Preliminary Ecological Appraisal
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PRELIMINARY ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL FOR BARNFIELD COTTAGE, STONE STREET ROAD, IVY HATCH Date of report 27th November 2020 Amendment 9th December 2020 Date of survey 18th November 2020 Author Jenny Passmore Reviewer Christian Gunn Client name Mr and Mrs McElroy Corylus reference 20144 CORYLUS ECOLOGY __________________________________________________________________________________________ CORYLUS ECOLOGY Unit A3 Speldhurst Business Park, Langton Road, Speldhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN3 0NR Telephone: 01892 861868 E-mail: [email protected] Director: H G Wrigley (née Lucking) BSc. MIEEM Corylus Ecology Ltd Registered in England No 5005553 Registered Office: Henwood House, Henwood, Ashford Kent TN24 8DH VAT Reg No. 862 2486 14 CORYLUS ECOLOGY __________________________________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY The proposals involve converting the riding arena into a single dwelling with associated landscaping. A bat and barn owl building survey has been undertaken and there was no evidence or potential for bat roosts noted. No further surveys are considered necessary. The building is suitable for barn owl however there was no evidence of use. No rare or invasive plant species have been recorded. Species typical of acid grassland have been recorded but the assemblage is not indicative of lowland acid grassland, which is a priority habitat community. Tree (T1) has been identified with ‘Low’ bat roost potential. No evidence of bat presence was noted on endoscope inspection. Advice has been provided if this tree requires pruning or felling. The Site supports ‘Low’ quality habitat for foraging and commuting bats and the impacts are low, so further activity surveys are not required. Advice has been provided to prevent the ground conditions becoming suitable for reptiles and to avoid the disturbance of the spoil piles during winter (1st November to 1st March). There is a poor local network of ponds and further surveys for GCN are not recommended. There is no habitat for dormice on Site however they are known to be in the local environment so the planting proposals provide habitat for this species. There was no evidence of badger however past evidence of foraging has been recorded and the ecological enhancement strategy ensures foraging habitat remains for this species. The Site is suitable for hedgehogs and recommendations have been provided to ensure this species can continue to move through the landscape. The spoil piles should not be disturbed in winter. Native planting and log piles will constitute a long-term enhancement for this species. Rabbits are present on site and measures to prevent unnecessary harm or cruelty to this species during ground works have been recommended. Recommendations have been provided to avoid disturbance of breeding birds in the building and the vegetation during the breeding season 1st March to 1st August. A detailed ecological enhancement strategy has been outlined including generous native planting and provision of habitat for invertebrates and birds. __________________________________________________________________________________________ 20144 BARNFIELD COTTAGE ECOLOGICAL SURVEY, DECEMBER 2020 CORYLUS ECOLOGY __________________________________________________________________________________________ CONTENTS Page Number 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Methodology 2 3.0 Results 4 4.0 Evaluation 9 5.0 Ecological Enhancement Strategy 14 6.0 Conclusions 17 References Figures Figure 1 - Phase I Habitat Plan Figure 2 - Annotated Photographs Figure 3 – Ecological Enhancement Plan __________________________________________________________________________________________ 20144 BARNFIELD COTTAGE ECOLOGICAL SURVEY, DECEMBER 2020 CORYLUS ECOLOGY 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Corylus Ecology undertook a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal of land at Barnfield Cottage in Ivy Hatch, Kent hereinafter referred to as the Site. The Site is approximately 0.6ha in size and includes a covered riding arena, an outdoor sand school and scattered trees and areas of grassland in the surrounding land. The Site also includes the existing access drive and adjacent land. The proposals involve the conversion of the existing riding arena into a single dwelling with associated landscaping. 1.2 The PEA was undertaken by Corylus Ecology on 18th November 2020. This updates a previous PEA undertaken by Corylus Ecology in 2017 (Corylus Ecology, 2018).The survey includes a Phase I Habitat Survey, which provides information relating to the habitats within the Site, and a Protected Species Assessment, which identifies potential for protected species and informs the need for further protected species surveys. The Protected Species Assessment includes a Bat Building Survey, which aims to identify any evidence of and potential for roosting bats during daylight hours. 1.3 The objectives of the survey were as follows: Classify and map the habitats within the Site according to those within the Phase I manual; Determine the potential for protected species to occur within the Site, including an assessment of the buildings for potential to support bats; Identify key ecological constraints to allow early avoidance or minimisation of ecological effects through appropriate design; Suggest appropriate further protected surveys where necessary; and Suggest measures to maintain and enhance biodiversity. 1.4 Previous surveys have been undertaken at the Site and the findings of the current survey are discussed in relation to these. The previous surveys were undertaken on the following dates: 16th March 2017 15th January 2016 31st October 2014 10th December 2013 20144 BARNFIELD COTTAGE 1 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY, DECEMBER 2020 CORYLUS ECOLOGY 2.0 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Preliminary Desk Study 2.1.1 A preliminary search within 3km of the Site was undertaken for designated areas, priority habitats, and European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) licences using the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) interactive mapping service (Defra, 2020). Records from the local biological records centre were not sought due to the relatively small scale of the Site and proposals. 2.2 Bat Building Survey 2.2.1 The building was subject to an external and internal survey on 18th November 2020. The survey was undertaken by Jenny Passmore (licence number 2016-23195-CLS-CLS) of Corylus Ecology. 2.2.2 The external survey of the buildings included an assessment of areas for potential for bats and a search for evidence such as droppings and staining immediately below potential roost areas, at the base of the buildings and on window sills. The interior of the buildings was surveyed for evidence of bats including droppings, staining and bats themselves. Bat droppings were searched for on the top of beams (where they are less likely to have been disturbed/damaged) as well as on the ground below. A high powered Clulite torch was used in the search. An endoscope with halogen light, which can fit into cavities only 9.5mm wide, was used to look for signs of bats in any accessible cavities. Buildings are placed into one of the four categories of bat roost potential: High, Moderate, Low and Negligible (Collins, 2016). 2.2.3 The building was also searched for evidence of barn owl Tyto alba such as urea splashing, pellets, feathers, suitable nest sites, prey remains and individuals birds themselves. The building was assessed for any external features that may allow barn owls to enter the building. 2.3 Phase I Survey 2.3.1 The habitats present on the Site were mapped in accordance with the ‘Handbook for Phase I Habitat Survey’ (JNCC, 2003). Habitat areas and features of topographical and/or ecological interest were described in the form of target notes (TN). These were later used to create botanical species lists by target note area and also to create a colour coded Phase I Habitat map, which is presented as Figure 1. All nomenclature follows Stace (2019). 2.3.2 The Phase I Habitat Survey also includes the mapping of invasive botanical species listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as well as those classed as rare or declining. However, some species are seasonally constrained, and therefore may not be visible on a single visit. Previous surveys have all been undertaken during the autumn and winter months, October to March (2013 to 2017). It is recognised that a greater range of species would be detected during a spring or summer survey however it is considered that the collaboration of information from several surveys has helped to accurately 20144 BARNFIELD COTTAGE 2 ECOLOGICAL SURVEY, DECEMBER 2020 CORYLUS ECOLOGY determine the habitats present. It is noted that the presence of densely vegetated habitats may restrict access and invasive species may not be recorded. 2.4 Protected Species Assessment 2.4.1 The survey included an assessment of the potential for the Site to support protected species. This type of survey aims to assess the potential for protected species to occur due to the habitats present and does not include any species-specific survey methods designed to demonstrate whether the Site is in fact used by such species. The exception is badgers Meles meles as field signs associated with this species can be searched for, including latrines, holes, pushes, paths and hairs. Bat Tree and Habitat Assessment 2.4.2 As part of the protected species assessment, a ground level investigation of all suitable trees was carried out to identify bat potential. Bats may use any crack or hole (such as woodpecker