Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Screening of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2008-2013 for Appropriate Assessment – Baseline Report 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The purpose of this report is to determine whether there is a need to carry out a full Appropriate Assessment of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-13. 1.2 This report considers potential impacts arising from the AONB Management Plan alone and in combination with other plans, and with respect to the European sites’ conservation objectives. The sites in question are all, in this case, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). 1.3 Production of the AONB Management Plan is a statutory duty of the Conservation Board under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The plan outlines the Board’s policies for the management of the AONB and fulfilment of its statutory purposes which are: a. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB; and b. to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB. 1.4 The SACs potentially affected by the AONB Management Plan are as follows: • Aston Rowant • Chilterns Beechwoods (a composite of 9 sites) • Hartslock Wood • Burnham Beeches (outside the AONB) • Little Wittenham (outside the AONB) 1.5 All policies and proposals in the AONB Management Plan have been screened and it is considered that there are no significant environmental effects on the SACs within or in close proximity to the AONB. Consequently, a full appropriate assessment of the plan is not required. 1 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report 2. Introduction 2.1 The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended by The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007) require (Regulation 48) that a competent authority shall make an appropriate assessment of the implications for European sites in view of the sites’ conservation objectives. The purpose of this Baseline Report is to ensure that the Management Plan 2008-13 and its policies have no significant environmental impact on sites of European Interest. 2.2 The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 places a duty on Conservation Boards to produce a plan which outlines their policies for the management of the AONB and how they will carry out their functions in relation to it. Management plans must be reviewed at least every five years. 2.3 The previous management plan for the Chilterns AONB, The Framework for Action 2002 – 2007 has now been reviewed, forming the basis for the draft Management Plan 2008 – 2013. 2.4 The Plan sets out broad aims for the management of the AONB. Policies and actions within the Plan outline how these aims will be achieved by the Board and other parties with an interest in the AONB. In formulating the policies and actions within the Plan the Board seeks to fulfil its two statutory purposes which are: a. to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the AONB; and b. to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the AONB. 2.5 This screening report is intended to determine whether there is a need to carry out a full appropriate assessment of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan (2008 -2013) and its polices in relation to sites of European Interest. 2.6 The Conservation Board, as the ‘competent authority' has to satisfy itself that, in adopting the plan, there will be no significant effect on European sites. 2.7 The Board has liaised with Natural England at an early stage regarding which sites to consider, conservation objectives and key environmental conditions for the sites concerned. 2.8 The Board recognises that the AONB management plan will be implemented in the context of changing spatial patterns and housing growth, as directed by the Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks. These are themselves subject to Appropriate Assessment. The AONB Management Plan does not propose any growth or development, and its policies promote conservation of the natural environment and sustainable use of it. 2 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report 3. Sites under consideration 3.1 Summary 3.1.1 There are 3 SACs within the AONB – Aston Rowant, Hartslock Wood and Chilterns Beechwoods. Chilterns Beechwoods comprises of 9 separate sites, of which 8 are within the AONB. 3.1.3 In addition, Burnham Beeches SAC and Little Wittenham SAC have been considered as they are within 10 - 12 km of the AONB boundary and could theoretically be affected indirectly by the Management Plan. Figure 1: Sites considered as part of the screening 3 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Table 1: Special Areas of Conservation that were assessed for significant adverse effects of the Chilterns AONB Management Plan Name Location Area (ha) Qualifying Comments on Nature Key Environmental Possible Impacts Arising From Plan Risk of Other Plans To Be Risk of Significant Features1 Conservation Conditions to Support Significant Considered in Effect In Importance Site Integrity Effect? Combination Combination? Aston Rowant Buckinghamshire; 127.75 • Juniper on • One of the best • Regular management • No negative impacts. The plan actively • No Regional Spatial • No Oxfordshire heaths or remaining examples to keep vegetation promotes management of sites to meet Strategies and Local calcareous in UK of lowland open and allow conservation objectives. Development grasslands juniper scrub seedlings to establish. Frameworks. • Beech forests on (between 1,000 and neutral to rich 2,000 individuals of • Prevention of rabbit • No negative impacts. The plan actively • No Regional Spatial • No soils varying age classes). grazing of seedlings. promotes management of sites to meet Strategies and Local conservation objectives Development Frameworks. • Minimal air pollution. • Although the plan encourages • No Regional Spatial • No. Although RSS countryside recreation, the policies Strategies and Local and LDFs propose specifically encourage environmentally Development housing growth, they sustainable access including minimising Frameworks. will be subject to car use and visiting countryside close to Appropriate home. Assessment themselves, and the Management Plan policies specifically encourage environmentally sustainable access. 1 Terminology is the lay or English name as used by JNCC 4 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Burnham Beeches Buckinghamshire 382.76 • Beech forests on • Wood-pasture, with • Minimal atmospheric • No negative impacts. There are no • No Regional Spatial • No acid soils veteran trees. pollution - may policies within the AONB Management Strategies and Local • One of the richest increase the Plan to increase visits to Burnham Development sites for saproxylic susceptibility of beech Beeches. Frameworks. invertebrates in the trees to disease and UK, including 14 Red alter epiphytic Data Book species. communities. • Nationally important epiphytic • Restricted public • No negative impacts. There are no • No Regional Spatial • No communities. access (extensive policies within the AONB Management Strategies and Local public access may Plan that would impact on Burnham Development compromise ability to Beeches Frameworks. retain falling timber associated with old trees). • No negative impacts. There are no policies within the AONB Management • Maintenance of an Plan that would impact on Burnham • No Regional Spatial • No adequate and stable Beeches Strategies and Local hydrological system Development Frameworks 5 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Chilterns Buckinghamshire; 1276.48 • Beech forests on • A distinctive feature in • Minimal atmospheric • No negative impacts - policies • No Regional Spatial • No. Although RSS Beechwoods Hertfordshire; neutral to rich the woodland flora is pollution - may specifically encourage environmentally Strategies and Local and LDFs propose Oxfordshire; Windsor soils the occurrence of increase the sustainable access including minimising Development housing growth, they and Maidenhead • Dry grasslands populations of the rare susceptibility of beech car use and visiting countryside close to Frameworks will be subject to (Nine sites) and scrublands coralroot. trees to disease home. Appropriate on chalk or • Recent dry years are Assessment limestone believed to be putting themselves, and the • Stag Beetle trees under stress. Management plan policies specifically encourage environmentally sustainable access. • Managed public • No negative impacts - policies • No Regional Spatial access to forest and encourage increased public awareness Strategies and Local • No nearby dry calcareous and responsible attitudes to visiting the Development grasslands countryside. Frameworks • Appropriate • No negative impacts. The plan actively • No Regional Spatial • No management of promotes management of sites to meet Strategies and Local grasslands conservation objectives Development Frameworks . • Absence of direct • No negative impacts. The plan actively • No Regional Spatial • No fertilization. promotes management of sites to meet Strategies and Local conservation objectives Development Frameworks 6 Chilterns AONB Management Plan 2008-2013 Screening for Appropriate Assessment - Baseline Report Hartslock Wood Oxfordshire 34.24 • Dry grasslands