 27 areas should be brought under long term road gullies with ‘wildlife kerbs’ would provide conservation management, and maintained a safe route around road gullies for amphibians for their floral diversity and invertebrate on the move. Improvements to terrestrial communities. The area also contains a habitat in between these mitigation areas and significant number of fruit trees, some of which breeding ponds in the centre and west of the are likely to be of important local origin. Wrexham Industrial Estate, would encourage dispersal and recolonisation. Grassland and roadside verges in these connecting areas should be managed as hay meadows and/or strips of arable weeds, to improve the nectar resource for pollinating insects as well as providing safe corridors for amphibians.

Erlas Black Wood (approx 2.6 hectares), other small fragments of ancient woodland in and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate, and veteran trees, should all be completely excluded from development. This is an extremely important habitat, which only covers about 2 per cent of the land area of the UK. Management of these sites sometimes involves the removal of planted conifers, selective thinning to encourage the regeneration of ground flora, replanting, and restoring the woodland edge.

There is a small block of wet woodland behind the Hauck/Rowan Foods premises on Ash Road South. This habitat is a conservation priority in Wales and requires protection and management. The area contains regenerating Alder and Guelder Rose, and may support Otter and some species of bat. Priority Grizzled Skipper habitat along Clywedog Road North © Clare Williams (Butterfly Conservation)

A number of landholdings on Clywedog Road North and South contain significant areas of open mosaic habitat, which should be maintained and expanded for the benefit of Grizzled Skipper butterfly and other priority invertebrates. Roadside verges and amenity grassland in this area could be managed more sensitively, incorporating areas of bare ground, short-sward grassland and wildflower meadow.

The ecological mitigation areas along Bryn Lane are a stronghold for Great Crested Newt and Common Toad, which are both conservation priority species in Wales. Bryn Lane itself is a hazard to these populations and innovative connectivity solutions should be Erlas Black Wood - Wildlife Site and Restored Ancient Woodland adopted here. Replacing existing kerbs next to 28 3.1.2 Improving habitats understorey. Rotational coppicing of Alder can create temporary glades in wet woodland, All the Wrexham Industrial Estate landholders which benefits many rare and specialised can make a substantial contribution to wildlife invertebrates. These operations should not be conservation and this Living Landscapes undertaken without first consulting a registered project. Whether it’s managing a roadside forestry contractor. verge for wildflowers, or creating a glade or ride in a woodland, every little helps towards Woodland edge habitat is extremely valuable improving the natural environment in and to birds and insects as this is where most around the estate. Due to a positive response foraging occurs. These areas can be enhanced from some landholders, we have been able by planting a mixed native species hedge to implement some initial conservation works around the woodland periphery, and leaving on the estate. These small interventions a five to ten metre wide strip of grassland demonstrate what can be achieved alongside in between the hedge and the woodland. the operations and land management This provides adequate habitat for hunting constraints on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. dragonflies and amphibians, as well as ground These have been presented as mini case feeding birds and mammals. The buffering studies over the following few pages. effect of a tall, broad hedge, reduces the chances of windblow and increases the overall Scrub management temperature and humidity of the woodland, Scrubland is an important habitat which therefore creating the ideal conditions for supports birds, mammals and invertebrates. woodland flora and fungi to thrive. The strip Scrub management should be on a rotational of grassland should be cut every autumn and basis, so that different successional stages arisings should be removed from the site. remain on a site. Species such as Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Crack willow, The provision of standing, fallen and buried should not be allowed to encroach onto areas deadwood can greatly improve woodland of species-rich grassland and important early biodiversity. Fallen deadwood should be successional habitats, and stumps may need to retained as much as possible, as it provides be treated with herbicide. Scrub should always hibernacular sites for amphibians and be removed in the winter months to minimise invertebrates; ring barking is an effective disturbance to species using it, and ideally, method of creating standing deadwood, which smaller shrubs should be lifted out of the provides foraging and nesting opportunities for ground to expose the underlying bare earth, birds. However, standing deadwood can be a which provides an important micro-habitat hazard and should only be retained in areas of for invertebrates. Brash can either be burnt woodland where there are no health and safety off-site or used to make habitat piles which issues. provides shelter and over-wintering habitat for invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and small Grassland management mammals. The UK has suffered a 97% loss of wildflower- rich grassland since the 1930s, and this has Woodland management played a major part in dramatic declines to The Wrexham Industrial Estate contains our native insect pollinators. Sympathetic a number of woodland types including management of grassland by mowing or ancient semi-natural woodland, mixed grazing is essential for maintaining a varied plantation woodland, wet woodland and structure and species diversity. Without wood pasture. All types of woodland require management, grassland becomes rank, loses active management to encourage new its diversity, and will eventually turn into growth and to maintain their biodiversity scrubland. value. Thinning, pollarding and coppicing are all techniques which open the woodland canopy, allowing light to reach the woodland 29 Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Kestrel and Barn Owl

Legend Areas of rough grassland to be maintained Areas to be improved Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Legend Hedge planting Existing woodland/trees/scrub Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Fig 2. Proposed hedge planting to improve connectivity between woodland and scrub 30 Grassland identified for improved management

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Fig 3. Areas of grassland identified for improved conservation management Woodland identified for improved management

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 31 There are large areas of amenity grassland and roadside verges throughout the Wrexham Industrial Estate (see Figure 3), and their biodiversity value can be enhanced by cutting on a rotational basis, so that some areas are left uncut each year and other wildflower-rich areas are allowed to set seed. Cutting should be undertaken no earlier than mid September, and ideally some areas should be cut later in October, leaving a rough sward of about 8 - 10cm along site margins and near woodland and scrub. Most wildflower species thrive in soils of low fertility, so all arisings should be removed from the site or piled in a designated area as habitat piles. This management Biological records from across the Wrexham regime allows invertebrates to complete their Industrial Estate have informed our siting and selection of bird nest boxes and bat boxes. life cycles by providing an important nectar In strategic locations, where the habitat is resource and overwintering sites, as well suitable, we have installed A-frame Barn owl as being important foraging areas for birds, boxes on mature isolated trees. We have mammals and amphibians. also installed woodpecker nest boxes, open- fronted & hole entrance bird boxes and Around highly visible site entrances and Schwegler bat boxes in various locations across the Wrexham Industrial Estate. frontages, an attractive mix of native annual/ perennial wildflower seed could be sown, but Pond management particular management regimes need to be The UK lost 50% of its ponds in the 20th followed in order for species to establish. Only century, and 80% of those remaining are a certain proportion of the verge should be cut considered to be in a poor state. As the each year and competing docks, thistles and Wrexham Industrial Estate has a relatively dominant grasses should be controlled. In the low pond density, the specific management winter, the area may need to be rotovated, of existing ponds for Great Crested Newts is harrowed and/or rolled to create a fine seed quite important (see the following sub-section bed. Sowing should take place in autumn or 3.1.4, and the Great Crested Newt Conservation spring and the seed mix should be well shaken Handbook for more information). Where and incorporated with damp sand (this ensures shallow ponds and pond edges have become good/even coverage); it is then dispersed inundated with trees or Bulrush, it may be across the area at a density of about 3 - 5g. It is necessary to remove these by hand, to try and vital that after sowing, the area is lightly rolled maintain the pond close to its original state. It to ensure good seed contact with soil, but is also worth keeping an eye out for invasive the seeds should not be buried. Subsequent alien species which may colonise bare pond cutting and removal of arisings should take edges; such as New Zealand pigmyweed and place in the autumn, once plants have set seed. Floating pennywort. Any pond management should be undertaken between the months Where ditches occur, vegetation should be of November and January, and a licence removed to prevent nutrient enrichment of may be required from the Welsh Assembly verges. Any invasive alien species should be Government, due to the possible disturbance reported and controlled, and litter should be of Great Crested Newt. removed prior to cutting. If any ant hills are discovered, these should be protected and Improving habitats for birds of prey avoided during cutting operations. Kestrel and Barn owl are two raptors which breed on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. They depend on rough tussocky grassland with a good population of small mammal prey, 32 particularly Short-tailed field vole. Ideally, grassland at least 2m wide (ideally on both extensive areas of grassland should be cut on sides of the hedgerow) should only be cut a three year rotation, to allow the build-up of every three or four years. This will encourage a good litter-layer (at least 7cm deep) at the the development of rough, tussocky grassland, base of the sward, as this provides the cover which is important for invertebrates and field voles need. Hedge and tree planting along hunting birds of prey. Figure 2 shows our site boundaries and along roadside verges, initial proposals for hedge planting, which encourages raptors to fly high over roads, will improve connectivity between existing therefore minimising collision with road traffic. woodland and scrubland. Barn owls will move along linear features such as hedgerows as they provide safe connectivity Pond creation between larger hunting areas. Nesting sites can Historically, old farm ponds were filled in be provided by installing artifical nest boxes in to expand arable farming, and this had areas of suitable habitat. Boxes can be installed a detrimental effect on our freshwater inside farm buildings or on a mature isolated biodiversity. Luckily, across the Wrexham tree, provided the entrance faces east and Industrial Estate, a number of mitigation ponds the entrance is easily accessible. An A-frame have been created to safeguard threatened Barn owl box should be erected at a height of species such as Great Crested newt and approximately 4.5 - 7 metres, and a Kestrel nest Common Toad. Amphibians cover significant box should be erected at a height of about 3 - 4 distances when hunting and migrating, so metres. the surrounding habitat must contain suitable connectivity and hibernacular features for them to thrive (see next sub-section 3.1.4). 3.1.3 Creation of new habitats The wildlife value of newly created ponds can

be seen almost immediately, but to maximise Hedge and tree planting their ecological benefits a number of steps Hedgerows are one of the most important should be followed. It is best to create a ‘pond resources for wildlife in the countryside and complex’ which includes both permanent the urban landscape. They provide food, shelter and seasonal ponds of various sizes and and nesting habitat, and function as important depths, rather than a single one. Seasonal wildlife corridors, linking habitats together. or temporary ponds surrounding a main Native species such as willows and Blackthorn pond are really important, as they support a provide an important pollen/nectar resource for rich community of plant and animal species, pollinating insects such as queen bumblebees particularly amphibians and invertebrates. and solitary bees that emerge early in the year. It is best not to add anything to a newly created pond, allowing plants and animals to colonise The best hedgerows for wildlife are those naturally. which closely mimick woodland edge habitat; tall, dense, species-rich, and broad at the Usually, the water level of a pond drops by base. Hedgerows can also buffer existing about half a metre during the summer; this woodland edges by acting as a windbreak, exposes a ‘drawn-down’ zone which is flooded and therefore maintaining humidity and in the winter and dry in the summer. This creating ideal conditions for woodland flora changing habitat plays an important role in to thrive. Along roadsides, incorporating fast- the ecology of a pond, as most pond animal growing native trees such as Black Poplar, species often inhabit water that is only 1 - 10cm encourages Barn owl and Kestrel to fly high deep. When designing a pond, this ‘draw- over roads, minimising collision with vehicles. down’ zone should be broad and undulating, Light trimming of hedgerows in the first few and ideally should have a gradient of less years after planting can be beneficial, as it than 1:5. Site selection is the most important encourages dense, bushy growth. To maximise consideration before creating a pond, as well the ecological value of a hedgerow, a strip of as: 33 • the site should contain an unpolluted water larger one, ideally staggered over a number source (choose an area of rough grassland or of years to encourage a site-wide mosaic of woodland edge) successional stages. • avoid areas near arable farming where Natural colonisation vs. seeding should be fertilisers or pesticides could run off decided on a site by site basis, but the aim • avoid areas that are likely to receive run-off is for larval foodplants to recolonise. The from roads, spoil heaps and hard standing Grizzled Skipper butterfly lays single eggs • avoid siting a pond near streams and ditches on these foodplants, which tend to grow in - these inflows can bring silt and polluted water warm situations near bare ground and short vegetation. The larvae spin together the edges Scarification of leaves to build a series of tents, which Early successional habitats are declining across protect them as they grow. They overwinter the Wrexham Industrial Estate and these areas as pupae, which are formed within cocoons of support some of our rarest invertebrates. leaves and silk amongst low vegetation. In strategic locations, the creation of bare If seeding or plug planting is required, ground scrapes or the introduction of crushed the following species should be included; aggregates can attempt to replicate this Agrimony, Creeping cinquefoil and Wild habitat, providing important habitat niches and strawberry (Fragaria vesca). encouraging the establishment of beneficial flora such as Wild strawberry and Bird’s-foot- ‘Bee banks’ can be created with a core of trefoil. Early successional habitats and bare stripped turf and soil, and capped with sharp ground provide an important resource within sand. These can be linear or horseshoe the overall brownfield mosaic and can function shaped and ideally south/south-west facing. as ‘stepping stones’ to improve connectivity for If any small ‘cliff-like’ features exist, they can invertebrates within sites and between sites. be vertically scraped to create new nesting In priority areas, scarification can maintain habitat for solitary bees and wasps. These habitat suitability by providing new areas features provide topographical variations with for breeding and egg laying. On low nutrient substrates with minimal vegetation, suitable scrapes can be created with hand tools, but where nutrient levels are higher, it is easier to use a mini-digger to invert the top-soil and to expose the lower nutrient sub-soil. Edges of scrapes should be left as gentle rounded angles to diversify aspect and microclimate. It is preferable to create a number of smaller scrapes across a site rather than a single

An area of scrub adjacent to a car park was identified as a good demonstration site for creating and maintaining an open mosaic habitat. A patchwork of bare, disturbed ground, scrub and short sward vegetation can support a rich diversity of invertebrates, including the Dingy Skipper butterfly which has been recorded nearby. A small patch was opened up by clearing some scrub and cutting back some overhanging trees; the topsoil was stripped to create areas of bare ground and to prevent regrowth of vigorous plants, allowing colonisation of larval foodplants (which will be plug planted at a later date). Topsoil stripping with mini-digger 34 differences in micro-climate and moisture, infrastructure, development on the Wrexham which benefits a range of invertebrates. Industrial Estate can proceed with little impact on threatened species.

3.1.4 Maintaining and enhancing Improving connectivity for invertebrates Brownfield sites are a declining resource in connectivity Wales and are recognised as a conservation priority habitat (NERC Section 42). Due to the For species to thrive, they need to be able large proportion of brownfield sites on the to move between populations unhindered, Wrexham Industrial Estate, and their dynamic and this can be a real problem in an urban nature (sites are being lost and created on a landscape such as the Wrexham Industrial cyclical basis), conserving these habitats and Estate, which supports protected and maintaining connectivity between them is a conservation priority species. Built real challenge, which requires commitment development can sometimes act as a barrier, to obtaining invertebrate data and using it to preventing this movement and sometimes inform the management of priority areas and isolating populations. This leads to poor working to create new habitats between them. gene flow, causing inbreeding and reducing a species’ ability to survive and adapt to The Grizzled Skipper butterfly is a rare and environmental pressures. Many of the threatened butterfly in Wales, and the Wrexham species which occur on the estate have quite Industrial Estate represents one of only five specialised habitat requirements; such as Great robust populations that remain in Wales. The Crested Newt and Grizzled Skipper butterfly. Grizzled Skipper butterfly occurs in at least These species have a declining population five distinct areas on the estate; the former in Wales, but through coordinated action Firestone site, ‘The Oaks’ Wildlife Site and and the provision of well connected green

Improving connectivity for Grizzled Skipper

Legend Scarification Grassland management for Grizzled Skipper

Priority Grizzled Skipper habitat Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Fig 4. Improving connectivity for Grizzled Skipper 35 adjacent brownfield sites; the Bryn Lane cutting should follow a long rotation so that ecological mitigation area; a brownfield site areas of uncut grass are always retained, on Bridge Road North, and another brownfield and wildflower-rich areas are allowed to set area behind Riello UPS. Species surveys seed. It is beneficial to manage scrub on a have provided enough information for us rotational basis; arisings should be removed to prioritise these areas for protection and from the site or piled in a designated area restoration. Figure 4 shows priority areas for to create hibernacular. Rotational creation Grizzled Skipper and where connectivity can be of scrapes and improving the quantity of improved. By linking-up priority habitat in this larval foodplants provides habitat for the way, populations of Grizzled Skipper butterfly butterfly’s full life cycle. Scrapes should be plug and Dingy Skipper butterfly, as well as many planted with appropriate larval foodplants, as other threatened invertebrates, will be able to natural colonisation by these species is not colonise new areas and will be safeguarded guaranteed. Bare ground habitat is used by from isolation and possible extinction. many invertebrate species and can be created by importing crushed limestone or other low The identified priority areas for Grizzled nutrient substrates. Butterfly banks provide a Skipper butterfly require immediate range of micro-habitats and are colonised by management to maintain their long-term many different plants and invertebrates. habitat suitability. The aim is to maintain Throughout the connecting grassland, all a mosaic of short herb-rich grassland with of these key habitat features can be created patches of bare ground for breeding; taller to help improve the conservation status of vegetation for shelter and roosting, and scrub Grizzled Skipper butterfly on the Wrexham for mate location and as foodplant habitat. This Industrial Estate. habitat resource is declining on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, but can be restored and Improving connectivity for amphibians created through simple interventions. Grass The Great Crested Newt Species Action Plan for Wrexham, estimates that 500 breeding ponds exist in Wales, and that 200 of these are within Wrexham County Borough. Therefore, the exceptional population which occurs in and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate makes an important contribution to the European population.

NRW’s Population Review of Wrexham Industrial Estate, reviewed Great Crested Newt survey data undertaken by AMEC for the Wrexham Industrial Estate Road Improvement

Grizzled Skipper © Tony Pope Scheme as well as other historical data. This data analysis indicated an overall population decline for Great Crested Newt on the estate, and that pond senescence was considered to be one of the main threats to Great Crested Newts in a high pond density landscape such as the Wrexham Industrial Estate. This illustrates the importance of habitat management and the continued creation of new freshwater and terrestrial habitats to safeguard the population.

Three ‘hot-spots’ for Great Crested Newt are Creeping cinquefoil colonising bare ground © R~P~M (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) known within the Wrexham Industrial Estate: 36 Maintaining connectivity for Great Crested Newt

Legend Great Crested Newt Records GCN breeding ponds GCN links to breeding ponds Other water bodies Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Fig 5. Improving connectivity for Great Crested Newt

• Firestone site (South) improve connectivity between these amphibian • Mitigation sites along Bryn Lane/around hotspots, the following habitat improvements Norbert Dentressangle (East) are proposed along these priority links: • Erlas Black Wood (Central) • protection of areas of existing scrub These hotspots are surrounded by roads, • hedge restoration and new planting factories and hard standing, and are at risk • three-year cutting regime of rough grassland from further development. Figure 5 shows • creation of wildflower meadows and verges the location of confirmed Great Crested Newt breeding ponds and the likely links between There is a need for pond creation along the these ponds, these are priority areas for links between Erlas Black Wood and Bryn amphibian habitat improvement. The River Lane. Ponds should be irregular in shape, Clywedog is likely to form a semi-permeable with a varying topography. A range of depths natural barrier to newt migration, and so should be created, between 0.50 to 1.50m deep; habitat improvement works should be focused incorporating a shelf around 25% of the pond on areas to the north of the Firestone site, as margin, giving a depth of around 20cm. Slopes well as patches of suitable habitat between should have a gradient of about 1:4. Spoil Erlas Black Wood and the Bryn Lane mitigation should be deposited in areas around the pond areas. and ideally planted with appropriate marginal vegetation such as grasses, sedges and rushes. Great Crested Newts require clear, open About 50% of the pond surface should be water for displaying and foraging; marginal maintained as open water and plant losses vegetation for egg laying, and rough grassland should be replaced during the next available for foraging and refuge. To improve the season. Hibernaculars should be created foraging and hibernation resource, and to within 20m of a pond and should follow the 37 guidelines as presented in the Great Crested Roadside verges Newt Conservation Handbook (Froglife). Other The Wrexham Industrial Estate has a wealth of water bodies with no confirmed amphibian grassland verges which function as important presence may require further survey effort and wildlife corridors between key habitats. Their habitat improvement works to improve the value to biodiversity can be greatly improved chances of colonisation in the future. through sensitive management and allowing native wildflowers to set seed. Even improved Roads are a significant hazard to migrating grassland verges can be enhanced by sowing amphibians and this is especially true along wildflower seed and following a specific Bryn Lane. There are a number of avoidance management regime (please see previous measures which can be implemented along sub-chapter 3.1.2 for guidance on grassland Bryn Lane and elsewhere to minimise the management). Native wildflowers provide risk of amphibians being squashed or being an important source of nectar for pollinating trapped in gully pots. This includes replacing insects such as bumblebees, and give a the kerbs adjacent to gullies with ‘Wildlife spectacular show of colour in otherwise sterile Kerbs’, where the inclusion of a “bypass landscapes. If grassland verges are allowed to pocket” helps amphibians to avoid the grow throughout the summer months, wildlife gully. Amphibian Climate Tunnels can be is given a chance to disperse and recolonise incorporated into roads, where migration new areas. Managing verges for the benefit routes exist. Road signs are also effective, if of wildlife is fairly straightforward and usually they are installed in both directions and well more cost effective than the intensive cutting before the breeding season commences. regimes that are currently employed across most of the Wrexham Industrial Estate. Verges can be enhanced even further by creating patches of bare ground or creating ‘butterfly banks’.

Roadside verges in Swansea managed for arable weeds ACO ‘Wildlife Kerb’ © wildlifefencing.co.uk © City and County of Swansea Parks Department 38 Wrexham Industrial Estate - Green Infrastructure

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Green infrastructure on the Wrexham Industrial Estate (grassland, woodland, scrub and ephemeral habitats)

39 3.2 Enhancing the estate and heritage of the Wrexham Industrial Estate. These routes were ground truthed where for people and business access was possible and drawn up in GIS.

The wealth of species and habitats occurring Redwither Road to Ash Road North - this on the Wrexham Industrial Estate make it an proposed footpath follows-on from the existing attractive place to live and work. Its natural path on Redwither Road and runs right through and cultural heritage is appealing to outside the centre of the Wrexham Industrial Estate. It visitors and investors and should be promoted follows Redwither Brook, then across Bridge far and wide. The scale of ecosystem services Road North and continuing along Redwither provided by the Wrexham Industrial Estate’s Brook, finishing on Ash Road North. There green infrastructure is quite remarkable, would also be a westward branch, skirting contributing to flood alleviation, carbon Erlas Black Wood, along Ash Road South and sequestration, and even crime reduction. finishing at the junction with Ash Road North. As a society, we are spending more time indoors and the medical profession is Bridge Road South to Erlas Lane - this beginning to recognise the importance of proposed footpath would also join up with the nature in supporting our health and well- existing path on Redwither Road, which runs to being. Safeguarding habitats and improving the south of the Wrexham Industrial Estate. This their accessibility, will ensure that future new path would start at the south of Calypso generations are able to learn about this Soft Drinks and follow the ecological mitigation unique resource and reap the many benefits it area around the Firestone site; it would then provides. follow the desire paths to the east of the Oval and continue through ancient woodland off Amenity Clywedog Road East. It would then follow the Footpaths and cycle routes lead into the pavement of Clywedog Road North, providing Wrexham Industrial Estate from all directions fantastic views of Grizzled Skipper butterfly and includes on-road and traffic-free routes as well as orchids and cowslips in patches of and bridleways. Wrexham County Borough semi-improved grassland. To connect with Council in partnership with ‘Urban Walks’ the existing footpath on Redwither Lane, and the Welsh Assembly Government, have the proposed path would go through an promoted a number of urban walks around the area of species-rich grassland and broadleaf estate, with the aim of getting people enjoying woodland. more activity, more often in their everyday environment, and this has been promoted Bryn Lane to Bridge Road North - this path through a website and leaflet. However, most would join up with an abandoned footpath of the existing footpaths, cycle routes and which runs to the east of the Wrexham ‘Urban Walks’ follow busy roads or terminate Industrial Estate. This new section of footpath at the Wrexham Industrial Estate boundary. We would follow the pavement of Bryn Lane and are proposing the extension of existing public cross the Bryn Lane nature reserve; skirting rights of way to include areas of green space ponds and through managed broadleaf within the Wrexham Industrial Estate. These woodland. It would then terminate on Bridge new routes will improve existing urban walks Road North, connecting up with existing ’urban by providing a more sensory, invigorating walks’. lunchtime walk or picnic for workers on the estate. They will link up with abandoned ‘The Oaks’ - this new footpath would cross the routes and encourage people to explore the Oaks Wildlife Site, following existing desired landscape in which they work, and discover the paths on the site, and connecting with the Wrexham Industrial Estate’s rich biodiversity existing footpath to the south of the Wrexham for themselves. At certain points along these Industrial Estate. The new path would terminate routes, interpretation panels would be installed on Oak Road. to raise awareness about the habitats, species 40 Amenity on Wrexham Industrial Estate

Legend Existing footpath 'Urban walks' National Cycle Network (On-road route) National Cycle Network (Traffic-free route) Existing bridleways

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Proposed amenity improvements

Legend Proposed footpath Existing footpath

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 41 Abbey Road Picnic Area - a small picnic area would be created in a copse off Abbey Road. After some tree thinning and the creation of an informal access path, this would be a pleasant and sheltered picnic space, and would connect- up with existing walking routes from Redwither Tower, and could be used for recreation.

Community engagement A key component of this Living Landscapes scheme is engagement with community groups and volunteers. The Wrexham Industrial Estate’s green infrastructure offers enormous potential for a wide range of community engagement activities. For example, Coveris Advanced Coatings provide outdoor mindfulness sessions for their employees; workers from Redwither Tower take regular strolls through nearby Wildlife Sites, and employees at Hauck and Ball Packaging are keen birdwatchers and Barn owl with Brown rat botanists, recording elusive species on their © Phil Winter (www.flickr.com/photos/92372818@N04/) landholdings. Volunteers are essential to the companies on the estate. Birds of prey such as overall sustainability of this Living Landscapes Barn owl and Kestrel are extremely effective scheme, as monitoring of species and the in reducing rat populations, and these raptors management of habitats is a continual process, can be encouraged by planting hedgerows, that can always be expanded. By working with leaving areas of rough grassland for hunting, businesses, local community groups, schools and providing artificial nest boxes. Rats and and voluntary organisations, a substantial mice can also be controlled by encouraging programme of conservation and recreational Polecats, which actively hunt these species activities can be developed for the Wrexham in and around the Wrexham Industrial Estate. Industrial Estate. Unfortunately, Polecats and birds of prey are indirectly contaminated by rodenticides and these poisons should only be used as a very last resort.

Environmental standards Managing landholdings to improve biodiversity can contribute to an organisation’s attainment of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard, ISO 14001 or the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.

There are many ways that an organisation can reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the Wrexham Industrial Estate’s sustainable development. Tree and hedge planting plays Volunteers planting plugs in scarified plots © Buglife a significant role in reducing air pollution and capturing carbon. The 2014 Forest Research Vermin control i-Tree Eco report, Valuing Wrexham’s Urban Vermin control is a major problem on the Forest, commissioned by Natural Resources Wrexham Industrial Estate, particularly Wales and Wrexham County Borough Council, because of the number of food production identified that 60 tonnes of air pollution were 42 removed annually across Wrexham’s 12 urban In some instances, landholders and contractors areas (saving the NHS £700,000 - by reducing are already working towards an informal asthma and heart disease). The ecosystem management plan, and this has been shown as services provided by Wrexham’s trees are areas of maintenance in the prescription maps. collectively valued at £1.2 million per year. Road corridors Sustainable verge management is another The following road corridors have been method, whereby increasing the nectar identified by Wrexham County Borough Council resource for pollinating bees and wasps; as containing important wildlife connectivity helping to support agriculture and food features, and therefore development adjacent production. Managing grassland and roadside to these areas should provide a means to link verges as wildflower meadows is cheaper and existing habitats and support the development less intensive than usual cutting regimes, and of a wider ‘green network’ throughout the helps in the control of water and sediment run- Wrexham Industrial Estate: off. • Clywedog Road - near to River Clywedog Pond creation benefits a range of freshwater • Bridge Road North - near to Wildlife Site and species, and also helps with flood alleviation ponds when it is integrated as part of a sustainable • Ash Road South - near to Wildlife Site and urban drainage system. By managing ponds ponds and surrounding vegetation for the benefit • Redwither - Road, near to Wildlife Site and of biodiversity, these wetlands also become River Clywedog attractive amenity areas for future generations • Oak Road - near to Wildlife Site and River to enjoy. Clywedog • Abenbury Way - close to watercourses Management prescriptions for landholders We have developed some brief management prescriptions for individual landholders. These provide an overview of targeted conservation works specific to each site, and can be modified as necessary. The land management proposals have been developed through informal liaison with businesses and landholders, and following advice from project partners Buglife, Butterfly Conservation and Wrexham County Borough Council. They are intended as guidelines for any future wildlife habitat conservation works on the Wrexham Industrial Estate. A brownfield site on Bridge Road was identified as a key stepping stone for birds During the scoping phase of this project, all and invertebrates moving between the former the Wrexham Industrial Estate landholders Firestone site and an adjacent pocket of and businesses were contacted to enable broadleaved woodland. To improve wildlife connectivity in this area, we have planted a access for habitat surveys and to identify any mixed species hedge around the periphery of opportunities for habitat maintenance, creation this site. This will eventually provide nesting or restoration. Following habitat surveys and foraging opportunities for song birds and assessment of biological records, some and early flowering Blackthorn will provide an important early source of nectar for areas have been prioritised for conservation invertebrates. It will also encourage owls and action. The overall response by businesses kestrels, which breed and hunt nearby, to fly and landholders has been positive, and it is high overhead, minimising collision with road envisaged that many more landholdings will be traffic. brought into the scheme in the future. 43 4. Conclusions and Future Actions

The Wrexham Industrial Estate has the potential to become a role model for • Formally incorporate the spatial plan into commercial, social and environmental the Local Development Plan for Wrexham integration. As the commercial, nature County Borough conservation and administrative communities work together in a creative partnership, the • Develop mechanisms for funding the Living Landscape will undoubtedly become maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity better understood and its wildlife will become and amenity features of the Wrexham Industrial richer. The local businesses will learn to make Estate into the future creative use of their natural surroundings, and to recognise the many ways in which the • Seek funding from a variety of sources as quality of the work environment can benefit the required to take forward the above actions reliability and productivity of their companies. The local authority will have a unique offer to make to inward investors, and the Wrexham Industrial Estate can set new standards for commercially and ecologically successful sustainable development. In order to progress the development of a Living Landscape Scheme for the Wrexham Industrial Estate, a number of actions need to be undertaken, including:

• With Wrexham County Borough Council, other appropriate partners and key businesses, agree on the long-term strategy for the Wrexham Industrial Estate

• Develop a definitive ‘spatial plan’ for the Wrexham Industrial Estate, undertaking additional surveys as required to highlight the features that must be:

™™protected from inappropriate development ™™compensated/mitigated for damage or loss as a result of development ™™improved for people and wildlife as

appropriate Green Woodpecker © Ron Knight http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 44 5. Bibliography

Fuller, R.M. (1987) The change, extent and conservation interest of lowland grasslands in England and Wales; a review of grassland surveys 1930-1984. Biological Conservation 40: 281-300.

Ellis, S., Bourn, N. A. D. and Bulman, C. R. (2012) Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and moths: lessons from the UK. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, Dorset.

Tordoff, G. and Williams, C. (2014). Status of the Grizzled Skipper butterfly (Pyrgus malvae) in Wales. Butterfly Conservation Wales, Swansea.

Langton, T.E.S., Beckett, C.L., and Foster, J.P. (2001), Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook, Froglife, Halesworth.

JNCC (1993). Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey. A technique for environmental audit (reprint). Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Wrexham County Borough Council (2003). Great Crested Newt Species Action Plan.

Wrexham County Borough Council (2009). Local Guidance Planning Note No. 29.

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) (no year). Population Review Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Wrexham Prison Addendum to Ecological Mitigation Strategy and Habitat Management Plan. December 2013. Environ.

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (November 2013). Firestone GCN Modelling: Comparative Impact Modelling to Inform Planning. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd.

Wrexham Industrial Estate – Great Crested Newt Strategy. July 2007. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd.

Wrexham Industrial Estate – Green Wedges with Emphasis on Great Crested Newt – Brief Letter and Drawings. September 2007. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd.

Rumble, H., Rogers, K., Doick, K., and Hutchings T. (June 2014), Valuing Wrexham’s Urban Forest - Assessing the Ecosystem Services of Wrexham’s Urban Trees: A Technical Report. Forest Research.

Roos, S., Johnston, A. & Noble, D. (2012) UK Hedgehog datasets and their potential for long-term monitoring. BTO Research Report 598

45 6. Appendix - Prescriptions for Landholders

© TreeHunter.co.uk @thetreehunter WIE 22

WIE 19 WIE 14

WIE 03 WIE 13 WIE 20 WIE 25 WIE 09 WIE 36 WIE 15

WIE 01 WIE 16

WIE 12

WIE 04 WIE 26 WIE 39 WIE 06 WIE 18 WIE 11 WIE 21 WIE 17 WIE 05

WIE 10

WIE 38

WIE 30 WIE 34

WIE 31

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community WIE 01 - Hauck WIE 17 - Roil Foods WIE 02 - JCB WIE 18 - Riello UPS WIE 03 - Coveris WIE 19 - Wockhardt WIE 04 - Ecodek WIE 20 - Wrexham County Borough Council #1 WIE 05 - Ball Packaging WIE 21 - TCB WIE 06 - Dragon Packaging WIE 22 - Clays Golf WIE 08 - Village Bakery WIE 26 - Owens Road Services WIE 09 - IMC WIE 31 - Clwyd Precision Engineering Ltd WIE 10 - Hi-mark WIE 34 - Hydro Aluminium WIE 11 - Redwither Brook (WAG) WIE 36 - Kelloggs WIE 12 - Caparo Wire (factory 2) WIE 38 - Prysmian Group WIE 13 - Annyalla Chicks WIE 39 - RKP Engineering WIE 15 - Norish Foods WIE 16 - Rowan Foods 47 Hauck (WIE 01)

Legend

Scarification

Scrub management

Wildflower meadow

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Maintenance Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,

• Bank to east of premises (unmanaged) quite tall - remove regenerating shrubs. - provides foraging resource for invertebrates, larger shrubs should be • Wet woodland - a habitat of principal removed, leaving bare ground. importance for conservation of biological diversity in Wales (S42) - requires Phase • Opportunities to expand areas of 2 habitat survey. Location for Green bare ground adjacent to car park edge; woodpecker and Schwegler bat boxes. rotational ground disturbance or adding crushed limestone. These should be seeded with larval foodplants/plugs as there is no guarantee that they will colonise naturally.

• Two small strips of semi improved grassland - cut in Autumn/Winter - encourage a more diverse sward of herbs and grasses. Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Creeping Cinquefoil present but sward

48 JCB (WIE 02)

Legend

Wildflower meadow Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Designated areas within amenity Sign would be about A4 size and would be grassland - revert to early spring and late mounted on Sweet chestnut post autumn hay cut, to encourage native floral diversity • Installation of bird nest boxes on various trees around site. Also, installation of Barn • Roadside verges - managed as wildflower owl box on mature oak tree meadow. Area to be managed and sown with annual/perennial wildflower seed: • Tree planting around balancing pond approximately 250 m2. First year (2015) (same species - Alder and Willow species) rotovation and application of mulch mat to suppress grass growth; second year sowing of wildflower seed (mixture of arable & perennial species

• Interpretation sign positioned at edge of roadside verge to inform public about the conservation work and species targeted.

49 Coveris Advanced Coatings (WIE 03)

Legend

Scarification Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Scrub management

• Area of scarification adjacent to car park: • Interpretation sign positioned at edge approximately 80m2 of scrub clearance to of scarified area to inform employees open-up site; shallow scraping of ground about the conservation work and species to expose substrate. Retain brash on site as targeted. Sign would be about A4 size and habitat pile, remove topsoil from site. would be mounted on Sweet chestnut post

• Planting of larval foodplant plugs to • Installation of bird nest boxes on various benefit Dingy/Grizzled Skipper butterflies: trees around site, including boxes for Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), Green woodpecker. Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis), Tormentil (Potentilla erecta), Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor), Common Bird’s-foot- trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)

50 Ecodek (WIE 04)

D C

E

B A

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Grassland A - maintain species diversity • E (woodland and scrub with areas of and reduce encroaching scrub by bare ground) - creation and maintenance introducing winter grazing (4 hebridean of informal access track and open area ewes). Installation of stock-proof post and for picnic table and interpretation panel. wire fence and access gate. Installation of bird and bat boxes, as well as woodpecker nest box and owl box. • Grassland B & C - cut in October, arisings moved to compost heap. Remove any encroaching scrub and create habitat piles. Possible location for bee hives.

• D (Roadside verge/amenity grassland around car park) - creation and maintenance of wildflower meadow. Cut in autumn and spot-treat any encroaching vegetation with non-residual herbicide.

51 Ball Packaging (WIE 05)

Legend

Scarification

Scrub management

Maintenance Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Large spoil bank with areas of bare employees. Implement rotational coppice soil: this area should be maintained and management (6 or 7 years). extended by further scrapes and rotational ground disturbance. Plug planting would • Large areas of semi-improved grassland: be beneficial to increase larval foodplants current cutting regime should be of Grizzled Skipper butterfly. South east maintained, ideally implement a long facing slope could be enhanced with rotation only cutting small patches of sowing wildflower seed to improve nectar grassland in anyone year – this will resource. This should be a maximum of ensure that longer grassland including 50% of the area and only seeds of local tussocks with accumulated leaf litter are provenance should be used. retained to provide structural diversity and overwintering sites. • Broadleaf plantation: coppicing and pollarding to diversify conditions, some • Installation of various types of nest boxes brash should be piled up and retained on around the site, including Kestrel, Green site to create sheltering and overwintering Woodpecker and open fronted tit boxes areas. Timber can be retained by Ball and Schwegler bat boxes.

52 Dragon Packaging Ltd (WIE 06)

Legend

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Grassland management Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,

• Grassland: implement a long rotation - decaying wood, remove mature Willow only cutting small patches of grassland and pollard other species. Some planting in any one year, this will ensure that of native broadleaf trees and/or fruite trees longer grassland including tussocks would also be worthwhile here. with accumulated leaf litter are retained to provide structural diversity and overwintering sites for invertebrates. Cut in autumn after flowering plants have set seed and remove all arisings from site.

• Increase nectar resource by sowing margins/verges with annual/perennial wildflowers and manage appropriately.

• Species-rich hedge and copse - should be maintained and cleared of scrub and dominant ruderal species. Create piles of

53 Village Bakery (WIE 08)

Legend

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Wildflower meadow Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS,

• Roadside verges and grassland • South facing bank: 10% of area topsoil around car park managed as wildflower stripped and plug planted with larval meadow. Area to be managed and sown: foodplants of Grizzled Skipper (5 year approximately 1,100 m2. First year (2015) rotation). rotovation and application of mulch mat to suppress grass growth; second year sowing of wildflower seed (mixture of arable & perennial species, including relevant larval foodplants of Grizzled/Dingy Skipper butterflies).

• Whole area to be cut every October with all arisings removed. Some areas can be cut by traditional scything (team building/ skills development exercise for employees at Village Bakery).

54 IMC (WIE 09)

Legend

Scarification

Arable weeds

• Earth bank - scarify south east facing slope to expose subsoil (two 6 x 2 metre scrapes, repeated in small areas on three year rotation).

• Plug planting within scrapes - Agrimony, Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry.

• Surrounding grassland should not be cut between April and September and arisings should be removed from site. Increase larval food plant/nectar resource by sowing arable weeds. Where reseeding is needed it should be a maximum of 50% of the area and only seeds of local provenance should be used.

55 Hi-Mark Automotive Ltd (WIE 10)

Legend

Hedge planting

Maintenance

Interpretation panel

Source: Picnic bench

• Planting of mixed species hedge along ‘butterfly banks’ using crushed limestone road boundary and Barclays Bank fence. and top soil from patches of ground Mature willows to be removed; Oak, scarification (use digger). Scrapes can be Hawthorn and other fruit trees to be sown with appropriate larval foodplants incorporated into new hedge. Liaise with - Agrimony, Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild landholder on position of access gate. Strawberry, and butterfly banks left as bare areas for solitary bees and wasps. • Ephemeral areas should be maintained and expanded by rotational ground • Install bird boxes on larger trees. disturbance and stripping areas of topsoil every few years. These newly created bare areas should be sown with larval foodplants of Grizzled Skipper butterfly. (remove scrub and Japanese Knotweed).

• At edge of site, mindful of future development plans, possible creation of

56 Redwither Brook (WAG) (WIE 11)

Legend

Grassland management

Hedge planting

Path

Interpretation panel

Picnic bench Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Grassland: implement a long rotation - • Installation of interpretation panel and only cutting small patches of grassland picnic benches in open glade at south of in any one year, this will ensure that site. Installation of bird and bat boxes. longer grassland including tussocks with accumulated leaf litter are retained to provide structural diversity and overwintering sites for invertebrates. Cut in autumn after flowering plants have set seed. Bramble scrub along west side of ditch should be managed on rotation.

• Wildlife hedge planted along roadside boundary, up to brook crossing (mindful of proposed footpath access). Mixed species - Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel, Field Maple, Crab Apple, Damson, Rowan and Alder.

57 Caparo Wire (WIE 12)

Legend

Tree Planting

Hedge planting

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Scarification Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid,

• South of site - periodic scraping to create roosting opportunities for Whitethroat and areas of bare ground (2 @ 5m x 20m) using song birds. mini-digger. These scrape plots should be seeded with Agrimony, Creeping Cinquefoil • Along eastern boundary, a number of fruit and Wild Strawberry, and possibly some trees remain and this could be extended plug planting if slow to colonise. Top soil with further orchard planting - Apple, from scrapes should be piled into a bank Damson, Plum. along the boundary of these plots to create microhabitats. Retain areas of scattered • Provision of open-fronted nest boxes scrub/tall ruderal vegetation. amongst hedgerow - to encourage Whitethroat breeding success. • Hedge and tree planting around periphery of site to connect with scrub along • Larger tree species along eastern Redwither Brook and planned mitigation boundary may be suitable for Kestrel nest area following adjacent Village Bakery box and open fronted tit boxes. development. This would be a mixed species hedges providing foraging and

58 Annyalla Chicks UK Ltd (WIE 13)

Legend

Wildflower meadow

Hedge planting Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Semi-improved grassland verge at rear of factory: plant mixed species hedge with trees, to improve connectivity between Redwither Brook and the wildlife mitigation area at SW (contains mature broadleaf trees, species-rich hedges and semi- improved grassland and dry ditches).

• Re-seed south-east facing bank with wildflower mix, and manage appropriately (Autumn hay cut only).

• Allow ant hills to develop, as this provides a foraging resource for Green Woodpecker, a species which has been recorded feeding on the ground adjacent to this site.

59 Norish Ltd (WIE 15)

Legend

Scarification

Scrub management

Pond creation Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Large area of scrubland should be opened • Significant areas of semi-improved up, to extend and maintain existing glades grassland around site periphery should be and rides; some rotation scarification maintained; no change in current cutting would also be worthwhile in these areas; regime is required. either removing topsoil or the application of crushed limestone to create bare areas • Area of tall ruderal vegetation at east (varying sizes of patches - mechanically of site (about 40m x 30m) is a practical scraped free of all vegetation). location for pond creation. Would act as a good retention pond to reduce periodic • This area should be monitored for the flooding of adjacent amenity grassland and presence of Grizzled Skipper and other would provide a much needed freshwater invertebrates (surveyor access will be habitat resource in this part of The required in season). Brash from scrub Wrexham Industrial Estate. removal can be burned or piled into habitat piles around base of conifers. • Large conifers are suitable location for siting a Kestrel nest box.

60 Rowan Foods (WIE 16)

Legend

Hedge planting

Wildflower meadow

Scrub management Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Mixed species hedge to improve wildlife • Control scrub and areas of tall ruderal connectivity between wet woodland and vegetation at north west corner of site - to ‘Erlas Black Wood’ opposite. Species create areas of bare ground, which could included in planting include Hawthorn, be colonised by Grizzled Skipper butterfly. Blackthorn, Crab apple, Field maple, Hazel, Damson, Rowan, Alder buckthorn. Potential • Installation of A-frame Barn owl box to extend hedge planting along southern on mature oak tree. This will need to be fenceline and adjacent to car park on checked once a year by the local bird eastern boundary. recorder (sometime in the Spring).

• Revert to more senstive cutting regime of amenity/semi improved grassland - autumn hay cut. Area adjacent to Hauck should be cut on a two year basis to improve nectar resource for invertebrates, including the Grizzled Skipper butterfly which occurs on the adjacent landholding

61 Roil Foods Ltd (WIE 17)

Legend

Grassland management

Scrub management

Scarification

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Maintenance Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid,

This area is adjacent to good Grizzled roadside verge management guidelines on Skipper habitat, and so conservation page 41. management should target this species. There may be future potential for the • Patches of scattered young scrub erection of an A-frame barn owl box on a (<5-10years old) should be retained and pole. ideally managed so that a proportion is cut each year on rotation. Create habitat piles • Grassland at west of site: implement a from brash in designated areas. Manage long rotation - only cutting small patches scrub to create varied scrub edge – cut back of grassland in any one year, this will in places to create shallow bays. ensure that longer grassland including tussocks with accumulated leaf litter are • Use digger to scarify some areas on retained to provide structural diversity and rotation (should be larger than 2.5m x overwintering sites for invertebrates. Cut 2.5m to reduce impact of encroaching in autumn after flowering plants have set vegetation), sow with appropriate larval seed. Leave verges uncut for two years foodplants of Grizzled Skipper butterfly - (allows inverts to complete life cycles) *see Creeping Cinquefoil, Agrimony etc.

62 Riello UPS Ltd (WIE 18)

Legend

Grassland management

Scrub management

Maintenance

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i- Scarification cubed, Earthstar Geographics,

This is one of only a few areas on The for two years (allows inverts to complete Wrexham Industrial Estate which are life cycles). occupied by the Grizzled Skipper butterfly, and so conservation management should • Patches of scattered young scrub target this species. A more sensitive (<5-10years old) should be retained and management regime is urgently required ideally managed so that a proportion is cut to prevent breeding habitat being lost. each year on rotation. Create habitat piles from brash in designated areas. • Grassland at east and north of site: implement a long rotation - only cutting • Use digger to scarify some areas on small patches of grassland in any one rotation (should be larger than 2.5m x year, this will ensure that longer grassland 2.5m to reduce impact of encroaching including tussocks with accumulated leaf vegetation). Avoid scraping areas that litter are retained to provide structural could be used for breeding (small areas diversity and overwintering sites for of sparse ground and adjacent rough invertebrates. Cut in autumn after flowering vegetation). Plug planting within scrapes - plants have set seed. Leave verges uncut Creeping Cinquefoil, Agrimony etc.

63 Wockhardt (WIE 19)

Legend

Wildflower meadow

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Tree Planting GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar

• Orchard planting on area of amenity grassland around car park – using fruit trees of local provenance - Apple, Damson, Plum, etc.

• Semi-improved grassland around car park - revert to single autumn hay cut, to allow regeneration of native wildflowers. All arisings should be removed from site

• Installation of various types of bird nest boxes and bat boxes on mature trees around car park

• Installation of round picnic bench and interpretation panel to explain Living Landscape project

64 Wrexham County Borough Council (WIE 20)

Legend

Grassland management

Woodland management

Picnic bench

Interpretation panel

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Path GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar

• Copse of broadleaf and coniferous trees • Area of semi-improved grassland - revert requires small amount of selective thinning to autumn hay cut to allow regeneration of and planting of native broadleaf trees. native wildflowers, all arisings should be Felled timber should be retained on site as removed from site hibernacular/habitat piles • Roadside verge managed as wildflower • Creation of informal access path through meadow - rotovated in the winter and copse - starting at existing footpath and covered with weed control mat to suppress finishing at north east corner of fence line outcompeting grasses. An appropriate mix of annual/perennial wildflower seed • Installation of picnic bench and should be sown the following spring and interpretation panel the area should be lightly rolled. Cut in late September and remove all arisings from • Installation of various types of bird nest site. Preserve anthills along verge. boxes and bat boxes, including Green Woodpecker box

65 Tension Control Bolts Ltd (WIE 21)

Habitat Management Plan Tension Control Bolts Ltd. Clywedog Road South Wrexham Industrial Estate

Legend

Path

Tree planting

Hedge

Hibernacular

Pond

Pond re-profile

Compost heap

Bank A

Bank B

Grassland area A

Grassland area B

Grassland area C

Produced from plan by C4 Consulting LLP Drawing No. 10/036/C/01

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, TomTom, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

• Creation of access path around ecological • Maintain ephemeral habitat by rotational mitigation area, as well as picnic bench and ground disturbance (4 year rotation interpretation panel of central area). Plug plant with larval foodplants of Grizzled Skipper butterfly • Remove some scrub along west side of - Creeping cinquefoil, Agrimony, Barren river bank, to create a bank-side ‘nature strawberry, Salad burnet, Tormentil etc. trail’ • To create a ‘mini nature reserve’ feel - area • Planting around pond - rushes, sedges could be demarcated with simple chestnut and grasses. Tree planting on spoil bank - paling fence and access gate Alder, Alder buckthorn, Aspen, Silver birch, Black poplar, Grey willow • Native mixed species hedge planted along southern boundary and existing • Spoil banks at north and south of site hedge along western boundary should be - sow with perennial wildflower mix improved with further planting (appropriate for clay soils)

66 Clays Golf Club (WIE 22)

Legend

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, Wildflower meadow AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

This landholding is outside the boundary • Installation of interpretation panel at pond of the Wrexham Industrial Estate, however it has been included due to its significant • Installation of A-frame Barn Owl box on wildlife connectivity and ongoing mature Oak (field surveyor will require favourable management. access for future monitoring)

• Rough grassland along south facing • Implement a species monitoring bank (adjacent to JCB): approximately programme for invertebrates, as well 0.5 acres to by managed as wildflower as reptiles, Water Vole and other small meadow. In September, areas will need to mammals be strimmed on a two-year rotation, with all arisings removed from site. Wildflower seed sowing and plug planting to improve nectar resource for pollinating insects, such as: Viper’s bugloss, Teasel, Oxeye daisy, Corn cockle, Cornflower, Lady’s bedstraw, Common poppy and Common knapweed

67 Vacant plot, Clywedog Road North (WIE 26)

Legend

Grassland management

Scrub management

Scarification

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Maintenance Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,

This is one of only a few areas on the • Roadside verge and ditch: extend suitable Wrexham Industrial Estate which supports habitat by improving nectar resource on Grizzled Skipper butterfly, and so verge; leave some areas uncut for two conservation management should target years, manage scrub to reduce shading, this species. A more sensitive management create bare ground patches on south-east regime is urgently required to prevent facing side of bank breeding habitat being lost. • Use digger to scarify some areas on • Grassland at south of site: implement a rotation (should be larger than 2.5m x long rotation - only cutting small patches 2.5m to reduce impact of encroaching of grassland in any one year, this will vegetation), Plug plant with larval ensure that longer grassland including foodplants of Grizzled Skipper butterfly tussocks with accumulated leaf litter are - Creeping cinquefoil, Agrimony, Barren retained to provide structural diversity and strawberry, Salad burnet, Tormentil etc. overwintering sites for invertebrates. Cut in autumn after flowering plants have set • Clear rubbish and scrub from ditch at seed. southern periphery

68 Clwyd Precision Engineering Ltd (WIE 31)

Legend

Maintenance

Scrub management

Source: Scarification Esri,

• Maintain brownfield area providing open • Provision of habitat piles - make use mosaic habitat; remove larger shrubs and of wooden pallets on site to create allow periodic disturbance of ground by ‘bug hotels’, and improve the range of machinery on site microhabitats by creating ‘butterfly banks’ with crushed limestone substrate. These • Scarify areas of bank along northern should be sown with wildflower seed to boundary (should be larger than 2.5m improve nectar resource for invertebrates x 2.5m to reduce impact of encroaching vegetation) and sow with appropriate larval • Installation of various types of bird nest foodplants of Grizzled Skipper butterfly boxes on mature trees around site - Creeping Cinquefoil, Wild Strawberry, Agrimony

• Volunteer fieldworkers require infrequent access to site in order to monitor presence of Grizzled Skipper butterfly and other rare invertebrates

69 Hydro (WIE 34)

Legend

Maintenance Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

Large brownfield site adjacent to ancient secondary woodland - to maintain early semi-natural woodland (both are Habitats successional habitats, saplings should of Principal Importance for Conservation be pulled up and large willows and Alder of Biological Diversity in Wales) - likely to should be removed. Brash piles should support a diverse invertebrate community be created in designated areas along east and provide roosting areas for elusive bird facing bank, to provide a hibernacular species such as Green Woodpecker and resource for invertebrates Snipe. To properly inform any future long- term conservation management, Phase 2 • Site should be surveyed for the presence species surveys will be required. of Grizzled Skipper butterfly (surveyor access will be required in flight period) • The mosaic of early successional and bare ground habitats should be maintained by • Mixed plantation woodland is an rotational ground disturbance and topsoil important wildlife corridor and could be stripping every 4/5 years. expanded and enhanced with further planting and coppicing. Should be • Some areas are reverting to scrub and surveyed for bats and other mammals

70 Kelloggs (WIE 36)

Legend

Grassland management

Scarification

Scrub management

Woodland management

Maintenance

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, G eoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IG P, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Maintain and expand area of unimproved • Large area of unmanaged wet woodland grassland - autumn hay cut using BCS should be protected and may require power scythe. Control encroaching scrub hydrological and species surveys (this is a (on rotation and during winter months); Section 42 Habitat of Principal Importance create habitat piles from brash in a single for Conservation of Biological Diversity in designated area Wales). Area of woodland bordering Bryn Lane mitigation site; extend woodland ride • Roadside verge along factory frontage could be managed as wildflower meadow; • Pond - enhance by creating hibernacular/ sown with annual/perennial wildflower habitat piles from removal of non native seed mix, and reverting to a single autumn tree species on site. Before this work starts, hay cut a licence from NRW will be required due to possible disturbance of Great Crested Newt • Open up adjacent areas of broadleaf woodland by coppicing and pollarding, to allow colonisation by low growing plant species

71 Prysmian Cables & Systems Ltd (WIE 38)

Legend

Grassland management

Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i-cubed, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, Maintenance AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community

• Installation of A-frame Barn Owl box on tussocks with accumulated leaf litter are mature oak (field surveyor will require retained to provide structural diversity and access for future monitoring) overwintering sites for invertebrates

• Reduce cutting of area of rough grassland • Orchard planting along southern around pond and oaks: a single autumn boundary - using trees of local provenance hay cut every three years, the entire area such as Denbigh Plum, Bardsey Apple, can be topped to a height of no more than local Gooseberry etc. 13cm. This will improve habitat for short- tailed field vole - the principal prey item of Barn Owl

• Maintain current cutting regime of extensive hay meadow area. Implement a long rotation, only cutting small patches of grassland in any one year – this will ensure that longer grassland including

72 RKP Engineering (WIE 39)

Legend

Wildflower meadow Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, Scarification

This site is adjacent to a known Grizzled • Volunteer fieldworkers require infrequent Skipper butterfly population, so priority access to site in order to monitor presence is to create and maintain an area of open of Grizzled Skipper butterfly and other rare mosaic habitat. invertebrates

• Spoil heap at western corner of site: prepare 50% of area for sowing perennial wildflower mix, including seed of relevant larval foodplants (Agrimony, Salad burnet). Remaining 50%: maintain provision of bare ground/early succession habitat, by scarifying small areas on rotation, and plug planting of larval foodplants: Creeping cinquefoil, Agrimony, Barren strawberry, Wild strawberry, Tormentil and Salad burnet

73 Buglife Cymru c/o RSPB Cymru Sutherland House Cardiff CF11 9AB

029 2039 7096 www.buglife.org.uk

Butterfly Conservation Wales 10 Calvert Terrace Swansea SA1 6AR

01792 642972 www.butterfly-conservation.org/

Natural Resources Wales Cardiff (Ty Cambria) Cambria House 29 Newport Road Cardiff CF24 0TP

0300 065 3000 http://naturalresources.wales

North Wales Wildlife Trust 376 High Street Bangor Gwynedd LL57 1YE

01248 351541 www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/

Wrexham County Borough Council The Guildhall, Wrexham, LL11 1AY

01978 292000 www.wrexham.gov.uk

74 Protecting Wildlife for the Future North Wales Wildlife Trust 376 High Street Bangor Gwynedd LL57 1YE

Phone: 01248 351541 Email: [email protected] Registered Charity no. 230772

Protecting Wildlife for the Future