RAF DAWS HILL, HIGH WYCOMBE Interim Summary of Ecological Issues

TAYLOR WIMPEY

Interim Summary of Ecological Issues

May 2012 ECO2616.InterimSummary.dv1

The copyright of this document remains with Aspect Ecology. The contents of this document therefore must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any purpose without the written consent of Aspect Ecology.

PROTECTED SPECIES

This report contains sensitive information relating to protected species. The information contained herein should not be disseminated without the prior consent of Aspect Ecology.

LEGAL GUIDANCE

The information set out within this report in no way constitutes a legal opinion on the relevant legislation. The opinion of a legal professional should be sought if further advice is required.

Aspect Ecology Ltd Hardwick Business Park Noral Way Banbury Oxfordshire OX16 2AF

t 01295 276066 f 01295 265072

e [email protected] w www.aspect-ecology.com

RAF Daws Hill, High Wycombe ECO2616.InterimSummary.dv1 Interim Summary of Ecological Issues

1. Background & Proposals

1.1.1. Aspect Ecology has been commissioned by Taylor Wimpey to advise in respect of ecological matters at the site at RAF Daws Hill.

1.1.2. The site is located within the south of High Wycombe and comprises the former RAF Daws Hill Strike Command. The proposals for the site are for the clearance of the existing built form and construction of a new residential development with associated access roads and landscaping.

1.1.3. Ecological survey work at the site has previously been undertaken in 2008 (see Appendix 1). This survey work largely recorded the site to be of low ecological value, with ecological interest limited to the use of the site by bats (including a confirmed bat roost), an adjacent Local Wildlife Site (Keep Hill Wood LWS), and use of the adjacent woodland by Badgers.

1.1.4. In order to provide up to date survey information of the ecology at the site, Aspect Ecology has been commissioned to undertake an update Phase I survey of the site and update Phase II survey work in respect of bats and Badgers.

1.1.5. This report provides an interim summary of the current situation and ongoing survey work, along with any issues identified to date:

2. Surveys And Considerations Undertaken To Date

Update Phase I survey

2.1.1. Update Phase I survey work has been undertaken at the site in March 2012 (see Plan 2616/IS1). This survey work recorded the site to remain largely as previously described, being dominated by buildings and hardstanding, with the majority of habitats of limited ecological value. However, it is considered that the trees within the site and the woodland edge along the northern site boundary are of some elevated ecological value.

Offsite adjacent Keep Hill Wood LWS

2.1.2. Initial consideration has been given to the adjacent Keep Hill Wood Local Wildlife Site (LWS), located north of the site. The proposals will not directly affect the woodland, with the proposed development set back from the northern site boundary. However, this designation is directly accessible from the site and so the potential exists for the proposals to increase recreational pressure on the adjacent Keep Hill Wood LWS.

2.1.3. However, the topography within Keep Hill Wood LWS is steep and undulating, such that the majority of visitors to the woodland are likely stick to the established footpaths and bridleways. Indeed, Aspect Ecology has surveyed the public provision within the woodland, recording the pathways present (including their structure and state of repair), public signage, information boards, bins and benches, all of which appear well set up to receive visitors.

2.1.4. In addition, the proposals will be specifically designed to minimise indirect impacts on the adjacent woodland. As such, the proposals will incorporate a

MAY 2012 / ASPECT ECOLOGY 1 RAF Daws Hill, High Wycombe ECO2616.InterimSummary.dv1 Interim Summary of Ecological Issues

suitable buffer zone of vegetation along the northern site boundary, along with a sympathetic design of the adjacent development.

Internal bat surveys

2.1.5. Previous survey work at the site highlighted a number of buildings that offer moderate or greater opportunities for roosting bats, including a single confirmed roost. As such, in order to update this survey data, internal bat surveys have been undertaken (where access has permitted) of all buildings with moderate or greater potential to support roosting bats. This survey work has been undertaken by suitably qualified ecologists, following Bat Conservation Trust Guidelines1.

2.1.6. This survey work recorded no evidence of bats within the inspected buildings. However, a number of buildings were recorded to support external features such as raised roofing felt and gaps in soffit boards, which could offer some potential for roosting bats.

Badgers

2.1.7. The previous survey work at the site recorded Badgers within the offsite woodland, while this species is also likely to make some use of the site. During the most recent survey work, two small outlier setts were noted within the site, close to the northern boundary. It is likely that these setts will be retained within the woodland buffer zone, however should work affect these, or any new setts, consideration will need to be given to the provision of suitable safeguards and potentially safeguards.

3. Surveys And Considerations Currently Underway / To Be Undertaken

Offsite adjacent Keep Hill Wood LWS

3.1.1. Discussions with Wycombe District Council are underway to agree the scope of any additional survey work, should any be required, in order to adequately assess the potential recreational impacts on the adjacent Keep Hill Wood LWS. This in turn will enable the scope of any mitigation to be determined, should it be considered that any is required.

Emergence / return bat surveys

3.1.2. In line with Bat Conservation Trust guidance, all buildings with moderate or greater potential will be subject to further specific survey work in the form of dusk and dawn emergence/return surveys. We are now in the optimum season for undertaking these surveys and this work is currently underway. It is expected that this survey work will be ongoing for the next two to three months.

1 Hundt L (2012) Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines, Second Edition, Bat Conservation Trust

MAY 2012 / ASPECT ECOLOGY 2 PLANS PLAN 2616/ IS1

Habitats and Ecological Features

APPENDICES APPENDIX 1

Previous Ecological Survey Work entitled ‘Site Disposal Report – Ecology’, August 2008 RAF Daws Hill Disposal Report - Ecology

August 2008 Defence Estates

Daws Hill

Site disposal report - Ecology

August 2008

Entec UK Limited

Contents

1. Introduction 1 1.1 Overview 1 1.2 Purpose of this report 1

2. Baseline information 3 2.1 Data sources 3 2.2 Desk study 3 2.3 Extended Phase 1 habitat survey 3 2.4 Bat survey 4 2.5 Badger survey 5

3. Implications for redevelopment 7 3.2 Nature conservation sites 7 3.3 Bats 7 3.4 Badgers 8 3.5 Birds 8 3.6 Reptiles 8 3.7 Other notable species 9

Figure 1.1 Site location Plan After Page 2 Figure 1.2 Site Layout Plan After Page 2 Figure 2.1 Statutory and Non Statutory Nature Conservation Sites After Page 6 Figure 2.2 Indicative Phase 1 Habitat Plan After Page 6

Appendix A Desk study information Appendix B Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Appendix C Bat survey Appendix D Badger survey

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1. Introduction

1.1 Overview 1.1.1 Defence Estates (DE) is disposing of a site in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, known as RAF Daws Hill. 1.1.2 Figure 1.1 shows the location of RAF Daws Hill1. The site is located on the south-east edge of High Wycombe, approximately 1.5km south of the town centre. The site includes office, technical and stores buildings, housing, a school and supporting infrastructure such as community and sport facilities. The site has previously been used by the United States Visiting Forces and was handed back to DE in April 2008. Today housing on site is temporarily occupied by MoD serving personnel and their families; the remainder of the site is vacant. 1.1.3 The site layout is shown on Figure 1.2.

1.2 Purpose of this report 1.2.1 Entec has been commissioned by DE to provide information which will inform the sale and disposal of the site. In order to provide information to potential bidders for the site, this report provides: • information on current (July 2008) desk study information on records of protected and notable species and statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites within the site and up to 1km (species) and 2km (nature conservation sites) from the site; • the findings of an extended Phase 1 habitat survey undertaken by Entec (April 2008); • a summary of the results of a bat survey completed by Jones and Sons (July 2008);

• a summary of the results of a badger survey completed by Humphries Rowell Associates (2002); and • an overview of the possible implications of ecological resources within and around the site for the redevelopment of the RAF Daws Hill site.

1 Please note that site boundaries shown on figures within this report are approximate. Refer to the Report on Title for details of the freehold boundary of this site.

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Key

RAF Daws Hill site RAF Daws Hill Disposal Report - Ecology

Figure 1.1 Site Location

0km 10 km August 2008 Scale 1:250,000 @ A4 20158-L27.cdr smitv

Based upon the Ordnance Survey Map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Entec UK Ltd. AL100001776.

2. Baseline information

2.1 Data sources 2.1.1 The following sources of data were used in preparing this report: • data request for records of designated sites (statutory and non-statutory) within 2km of the site, and protected or notable species within 1km of the site (2km for bats), from the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre and the North Buckinghamshire Bat Group (full results are provided in Appendix A); • Ordnance Survey (OS) maps;

• aerial photography;

• a bat survey (Appendix C); and

• a badger survey (Appendix D). 2.1.2 In addition an extended Phase 1 habitat survey (Appendix B) was undertaken by Entec on 09 April 2008. In doing this, distinct habitats were identified and any features of interest subject to a more detailed description in a target note. As the standard Phase 1 habitat survey methodology is mainly concerned only with vegetation communities, the survey was extended to allow for the provision of information on other ecological features; including to identify the presence/potential presence of legally protected species.

2.2 Desk study 2.2.1 The data request identified one statutory nature conservation site (Chairborough Road Local Nature Reserve) and 21 non-statutory nature conservation sites (six Local Wildlife Sites and 15 Biological Notification sites) within a 2km radius of the site. The location of these sites is illustrated on Figure 2.1, and full details are provided in Appendix A). 2.2.2 A number of historic records of legally protected or otherwise notable species were also identified within 1km of the site (full details of these records are also provided in Appendix A).

2.3 Extended Phase 1 habitat survey 2.3.1 The site comprises a ‘technical’ area and two residential estates. The main habitats present within these areas are buildings of a variety of structures and ages, surrounded by roads, hard-standing and areas of species-poor, short amenity grassland with

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numerous mature planted trees and ornamental shrub and flower borders. To the north of the site boundary is a relatively large area of broad-leaved woodland situated on a steep embankment, to the west and south-west are areas of residential housing, the M40 is located to the south of the site, with areas of arable land and improved grassland to the east. 2.3.2 No definitive evidence of the presence of protected species was identified on site. However, given the nature of the habitats present on site the following species may occur:

• bats may roost in the buildings and/or mature trees;

• there are records of badger setts occurring within the woodland to the north of the site boundary, and badgers may forage in areas of the site close to this boundary;

• a number of common bird species are likely to nest on site; and

• there is a small area of ruderal vegetation that provides sub-optimal potential reptile habitat in the north-east corner of the site and reptiles may use the woodland edge habitats on the northern site boundary (although there are no historic records of reptiles within 1km of the site). 2.3.3 The results of the extended Phase 1 habitat survey are described in more detail in Appendix B and are illustrated on Figure 2.2.

2.4 Bat survey 2.4.1 Four species of bat were identified foraging over the Daws Hill site, namely common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), soprano pipistrelle (P. pygmaeus), noctule (Nyctalus noctula) and serotine (Eptesicus serotinus). Given the amount of suitable woodland habitat on and surrounding the site, it is possible that brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) is also present: this species has a very quiet echolocation call and is therefore very difficult to detect using aural bat detectors. 2.4.2 Based on how soon after sunset common pipistrelle and noctule were detected, it is likely that these species roost on the site, and indeed a roost containing two common pipistrelles was positively identified in one of the buildings (No. 1814, Mansfield Hall). Noctules roost almost exclusively in tree holes and may well roost in such features observed in trees on the site. Conversely, serotines roost almost exclusively in older buildings and are thought likely to roost in the residential housing adjacent to the site. Common and soprano pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats roost in both buildings and trees, although larger roosts (particularly of pipistrelles) are more likely to be found in buildings. However, no evidence of soprano pipistrelle or brown long- eared roosts was found in the on-site buildings; these are likely therefore to be roosting within off-site houses or trees; small roosts of soprano pipistrelle could also occur in the Eaker Estate houses. 2.4.3 All buildings on the site were assessed for their potential to be used as bat roosts, based on structural features, adjacent habitat and bat activity recorded. Of the buildings in the Technical Area, in addition to the confirmed bat roost, one building

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(No. 1810, Trinity Hall) was felt to have high potential and two (No. 1907, School, and No. 1204, NAVACTUK headquarters) moderate-high potential in this respect. Within the residential areas, 12 of the buildings on the Eaker Estate were felt to have high or moderate-high potential as bat roosts, although close inspection of these occupied properties was not possible. Further survey work of the buildings with high or moderate-high potential will be required prior to development, to establish whether any of these are used as roosts and thus need to be included in a derogation licence fro roost destruction (see section 3.3.4). 2.4.4 No tree roosts were positively identified; however, a number of trees with cavities and other features with potential as roost sites were noted, and the trees on the site provide good foraging and commuting habitat for bats. 2.4.5 The full results of the bat survey are included in Appendix C.

2.5 Badger survey 2.5.1 A badger survey was completed by Humphries Rowell Associates in May 2002. Although at the time of the survey no badger setts were recorded within the site, there was recorded evidence of badger using land within the site curtilage. A survey was undertaken to determine the status of the local badger population and its relationship to the site. 2.5.2 The survey found a total of 23 badger setts of which two were disused, six were partially used and 15 were active. In addition, 17 of the setts were considered to be outlier setts, one sett was considered to be an annexe sett and of the five remaining setts two were considered to be subsidiary setts, one a subsidiary/outlier sett, one a subsidiary/main sett and one was considered to be a main sett, with six entrances, five of which were well used. 2.5.3 The survey found that there were three setts (a disused outlier sett, a partially used outlier sett and a active medium size subsidiary sett) within 30m of the Daws Hill site boundary and three setts (an active outlier sett, a partially used outlier sett and an active subsidiary sett) within 30m to 40m of the site boundary. 2.5.4 The 2008 Entec extended Phase 1 habitat survey did not identify any definitive evidence of recent badger activity on site, but it was considered possible that badgers were foraging in some of the habitats close to the northern boundary of the site. 2.5.5 A copy of the badger survey is included in Appendix D.

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3. Implications for redevelopment

3.1.1 The potential implications for the redevelopment of the site in relation to ecological resources in and around the site are detailed as below and should be taken into account when considering different uses and design options for the site.

3.2 Nature conservation sites 3.2.1 There are a number of non-statutory conservations sites (five Biological Notification Sites and one Local Wildlife Site) located in close proximity to the site (within 500m). Although the redevelopment of the site is unlikely to have a direct effect on any of these sites, there is potential for indirect adverse effects to occur (for example, if the site is to be redeveloped as residential land use, then it is possible that some of these sites could be adversely affected by increased recreational pressure). However, it is considered likely that any such effects could be adequately mitigated if they are addressed during the scheme design and implementation stages and, on this basis, it is unlikely that the presence of these sites would constrain the redevelopment of the site. 3.2.2 The closest statutory nature conservation site, Chairborough Road Local Nature Reserve, is located 1800m distant and is already well-used for recreation. Therefore it is considered that redevelopment of the site will not have an effect on this nature conservation site.

3.3 Bats 3.3.1 The trees and grassland on the site provide good foraging habitat for bats, and at least four species of bats have been identified as using the site. However, the majority of bat activity on the site was accounted for by common pipistrelle, and the only roost identified on the site was a small roost of this species, which is the most common and widespread species in the UK. The presence of bats is therefore unlikely to pose a serious constraint to redevelopment of the site. 3.3.2 Notwithstanding the above, all bats and their roosts and other key habitats are legally protected. Further surveys of buildings with high or moderate-high potential as roost sites is therefore required prior to development. Moreover, mature trees on the site may be used by four bat species, two of which (noctule and brown long-eared bat) are BAP priority species. A full inspection of the trees on the site for potential roost features is therefore recommended: such a survey should be carried out during the winter, when foliage will not obscure such features. 3.3.3 A suitably qualified ecologist should be involved at the scheme design stage, in order that loss of bat habitat can be avoided or minimised, and indeed enhanced through measures such as incorporation of bat roosts in new buildings and avoidance of excessive lighting, which acts as a deterrent to many species.

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3.3.4 Where loss of roosts or other key habitat is unavoidable, a derogation licence will be required from Natural England. This will necessitate bat surveys of any potential tree roosts and compensation for loss of roosts, and at least some of the replacement roosts will need to be in place prior to destruction of existing roosts. Works affecting tree and building roosts should generally be avoided during the bat hibernation period (approximately November - March), while works affecting maternity roosts need to be avoided between May and August/early September, albeit there are not thought to be any such roosts present on the site.

3.4 Badgers 3.4.1 Several badger setts are reported to be located in the woodland immediately to the north of the site. Badger activity was not confirmed on site during the extended Phase 1 habitat survey, but it is possible that badgers use some areas of the site for foraging. However, given the extent of suitable foraging habitat provided by the woodland to the north of the site it is considered very unlikely that any on-site habitat loss would constitute a significant effect on badgers and therefore it is unlikely that the presence of badgers in the wider area around the site would constrain the redevelopment of the site. 3.4.2 This said, further assessment work should be undertaken to establish the location and current status of these setts and update the survey work from 2002, in order to inform an assessment of whether a Natural England badger disturbance licence would be necessary for the proposed development. Sett disturbance is not permitted during the badger breeding period, December - June.

3.5 Birds 3.5.1 Given the nature of the habitats present, the site is considered unlikely to support any significant populations of breeding birds. Any effects of temporary habitat loss during demolition and construction works are therefore considered very unlikely to be significant and, as such, it is considered unlikely that the populations of birds present would constrain the redevelopment of the site. However, measures to prevent the contravention of the legislation protecting nesting birds - for example, undertaking clearance of vegetation and taking steps to exclude birds from derelict buildings - outside the bird nesting season (approximately March - August) would need to be implemented during any development of the site.

3.6 Reptiles 3.6.1 The site contains only small areas of habitat that have any potential to support reptiles and there are no records of reptiles occurring within 1km of the site. As such, the potential presence of reptiles is unlikely to constrain the redevelopment of the site. However, measures to prevent the contravention of the legislation protecting reptiles - for example, incorporating such areas into the scheme design, or destructively searching areas that need to be removed under the supervision of an ecologist to

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prevent the killing or injury of any reptiles present - would need to be implemented as part of the development of the site. Destruction of reptile habitat should be avoided during the hibernation period (October - March/April).

3.7 Other notable species 3.7.1 It is possible that other notable species (for example, UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species such as stag beetle Lucanus cervus or cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae) may occur on site. However, given the nature of the habitats present, it is considered that redevelopment of the site is very unlikely to result in any significant adverse effect on such species.

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Appendix A Desk study information

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Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre Museum Resource Centre Tring Road Halton Aylesbury HP22 5PN Tel 01296 696012 Fax 01296 624519 www.bucksmkerc.org.uk

Tim Mchardy Your ref RAF Daws Hill Entec UK Ltd My ref 08-008 Date 15 April 2008 Via email Contact Laura Fennell Tel 01296 696012 Email [email protected]

Dear Tim McHardy,

Re: RAF Daws Hill, High Wycombe

Thank you for your letter of 2nd April 2008 requesting information on sites and species within 2km and 1km of the site above respectively. The information we have is summarised below. A map is provided below showing the locations of designated sites within the search area, and the relevant species records are detailed below. Please see the ‘Definitions’ section below for an explanation of the terms used to describe sites and species in this report.

Statutory sites The search area includes parts of a Local Nature Reserve (LNR): Chairborough Road LNR. Summary details are provided in the table below.

LNR Type: Urban Fringe County: Buckinghamshire Natural England Local Team: Thames & Chilterns Team Year of Declaration: 1992 Declaring Authority: Wycombe District Council Area (Ha): 4 Grid Reference: SU 849 924

Non-statutory sites The search area includes six Local Wildlife Sites (LWS, formerly called County Wildlife Sites):

88U01 Horton Wood 88U02+U03 Warren and Bloom Woods 89L05 Desborough Fields 89Q02 Deangarden Wood 89V01 Gomm’s Valley 89V02 Fennell’s Wood

A citation or survey report for these LWS is given below.

The search area includes part of one Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site (RIGS): W1 High Wycombe Pit. A description for this RIGS is given below.

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council The search area includes sixteen Biological Notification Sites (BNS):

Code Site Broad habitat Description 88U01 Horton Wood Broad-leaved Pleasant mature beechwood, some areas with appreciable ground flora. woodland Part of a complex of ancient woodlands, with good numbers of indicator species and several rare plants. 88U03 Warren Wood, Broad-leaved Beechwood. Little Marlow woodland 89L03 Chairborough Scrub North-east part of site is dogwood/blackthorn scrub with grassy rides and Road LNR some grassy areas. To south-east is waste ground with stands of willowherb and nettles. 89Q01 Winchbottom Neutral A strip of rough chalk grassland with a young plantation above it on a grassland steep north-facing slope. Good chalk grassland flora and butterflies. Includes Chiltern gentian and green-winged orchid. 89Q02 Deangarden Wood Broad-leaved Mature beech woodland with scattered coppice stools. Contains ash, also woodland cherry, pedunculate oak, whitebeam, wych elm. Sycamore and conifer in north and at valley bottom. Rich ground flora with some rare species. Most shown on Jefferies map of 1768. 89Q03 Hard-to-Find Hedge Hedge with trees Mixed hedge (parish-boundary) with many mature oak and beech trees. Hedge unmanaged varying from 15-20ft high. Width varied from 10-30ft wide. Hedge on slight bank but no visible sign of ditch. 89Q07 Gillfield Wood Broad-leaved Woodland. Absent on Jefferies map (1768). Most present on 1st Edition O.S. woodland (1822). 89Q08 Keep Hill Broad-leaved Woodland. Formerly open chalk grassland. woodland 89R01 Hill behind Basic grassland The site is an area of mown common land well used by the public. Edges left Wycombe Hospital longer. Good range of species present. 89R04 The Rye, High Basic grassland Largest area of public grassland in High Wycombe. Grass mown short, Wycombe although towards the edges there are areas of longer grass and planted trees. 89R06 High Wycombe Basic grassland Large cemetery on a fairly steep west-facing slope. Much of central section Cemetery has been built up into tiers of flint of brick walling to facilitate burials. The grassland is relict chalk downland and yields a variety of chalk loving plants. 89R10 River Wye - Back Small river Small river, old watercress beds. Historical site for native White-clawed Stream Crayfish. 89V02 Fennell's Wood Broad-leaved Even-aged closed canopy beech, probably naturally regenerated, with oak, woodland cherry, birch and rowan. Wood floor largely bare south of M40, more varied to north, especially lower slope. Present on Jefferies map (1768) 89V03 Old Wycombe to Basic grassland Former railway line that is now a public footpath. Much of it borders Fennell's Bourne End Wood so has a woodland flora. Further west a calcareous grassland flora Railway Line predominates. 89V05 Deangarden Scrub Basic grassland Unploughed calcareous meadow with sycamore and ash encroachment from Deangarden wood. Abundant orchids (Potts 1979). Rank, unmanaged grassland with numerous anthills. Scrub particularly dense near wood. 89V06 Barrowcroft Wood Broad-leaved Relic coppice with a few old coppiced beech and mature maiden trees, and woodland ash, whitebeam, field maple and hazel. Diverse shrub layer and good ground flora. Present on Jefferies map (1768).

Habitats of Principal Importance The search area includes areas mapped as UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority habitats in Natural England’s habitat inventory data. These habitats are referred to as Habitats of Principal Importance in the recent PPS9 guidance. In addition, some of the woodland areas are identified in Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory. See map below.

Protected and notable species Records of protected or notable species within the search area are shown in the table below. There are no records within the site itself.

The Buckinghamshire Badger Group (www.bucks-badgers.org.uk) also has records for this area, for further information contact Bob Simpson, the Buckinghamshire Badger Group Recorder, at 27 Waine Close, Buckingham, MK18 1FF.

The North Bucks Bat Group (www.northbucksbatgroup.org.uk) may have records for this area, for further details please contact them: Telephone (office hours): 01296 427972 Email: [email protected] Post: c/o Haydon Mill, Rabans Lane, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8RU

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council As agreed, I will forward an invoice for £60 + VAT for the time taken to extract this information and put together the report.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions arising from this report.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Fennell Environmental Records Assistant

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council Terms and conditions

Copyrights • The data held by Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre (BMERC) belongs either to BMERC or to those organisations, groups and individuals from which BMERC sources information. In all respects copyrights shall remain vested in such parties notwithstanding any payments made. • All site boundaries have been mapped using Ordnance Survey data and where Ordnance Survey material has been provided all relevant licences are in place for such production or reproduction. Persons viewing this material should contact Ordnance Survey for advice if they wish to licence Ordnance Survey data for their own use. Data accuracy • BMERC does not guarantee the accuracy of any information supplied and shall have no liability for any loss, damage or expense incurred as the result of reliance on any information supplied. • BMERC can only provide information based on the data held by us. In particular, the absence of records for a species does not necessarily indicate that the species itself is absent, merely that we have not received records for it. Access and use of data • The data in this report must not be used for commercial purposes. When publishing information derived from this data, BMERC and the date of receipt must be acknowledged. • The data supplied in this report must not be added to a permanent database without prior permission from BMERC. • The data held by BMERC is updated regularly and will become out-of-date. If you intend to use this data after a period of six months please contact us to confirm that we have no new records. • Protected species records should be kept out of the public domain.

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE (HERITAGE WOODLAND)

NAME: HORTON WOOD

REF NUMBER: 88U01 GRID REF: SU865896

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: Little Marlow GEOLOGY: Gravels over chalk EXISTING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY: Yes AREA: 30ha

DESCRIPTION

Wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis) grows in this large and diverse woodland north of Little Marlow, as well as nationally scarce coralroot bittercress (Cardamine bulbifera) and wood barley (Hordelymus europaeus). Several county rare plant species also grow here, namely bird's-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) and deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). This woodland is part of a larger complex of ancient woods including further heritage woodland.

There are atleast 29 ancient woodland indicator plants in this woodland such as wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), remote sedge (Carex remota), sanicle (Sanicula europaea) and primrose (Primula vulgaris). Amongst the shrubs are holly, wych elm and box.

Records of the woodland fauna include comma butterfly and nuthatch, green woodpecker and bullfinch.

MANAGEMENT

Last surveyed 1988. Management unknown.

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE (HERITAGE WOODLAND)

NAME: WARREN & BLOOM WOODS

REF NUMBER: 88U02 & U03 GRID REF: SU875895

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: Little Marlow GEOLOGY: Chalk / clay-with-flints EXISTING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY: Yes AREA: 57ha

DESCRIPTION

These diverse woods are adjacent to Horton Wood and together form a large ancient woodland complex. There is atleast one large colony of nationally scarce coralroot bittercress (Cardamine bulbifera), and other plants of particular county interest are heath wood-rush (Luzula multiflora), great wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica), deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), grey sedge (Carex divulsa) and pill sedge (Carex pilulifera).

The ground flora includes many ancient woodland indicator species including wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), goldilocks buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) and wood millet (Milium effusum). Warren wood also has an area of interesting heathy flora.

The woods support a variety of other wildlife including birds like blackcap, green woodpecker and willow warbler, with goldcrest also recorded.

MANAGEMENT

Last surveyed 1979. Management unknown.

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE

NAME: DESBOROUGH FIELDS (TOM BURT'S HILL)

REF NUMBER: 89L05 GRID REF: SU859928

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: High Wycombe GEOLOGY: Upper Chalk RIGHTS OF WAY: Yes AREA: 5.4ha

DESCRIPTION

These interesting adjacent areas of chalk grassland are in the middle of High Wycombe, with superb views across the town and surrounding valleys. Chalk grassland is a habitat of international importance and this site also supports several plants which are very unusual in Bucks. These are the Chiltern gentian (Gentianella germanica) and pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis).

The two grassland areas are divided by dense blackthorn scrub and border on to a predominantly beech woodland, which increases the range of wildlife found here, particularly birds. There are many different grasses across the fields, with creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) and cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata) most abundant in those areas which are frequently mown. The longer grassland has meadow flowers such as black knapweed (Centaurea nigra), lady's bedstraw (Galium verum), rough hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) and patches of cowslip (Primula veris).

Typical chalk grassland plants are especially found on the west facing slopes and include upright brome (Bromus erectus), glaucous sedge (Carex flacca), dwarf thistle (Cirsium acaule), marjoram (Origanum vulgare), bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), fairy flax (Linum catharticum) and milkwort (Polygala vulgaris).

Although isolated by urbanisation, this site is of immense value, both for its wildlife interest and because it introduces many people to a type of countryside they may otherwise never experience. The site also has a good recorded history, with other plants recorded here including the spiny shrub barberry (Berberis vulgaris), old meadow indicator yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), and occasional clumps of tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

MANAGEMENT

This open access site is currently carefully maintained as a wildlife area. Every encouragement should be given to the continuation of this management, even with thought given to its potential grazing. It would also be helpful if the mowing regime was analysed every few years to ensure it is still maintaining the nature conservation interest.

This site would seem to be an ideal candidate for a Local Nature Reserve.

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE (HERITAGE WOODLAND)

NAME: DEANGARDEN WOOD

REF NUMBER: 89Q02 GRID REF: SU879917

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: High Wycombe GEOLOGY: Clay-with flints & pebbly clay with sands RIGHTS OF WAY: No AREA: 17.8ha

DESCRIPTION

South of High Wycombe, this beech woodland supports coralroot bittercress (Cardamine bulbifera) and wood barley (Hordylemus europaeus), both of which are nationally scarce. Other plants of county rarity which have been noted here are scaly male-fern (Dryopteris affinis), narrow-lipped helleborine (Epipactis leptochila) and herb paris (Paris quadrifolia).

Other plants found here that are particularly indicative of ancient woods are wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides), spurge laurel (Daphne laureola), early dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) and yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon).

MANAGEMENT

Last surveyed 1989. Management variable, with heavy human pressures.

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE

NAME: GOMM VALLEY

REF NUMBER: 89V01 GRID REF: SU895919

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: High Wycombe GEOLOGY: Middle Chalk/chalk rock/Upper Chalk RIGHTS OF WAY: Yes AREA: 3.34ha

DESCRIPTION

A bank of north-west facing, species-rich chalk grassland with areas of dense and scattered scrub, in eastern High Wycombe. It is adjacent to an area of similar interest and to a railway cutting. This type of chalkland habitat is internationally important and this long bank also supports carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) which is very unusual to Bucks.

Tall upright brome (Bromus erectus) and a mix of other grasses cover much of the site, interspersed with many different flowers and patches of hawthorn scrub. Amongst the numerous plants are glaucous sedge (Carex flacca), salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), hoary plantain (Plantago media), and basil (Clinopodium vulgare). Patches of shorter grassland, for instance along some of the paths, support species such as dwarf thistle (Cirsium acaule), fairy flax (Linum catharticum), mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) and common milkwort (Polygala vulgaris).

Although occasional scrub is scattered across the bank, there is far more at both the northern and southern ends of the site. In addition to the hawthorn, rose and dogwood, plants such as wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and hairy violet (Viola hirta) can be found in these areas.

MANAGEMENT

This grassland is currently unmanaged, but the introduction of grazing would definitely be beneficial. Since scrub currently appears fairly stable, it would be important not to attempt any scrub removal without first securing grazing.

LOCAL WILDLIFE SITE (HERITAGE WOODLAND)

NAME: FENNELL'S WOOD

REF NUMBER: 89V02 GRID REF: SU896907

DISTRICT: WDC PARISH: Chepping Wycombe GEOLOGY: Chalk/clay-with-flints/glacial sand and gravel RIGHTS OF WAY: Yes AREA: 10.7ha

DESCRIPTION

Bisected by the M40 motorway near Loudwater, this beech, ash and wych elm wood supports two nationally scarce plants: coralroot bittercress (Cardamine bulbifera) and wood barley (Hordelymus europaeus). Grey sedge (Carex divulsa), southern wood-rush (Luzula forsteri), pill sedge (Carex pilulifera) and narrow-leaved bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus tenuis) can also be found, all of these plants being county rarities.

The southern half of the wood is much more acidic than the chalky northern half, hence the flora varies between the two. There are atleast 29 ancient woodland indicator plants, with those in the ground layer including enchanter's nightshade (Circaea lutetiana), yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), wood millet (Milium effusum) and wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa).

MANAGEMENT

Last surveyed 1991. Management unknown.

Buckinghamshire’s Regionally Important Geological & Geomorphological Sites

NAME: HIGH WYCOMBE PIT, HIGH WYCOMBE

REF NUMBER: RIGS W1 GRID REF: SU 863 938

ERC CODE: 89R09 DISTRICT:WDC PARISH: High Wycombe EXISTING RIGHTS OF WAY: No OWNER: Private SURVEYOR: Dr J Eyers DATE: November/December 1998 AREA: c.16.5 ha

SITE DESCRIPTION

This disused chalk quarry is now taken over for industrial units. High Wycombe Pit is an ex-SSSI (geological). Exposures of Chalk are becoming rarer in the Chilterns. As such, this exposure is an important glimpse into the Late Cretaceous Upper Chalk. A fossiliferous seam is present within this section which is particularly prolific in a marine fauna, including a large number of brachiopods (seen in 1994). The brachiopods include well-preserved rhynchonellids and terebratulids.

The factories and warehouses have been built directly up to the face, making access easy but sensitive for security reasons. The factories maintain an approximate 2 metre grass verge up to the base of the slope, which becomes overgrown above this level. Plant growth is variable - from ground cover (mostly ivy) to bramble and small shrub to trees at various growth stages (to 5 m +).

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

Continuation of tree and bramble growth provides a threat to the geological interest by forming an impenetrable layer and disruption to the stratigraphy by root penetration. However, the slope is very steep and has been stabilised by the growth of trees and shrubs. Clearing of a geological exposure would lead to instability in that immediate area and enhanced slope erosion. The site also provides a refuge site for local wildlife in an otherwise highly industrial and urban area. This feature probably outweighs the importance of opening the faces for general purposes. Research interest remains easily accessible at present.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bromley and Gale (1982). The Lithostratigraphy of the English Chalk Rock. Cretaceous Research. 3, 273-306. NCC (1988) Cretaceous brachiopod site protected. Earth Science Conservation 24, 38-39.

Legend UKBAP lowland mixed deciduous woodland UKBAP lowland beech-yew woodland undetermined BAP grassland

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre www.bucksmkerc.org.uk [email protected] - 01296 696012 RAF Daws Hill UKBAP habitats

0.5 km ± Please note that the layers held by the Environmental Records Centre are compiled from data that has been received from a variety of sources, including volunteers and professionals.

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Buckinghamshire County Council 100021529, 2007. BNS: 89H08 Legend BNS: 89H07 BNS: 89L09 RIGS W1 Regionally Important Geological Sites LWS: 89X01 Local Nature Reserves - NE 070802

Local Wildlife Sites BNS: 89W03 BNS: 89R06 Biological Notification Sites BNS: 89W09 BNS: 89L04 BNS: 89W05 Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre www.bucksmkerc.org.uk [email protected] - 01296 696012 BNS: 89L02 BNS: 89W02 RAF Daws Hill BNS: 89W14 BNS: 89W13 LWS: 89L02 protected sites LWS: 89L05

BNS: 89W07

BNS: 89R04 BNS: 89R01 BNS: 89L03

LNR: Chairborough Road GommSSSI: ValleyGomm BNS: 89Q08 BNS: 89R10 LWS: 89V01

BNS: 89Q02 BNS: 89V05

LWS: 89Q02 BNS: 89V06

BNS: 89V03 LWS: 89V02

BNS: 89Q07

0.5 km BNS: 89V02 ± BNS: 89Q03 BNS: 89Q01 Please note that the layers held by the Environmental Records Centre are compiled from data that has been received from a variety of sources, including volunteers and BNS: 89K01 BNS: 88U01 professionals.

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey BNS: 88U03 material with the permission of Ordnance BNS: 88P06 BNS: 88P08 Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. BNS: 88P05 Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil BNS: 88J08 BNS: 88P11 LWS: 88U02+U03 proceedings. Buckinghamshire County Council LWS: 88P01 LWS: 88U01 100021529, 2007. BNS: 88P10 BNS: 88P09 Protected and notable species records

Taxon column: * = species recorded as not native (e.g. introduced plants or escaped birds) # (against badger Meles meles) = record of sett Table sorted by group and taxon Only includes records since 1970; contact BMERC if you need records from before this Some records may have further details (e.g. information on quantity, sex and stage), contact BMERC if you need this additional detail Data supplied by BMERC may include data from the following organisations: Botanical Society of the British Isles; Bucks Amphibian and Reptile Group; Bucks Bird Club; National Recording Schemes for spiders, caddisflies, anthomyiid flies, ground beetles; plus many individual recorders

European Nationally rare latest group species English name legislation W+C Act UK BAP national status plants: local status site grid ref precision record Birds Alcedo atthis Kingfisher Sch 1 Pt 1 Amber List River Wye - Back Stream SU879922 100 1977

Birds Alcedo atthis Kingfisher Sch 1 Pt 1 Amber List The Rye SU872924 100 2006

Birds Bucephala clangula Common Goldeneye Sch 1 Pt 2 Amber List The Dyke, High Wycombe SU871923 100 1993

Birds Cygnus olor Mute Swan Amber List The Rye SU872924 100 2006

Birds Fringilla montifringilla Brambling Sch 1 Pt 1 The Rye SU872924 100 2004

Birds Larus ridibundus Black-headed Gull Amber List The Rye SU872924 100 2006

Birds Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail Amber List River Wye - Back Stream SU879922 100 1977

Birds Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail Amber List The Rye SU872924 100 2006

Birds Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher BAP + Principal Importance Red List The Rye SU872924 100 2006

Birds Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher BAP + Principal Importance Red List Wycombe Abbey SU868927 100 2004

Birds Turdus philomelos Song Thrush BAP + Principal Importance Red List Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1991

Insects: beetles Lucanus cervus Stag Beetle BAP + Principal Importance Nationally Scarce/Nb High Wycombe, Marlow Hill SU860918 100 1998

Insects: butterflies, Amphipyra Mouse Moth BAP High Wycombe: garden of 7 Chestnut SU878923 100 1995 moths tragopoginis Close Insects: butterflies, Atethmia centrago Centre-barred Sallow BAP High Wycombe: garden of 7 Chestnut SU878923 100 1995 moths Close Insects: butterflies, Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered BAP Recently Extinct Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1982 moths Fritillary butterflies Insects: butterflies, Coenonympha Small Heath BAP Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1991 moths pamphilus Insects: butterflies, Lasiommata megera Wall BAP Medium Priority Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1991 moths butterflies Insects: butterflies, Lasiommata megera Wall BAP Medium Priority Gillfield Wood & M40 Verge SU862908 100 1991 moths butterflies

Data provided by BMERC (01296 696012) on: 15 April 2008 species table: page 1 of 3 European Nationally rare latest group species English name legislation W+C Act UK BAP national status plants: local status site grid ref precision record Insects: butterflies, Shargacucullia Striped Lychnis BAP + Principal Importance Nationally Scarce/Na High Priority moths 106 Heath End Road, Flackwell Heath SU873909 100 1998 moths lychnitis Insects: butterflies, Thymelicus lineola Essex Skipper Low Priority Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1982 moths butterflies Insects: butterflies, Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar BAP Gillfield Wood SU862908 100 1991 moths Invertebrates: Austropotamobius Freshwater White- BAP + Principal Importance Endangered River Wye - Back Stream SU877922 100 1971 crustaceans pallipes clawed Crayfish Invertebrates: Austropotamobius Freshwater White- BAP + Principal Importance Endangered River Wye - Back Stream SU878922 100 1978 crustaceans pallipes clawed Crayfish Invertebrates: Austropotamobius Freshwater White- BAP + Principal Importance Endangered River Wye - Back Stream SU879922 100 1977 crustaceans pallipes clawed Crayfish Invertebrates: Austropotamobius Freshwater White- BAP + Principal Importance Endangered River Wye (master site) SU871927 100 1984 crustaceans pallipes clawed Crayfish Invertebrates: Austropotamobius Freshwater White- BAP + Principal Importance Endangered River Wye, Wycombe Fire Station SU865927 100 1971 crustaceans pallipes clawed Crayfish Mammals Arvicola terrestris Water Vole Sch 5 Sec 9.4a, 9.4b BAP + Principal Importance River Wye, High Wycombe SU871928 100 2000

Mammals Arvicola terrestris Water Vole Sch 5 Sec 9.4a, 9.4b BAP + Principal Importance River Wye, High Wycombe SU878922 100 2000

Mammals Mustela putorius Western Polecat BAP Flackwell Heath, Heath End Road SU877912 100 2007

Plants Anthemis cotula Stinking Chamomile Vulnerable Winchbottom Farm Field SU863905 100 1986

Plants Buxus sempervirens Box Rare Wycombe Abbey School Grounds SU865926 100 1996

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Deangarden Wood SU877918 100 1982

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879915 100 1989

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879917 100 1983

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Deangarden Wood SU89Q 2000 1992

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Keep Hill SU874917 100 1982

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Keep Hill SU874918 100 1988

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce Keep Hill and Deangarden Wood SU873918 100 1976

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce The Rye, High Wycombe SU873924 100 1982

Plants Cardamine bulbifera Coralroot Scarce The Rye, High Wycombe SU89R 2000 1992

Plants Centaurea cyanus Cornflower BAP + Principal Importance Extinct as native Winchbottom Farm Field SU863905 100 1986

Plants Cephalanthera White Helleborine BAP Vulnerable High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2000 damasonium Plants Chenopodium bonus- Good-King-Henry Vulnerable High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2000 henricus

Data provided by BMERC (01296 696012) on: 15 April 2008 species table: page 2 of 3 European Nationally rare latest group species English name legislation W+C Act UK BAP national status plants: local status site grid ref precision record Plants Chenopodium bonus- Good-King-Henry Vulnerable The Rye, High Wycombe SU872925 100 1986 henricus Plants Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass Scarce County Rare High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2005

Plants Epipactis muelleri Narrow-lipped Data Deficient Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879915 100 1989 Heleborine Plants Epipactis muelleri Narrow-lipped Data Deficient Scarce High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2005 Heleborine Plants Euphorbia exigua Dwarf Spurge Near Threatened East field near Winchbottom Farm SU868907 100 1986

Plants Euphorbia exigua Dwarf Spurge Near Threatened Winchbottom Farm Field SU863905 100 1986

Plants Fallopia dumetorum Copse-bindweed BAP Vulnerable Scarce TETRAD SU89R - Vague site SU89R 2000 1972

Plants Gentianella germanica Chiltern Gentian Scarce Gillfield Wood SU863910 100 1986

Plants Gentianella germanica Chiltern Gentian Scarce Winchbottom SU864908 100 1986

Plants Groenlandia densa Opposite-leaved Vulnerable County Scarce The Dyke, High Wycombe SU871923 100 1976 Pondweed Plants Helleborus foetidus Stinking Hellebore Scarce High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2006

Plants Hordelymus Wood Barley Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879915 100 1989 europaeus Plants Hordelymus Wood Barley Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879917 100 1986 europaeus Plants Hordelymus Wood Barley Scarce High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU89R 2000 2005 europaeus Plants Papaver argemone Prickly Poppy Vulnerable Winchbottom Farm (SU89Q) SU89Q 2000 1988

Plants Potamogeton Small Pondweed County Scarce High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU875924 100 1989 berchtoldii Plants Ranunculus arvensis Corn Buttercup BAP Critically Endangered High Wycombe Centre (SU89R) SU875924 100 1988

Plants Stachys arvensis Field Woundwort Near Threatened Winchbottom Farm Field SU863905 100 1986

Plants Tilia platyphyllos Large-leaved Lime Scarce Deangarden Wood SU879915 100 1989

Plants Viola tricolor Wild Pansy Near Threatened East field near Winchbottom Farm SU868907 100 1986

Plants Viola tricolor Wild Pansy Near Threatened Winchbottom Farm Field SU863905 100 1986

Data provided by BMERC (01296 696012) on: 15 April 2008 species table: page 3 of 3 Definitions

Sites of importance for wildlife and geology in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes

The following statutory designations are used in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes: • Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Special Areas of Conservation are sites of international nature conservation importance and are designated under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna (the Habitats Directive). • National Nature Reserves (NNR) National Nature Reserves are sites of national importance and are declared under section 19 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. • Local Nature Reserves (LNR) Local Nature Reserves are sites of local importance and are declared under section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Sites of Special Scientific Interest are sites of national nature conservation or geological importance and are declared under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The following non-statutory sites have been identified in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes: • Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) Local Wildlife Sites are local non-statutory nature conservation sites, formerly called County Wildlife Site and equivalent to Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. The aim of the selection process is to identify sites that support the most important habitats and species in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. A selection panel, in consultation with local authorities, designates the sites. Summary citations or survey reports are available for most, but not all, Local Wildlife Sites. • Milton Keynes Wildlife Sites (MKWS) Sites identified as Local Wildlife Sites are referred to as Milton Keynes Wildlife Sites when they fall within the administrative area of Milton Keynes Council. • Milton Keynes Wildlife Corridors These have been identified along the major road, rail and waterway corridors running through the Milton Keynes area. They are treated as being equivalent to Milton Keynes Wildlife Sites. • Biological Notification Sites (BNS) Biological Notification Sites preceded Local Wildlife Sites as a local non-statutory designation. They were first designated in the late 1980s and have since been revised. There are no formal citations and for some sites we have no survey data. All Biological Notification Sites are in the process of being re-surveyed and assessed by Local Wildlife Site criteria; until this process is complete the two designations will continue to be in use. (Unfortunately, BNS within the administrative area of Milton Keynes Council have sometimes been called Local Wildlife Sites, this terminology will be phased out as soon as possible.) • Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites are local non-statutory sites that recognise important earth science and landscape features. The Buckinghamshire Earth Heritage Group, in consultation with local authorities, designates the sites. • Key Areas for Water Vole Following surveys in 1997/8, the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust have labelled some waterways as Key Areas for Water Vole. The boundaries of Key Areas are taken to be 10m from the bank-top each side of a watercourse and the buffer area is taken to be 500m from each side of the watercourse. For further information contact the Wildlife Trust on 01865 775476.

Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Notable Species List

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Notable Species List has been compiled in response to data requests from ecological consultants and developers. Although records of protected species are most commonly requested, national and local BAP species records and records of other notable species are often required.

As part of our standard data search we now include records of species defined by the following legislation and criteria.

1. European legislation This column in our reports includes species listed in Regulations 39 (European protected animal species) and 42 (European protected plant species) of The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. These provide protection for key species and habitat types and enacts the EU Habitats Directive into UK Law. The Habitats Directive requires the formation of a network of protected areas and the direct protection of specific species. It is an offence to deliberately capture, kill or disturb a wild animal of a European protected species or to deliberately take or destroy the eggs or destroy a breeding site or resting place of such an animal. It is also an offence to deliberately pick, collect, cut, uproot or destroy a wild plant of a European protected species.

On 21 August 2007 an amendment to the Habitats Directive came into force. The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 have a variety of consequences for the protection of European Protected Species, including the removal of many defences that were previously allowed. This includes the commonly relied upon 'incidental result defence', which previously covered acts that were the incidental result of an otherwise lawful activity and which could not reasonably have been avoided. For more details see: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/habsregs.htm#houseguidance

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council

2. W+C Act This column includes species listed in The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (and later amendments), plus Badger (see below). The Wildlife and Countryside Act consolidates and amends existing national legislation to implement the Bern Convention and the EU Birds Directive in Great Britain. Various amendments have been made to the Act, e.g. in the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. • Schedule 1 (protected birds) – It an offence (with exception to certain species) to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird or the eggs or nests of species listed in Part 1. Part 2 lists birds protected during the closed season. • Schedule 5 (protected animals, other than birds) – The intentional or reckless killing, injuring, taking, possessing, disturbing or selling, of animals listed in Schedule 5 is prohibited, along with the damaging or disturbing of the places used for their shelter or protection. Protection of some species is limited to certain sections: o Section 9(1) – Limited to intentional killing, injury or taking. o Section 9(2) – Limited to processing and controlling. o Section 9(4a) – Limited to damaging, destroying or obstructing access to any structure or place used by the animal for shelter or protection. o Section 9(4b) – Limited to disturbing an animal whilst it is occupying any structure or place used for shelter or protection. o Section 9(5) – Limited to selling, offering for sale, possessing or transporting for sale or advertising for sale of any live or dead animal, part of or derived from. (Not included in list) • Schedule 8 (protected plants and fungi) – The intentional picking, uprooting, trade in, or possessing of any wild plant listed in Schedule 8 is prohibited. Also, all wild plants are protected from intentional uprooting by an unauthorised person. This column also shows records for badgers, which are protected under The Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This makes it an offence to wilfully kill, injure or take, or attempt to kill, injure or take, a badger and to interfere with a badger sett either by intent or by negligence. A licence, issued by English Nature, is required for works within 30 metres of a badger sett.

3. UK BAP This column shows species listed as UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species, and as Species of Principal Importance. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan lists Priority species for conservation in the UK. The species list was reviewed and extended in 2007. The list of Species of Principal Importance was originally published under Section 74 of the Countryside and Rights Way Act 2000, and carried forward into the NERC Act 2006. It is referred to in PPS9 and other guidance. The list of Species of Principal Importance is almost entirely the same as the list of Priority species in the pre-2007 UK Biodiversity Action Plan. We expect that the list of Species of Principal Importance will eventually be reviewed to bring it in line with the new UK BAP Priority list, but for now our reports include all species that are listed in one or both of these two categories.

4. National status This column shows all species that have been listed in Red Data Books, or in reviews of Nationally Scarce species, or are red- or amber-listed birds. A number of criteria have been devised for assessing the conservation status of species. In the UK, official lists of Red Data Book species are published by the government’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). NB that the Red Data Books use different criteria for different groups, e.g. for plants the criteria give priority to declining and threatened species, whereas those for invertebrates are based more on rarity in terms of distribution. The more recent Red Data Book lists use international criteria developed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and include these categories: • Extinct (EX) • Extinct in the wild (EW) • Critically endangered (CR) • Endangered (EN) • Vulnerable (VU) • Near threatened (NT) • Data deficient (DD) The CR, EN and VU categories are considered to be threatened categories. Near threatened species are close to qualifying for one of these categories. Data deficient is not a threatened category, but indicates a need for more information in order to determine the appropriate category.

In addition to IUCN criteria, there are older Red Data Book and Nationally Scarce criteria used to define nationally rare and nationally scarce species: • Red Data Book (= Nationally Rare): Occurring in 15 or fewer 10km-squares in Great Britain • Nationally Scarce: Occurring in 16–100 10km-squares in Great Britain. For some groups this is further subdivided: o Nationally Scarce/Na: Occurring in 16–30 10km-squares o Nationally Scarce/Nb: Occurring in 31–100 10km-squares

For birds, the following categories apply, taken from Birds of Conservation Concern 2002–2007 (RSPB): • Red List – Species that are globally threatened according to IUCN criteria; those whose population or range has declined rapidly in recent years; and those that have declined historically and not shown a substantial recent recovery. • Amber List – Species with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe; those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recovery; rare breeders; and those with internationally important or localised populations.

5. Nationally rare plants This column uses distribution data from the Botanical Society of the British Isles to show those plants that have restricted national distributions, i.e. equivalent to the old Red Data Book categories.

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council

6. Local status This column shows the local statuses that have been applied to plants, butterflies and moths. For the plants the source is the BSBI County Rare Plant List for Bucks, compiled by Roy Maycock in 2007 (NB this is a substantial change from the previous county rare/scarce plant list of the 1980s). The categories are: • County Rare: generally confined to three or fewer tetrads (2km × 2km squares) in the county • County Scarce: generally confined to between four and ten tetrads in the county For butterflies and moths the source is Butterfly Conservation’s Regional Action Plan for the Thames Region (Clarke and Bourn 2000). Species are given a High, Medium or Low priority based on rarity, decline and threat (NB that the “Low Priority” category does include species of conservation importance, but simply those which are considered a lower priority than the others).

• Bird records Under the EC Birds Directive and the Wildlife and Countryside Act it an offence to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird or their eggs or nests (with the exception of certain species). Records of wild birds in general are not included in BMERC reports unless they are of species falling into one of the other categories listed here.

A full Notable Species list is available on request.

International and European Obligations

In the UK, species receiving protection under international legislation and agreements are protected through the Wildlife and Countryside Act, so are not shown separately in the BMERC notable species lists. For reference, the relevant categories are shown below.

• Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats The Bern Convention aims to ensure the conservation of wild flora and fauna species and their habitats. • Appendix 1 (strictly protected flora) – Plants for which contracting parties will prohibit deliberate picking, collecting, cutting or uprooting. • Appendix 2 (strictly protected fauna) – Animals for which contracting parties will prohibit deliberate capture, possession, killing, damage to or destruction of breeding or resting sites, disturbance or destruction or taking of eggs. • Appendix 3 (protected fauna) – Animals for which contracting parties will include closed seasons and regulate their sale, keeping for sale, transport for sale or offering for sale of live and dead wild animals. (Not included in Notable Species List)

Bonn Convention on Migratory Species The Bonn Convention aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. • Appendix 1 (migratory species threatened with extinction) – Species for which contracting parties will strictly protect and endeavour to conserve or restore the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. • Appendix 2 (migratory species that need or would benefit from international co-operation) – Species for which contracting parties will be encouraged to conclude global or regional agreements for the conservation and management of individual species or, more often, of a group of species. (Not included in Notable Species List)

• The EC Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds The Birds Directive provides a framework for the conservation and management of all wild birds in Europe. As well as designating important sites for birds as Special Protection Areas, birds are generally protected from deliberate killing or capture and destruction of or damage to their nests or eggs, and deliberate disturbance. Allowances are made for game birds.

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre is a service provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council

Appendix B Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey

Habitat description The vast majority of open space on site (other than hard-standing) comprises regularly mown, short amenity grassland. This grassland is typically species-poor, supporting common species such as Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne), common daisy (Bellis perennis), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) and field speedwell (Veronica persica). Many of these grassland areas are also interspersed with beds of planted ornamental shrubs, such as cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), and planted flowers, such as daffodil (Narcissus spp.). In the north-east of the site there is an area of open grassland, which appears to be mown less frequently. However, it is still species-poor. There are numerous mature planted trees across the site. Most abundant is beech (Fraxinus excelsior), with numerous planted conifers, hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and cherry (Prunus spp.) also occurring. On the northern boundary of the site, where trees have been planted more densely, several woodland plants grow in the short grassland underneath the open canopy, including dog’s mercury (Mercurialis perennis), primrose (Primula vulgaris), early dog violet (Viola reichenbachiana), wood forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica), lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). These species are also common in the semi- natural broadleaved woodland that is located immediately to the north of this site boundary. There is also a small number of hedgerows on-site. These are all species-poor, with the majority comprising single species hedgerows (predominantly beech, cherry laurel or conifer). The remainder of the site comprises buildings of varying ages and structures (ranging from small outbuildings to office buildings, modern residential housing and large warehouse/hangar type structures) and large areas of hard-standing (roads, parking areas and parade grounds).

Protected/notable species Bats No direct evidence of the presence of bats was recorded on site. However, many of the disused buildings and mature trees on site are considered to have the potential to support roosting bats. Although the majority of the site comprises sub-optimal foraging habitat for bats, the woodland edge at the northern boundary of the site and the larger areas of grassland are more suitable.

Badger Entec’s 2004 “Daw’s Hill Redevelopment Opportunities and Constraints Report”, identified records of four badger setts in woodland to the north of the site boundary. Two of these badger

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setts were described as well-used subsidiary setts, one was described as an irregularly-used outlier sett and the fourth was recorded as a disused outlier sett2. No definitive evidence of current badger activity (e.g. latrines/hairs) was found on site during the extended Phase 1 habitat survey, although there are numerous mammal trails leading under the fence and through the grassland areas on the northern site boundary, which may be indicative of badger. Two partly collapsed holes, which may have originally been dug by badger, were recorded near the northern site boundary (Target Note 1). However, these are not presently in use by badger. Another hole in the north-east corner of the site may also have been originally dug by badger (Target Note 2) but appears to currently be in use by fox (Vulpes vulpes) given the strong smell and presence of bird carcasses close to the entrance.

Birds The trees, ornamental shrubs and buildings on-site are likely to support nesting birds. Although small numbers of one or more BAP species (for example, house sparrow Passer domesticus or song thrush Turdus philomelos) may occur on site, given the nature of the habitats present on site it is considered very unlikely that it would support any significant population of such species.

Reptiles A small area of poor semi-improved grassland and ruderal vegetation in the north-east corner of the site provides some sub-optimal potential reptile habitat. The woodland edge habitats along the northern boundary of the site are also suitable for use by reptiles. However, there are no historic records of reptiles occurring within 1km of the site and, given that the vast majority of the site is unsuitable for reptiles, it is considered that no significant population of reptiles is likely to be present on site.

Great crested newt No water bodies were identified within 500m of the site and therefore it is considered very unlikely that any great crested newts occur on-site.

Other protected species The site does not provide habitats that are likely to support any other protected species.

Other notable species Small numbers of other notable species, for which there are nearby historic records, for example the Biodiversity Action Plan priority species stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) or cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae), may occur on-site. However, given the nature of the habitats present on site it is considered very unlikely that any significant populations of these species would be present.

2 The Buckinghamshire Badger Group has not as yet responded to our request for updated information on these setts (as of 28 April 2008).

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Appendix C Bat survey

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RAF DAWS HILL DAWS HILL LANE HIGH WYCOMBE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

BAT REPORT

Report August 2008 By Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 21-23 North Road Hertford Herts SG14 1LN Tel/Fax 01992 552407 Contents

INTRODUCTION 3

LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO BATS 4

METHODOLOGY 5

CONSTRAINTS 7

RESULTS OF THE FIELD SURVEY 8

Basic Site Details 8

Technical Area 10

Eaker Estate 34

Doolittle Village 36

Evening Bat Detector Surveys 37

EVALUATION 49

RECOMMENDATIONS 51

REFERENCES 52

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 2

Introduction

RAF Daws Hill is located on the southeast side of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire at central Ordnance Survey grid reference SU 870 917. The site is to the east of Daws Hill Lane bordering the north side of the M40.

The Daws Hill site (approx 24 Hectares) includes office, technical and stores buildings, housing, a school and supporting infrastructure such as community and sport facilities. The site has previously been used by the United States Visiting Forces and was handed back to Defence Estates (DE) in April 2008. Today housing on site is temporarily occupied by Ministry of Defence (MoD) serving personnel and their families; the remainder of the site is vacant.

An initial ecological baseline survey of RAF Daws Hill carried out by Entec UK Ltd in 2008 found the habitats present to be suitable for bats and the buildings to offer potential for roosting bats. Further more detailed surveys for bats, including bat emergence surveys, were therefore recommended.

Given that the presence of protected species is a material consideration in the planning process (PPS9), and the potential of the site to support bats has been highlighted, a survey is required to provide information to the owner/ potential developers on any impact redevelopment proposals may have on the bats in the area.

Any impact identified on bats will need a mitigation strategy to be put forward to the Planning Authority and Natural England to ensure that there is no harm caused to bats and the population of bats is maintained at a favourable conservation status.

Jones and Sons Environmental Sciences Ltd subsequently undertook further bat surveys of the site at the request of Entec UK Limited, 17 Angel Gate City Road, London EC1V 2SH.

The main objectives of the 2008 survey at RAF Daws Hill were to:

• Identify any presence of bat species within Daws Hill RAF site;

• Assess how bats are using the habitats within the site;

• Identify any use of the buildings as bat roosting sites;

• Determine any impact of re-development on the bats of the area; and

• Provide recommendations to ensure that bats are maintained at a favourable conservation status within the local area.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 3 Legislation relevant to bats Throughout Europe especially in the last 30 years there has been a growing awareness of the fact that bat populations are declining considerably. The decline of bat populations combined with their special roosting requirements have led to them being given special protection by law.

All bats and their roost sites are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), through inclusion in Schedule 5, Section 9. All bats are also included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 which defines ‘European protected species of animals.’ More recently, the Countryside & Rights of Way (CROW) Act adds the word “reckless” to the offence of disturbing a bat or damaging its roost site.

In summary, taken together the legislation makes it illegal to: • Intentionally kill, injure or capture bats; • Intentionally or recklessly disturb bats while they are occupying a structure used for shelter or protection; and • Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to areas used by bats for shelter or protection.

Structures used by bats for shelter are commonly known as bat roosts. Because bats tend to reuse the same roosts, legal opinion is that, the roost is protected whether or not the bats are present at the time. The appropriate Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation (SNCO) must be consulted over any work that may affect bats, or their roosts. In England, the appropriate SNCO is Natural England.

Developments that would contravene the protection afforded to bats under the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c) Regulations 1994 require a Habitat Regulations Licence issued by Natural England before any works can commence. Three tests must be satisfied before a licence to permit otherwise prohibited acts can be issued. The Local Planning Authority will need to ensure that tests 1 and 2 have been satisfied and Natural England advisors will be consulted regarding test 3. The three tests are:

1. That the development is “in the interests of public health and public safety, or for other imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment” (Regulation 44 (2)(e)). 2. That there is no satisfactory alternative (Regulation 44(3)(a)). 3. That the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species at a favourable conservation status in their natural range (Regulation 44(3)(b)).

The legislation means that the developer will need to have a clearly documented compensation strategy to maintain the numbers of bats in the local area.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 4

Methodology

Three people from Jones and Sons Environmental Sciences Ltd undertook the surveys. All three surveyors hold licences to survey and disturb bats in all counties of England. Personnel included Roger Jones (Natural England bat licence 20080527), Dr Jenny Jones MIEEM (Natural England bat licence 20080526), and Miss Jennifer Spelling (Natural England bat licence 20081190). Dr Jenny Jones is also a trainer licensed by Natural England to train other bat workers.

Daytime inspections and three evening surveys were undertaken on the 21st July, 22nd July and the 23rd July 2008. This is a time of year when bats are active and likely to be present in their maternity roosting sites. Where possible photographs were taken of the buildings and habitats to aid visual interpretation. Due to MOD restrictions, it was not possible to photograph within the residential areas when people were walking around.

An assessment was carried out of the semi-natural habitat potential to support a range of insects favourable for foraging bats and to identify features on the site that could be important as flyways for bats travelling from their roosts to their foraging grounds. Walking around the site and noting any features with potential for use by bats, enabled the identification of any bat signs present and also helped to identify suitable areas to place observers for the evening bat emergence surveys.

The buildings were examined facilitated by the use of binoculars, ladders and bright torches. Bats may roost in a variety of situations including behind wooden boarding, within gaps between bricks, within wooden beams or under roof tiles. Buildings can be considered as potential roosts if cracks or holes in excess of 8mm x 12mm are present. Such gaps are large enough to allow the smallest species of bat to gain access. In the summer, bats often prefer to roost high up in a building where the temperature is warmer. It is usual for bats to select roosting areas that are sheltered and warm, avoiding exposed draughty conditions. Pitched roofed buildings are frequently favoured

The external inspection included looking for bat droppings on walls, windows and the detailed inspection of timbers. Where suitable gaps were located, the holes were examined in detail for any signs of oil staining from the bats fur, urine streaks or accumulation of droppings.

The daytime survey also included investigation of the loft area of buildings where they were accessible and if considered appropriate. Lofts within occupied houses were not inspected. Where lofts were accessed they were systematically searched for any bat droppings or insect wings. All bats are insectivorous and parts of bitten insects such as moth wings are frequently found below where a bat has been feeding.

Entec UK Limited had previously undertaken a walk over of the site to make a preliminary assessment of the bat roosting potential of the buildings. The scoping work was undertaken in May 2008 by Lynn Whitfield (Natural England bat licence

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 5 no. 20073526). Jones and Sons used this baseline with the aim of prioritising detailed survey effort on those buildings identified as offering high or medium potential for roosting bats.

The bat roosting suitability criteria used by Jones and Sons Environmental Sciences include the following features: stability of the temperature regime within the building, protection from the elements, light levels, construction details, potential roosting locations, presence of bats within the vicinity of the building and potential bat access points.

The potential of the building to support bats was assessed by dividing the likelihood of providing bat roost habitat into the following categories:

• Confirmed bat roost: Bats observed roosting/ emerging from building. No bats observed but signs of roosting bats found such as staining and droppings by a favourable roost entrance (e.g. beam joints, below ridge, timber boarding).

• High probability: Buildings with suitable bat access points providing potential roosts with dark, stable temperatures and highly favourable roosting features such as: holes suitable for bat access leading to internal cavities, favourable timber ridge in pitched roof void. Building located within favourable bat area. Bats flying inside building or bats flying within the close vicinity of the building with favourable roosting features. Bat droppings may be found although not directly below or within roost location, potential bat access points and evidence of bat presence within or around the building.

• Moderate probability: Buildings within favourable location and with favourable roosting features and bat access points but with no obvious signs of any bat presence such as staining or droppings. The building may be assessed as moderate potential if not all the criteria for high probability met. May have less stable temperature/light regime and be located within less favourable bat habitat.

• Low probability: Buildings generally considered unfavourable for roosting bats but with some features providing some potential (although low) to provide roosting sites such as a cobweb free timber ridge, enclosed roof void, external boarding/tiles with gaps, potential roosting feature but with limited bat access points.

• Unsuitable - low: Buildings with unsuitable construction but within favourable bat habitat/ close vicinity to a bats flight route. No obviously favourable roosting sites at the time of survey but bat access to the interior may be possible or there may be potential for structures such as barge boards to deteriorate over time creating potential gaps for bats.

• Unsuitable: Buildings can be classified as unsuitable (no roosting potential) if they are for example open buildings of metal/ concrete construction with no crevices, flat metal roofed buildings with tight boarding, buildings with some

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 6 limited structural features suitable for roosting bats but within unfavourable surrounding habitat.

The evening bat surveys were designed to watch for any bats emerging from the buildings, to determine the species using the site and also to assess the general bat activity in the area.

Bat detectors convert the bat’s high-pitched sounds into the human hearing range. Many of the sounds are species specific and can be used to assist in species identification. Two models of detectors were used for the survey - the frequency division Batbox Duet and a time expansion Pettersson D240. Recordings of the bat sounds were made to allow subsequent computer analysis and critical identification of the bat species.

Following the emergence surveys a bat detector survey from a car was undertaken to determine bat activity within the site as a whole.

The temperature, light levels and weather conditions were recorded throughout the evening. Temperature is known to affect bat activity: under cool conditions insect availability is lower and bat activity is likely to be reduced. Temperatures above 10 oC are suitable for a range of insects and therefore foraging bats.

Constraints

It should be recognised that the survey represents a ‘snap shot’ in time and bat requirements may change throughout the year; roosts can be of a transient nature and bats may move from roost to roost. A single bat may use a large number and wide variety of roosts during a year. This behaviour may result in some roosting sites not being encountered during the dates of the survey.

Since some of the buildings were in occupation at the time of the survey not all the loft areas could be accessed. Restrictions were also placed on taking photographs of these buildings.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 7

Results of the Field Survey

Basic Site Details

RAF Daws Hill is located on the southeast side of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire at Ordnance Survey grid reference SU 870 917. The site is to the east of Daws Hill Lane.

The survey site is bordered to the south by the M40, to the east by fields with groups of trees and hedgerows, to the north by an extensive area of woodland, to the west by houses and residential gardens along Sanford Gardens and Wallingford Gardens (streets branching off Knights Templar Way) and to the southwest by Daws Hill Lane.

The habitats bordering the north buildings within the grounds include extensive areas of broadleaf woodland favourable for foraging and commuting bats. The buildings to the south are set in a parkland type landscape with numerous mature and immature trees grouped and scattered through the site. There are also substantial tree lines highly favourable for commuting bats extending along the east side of the site from Daws Hill Lane by the M40 along the east side of First Street to the woodland in the north, with tree lines also extending northwest along Daws Hill Lane and bordering the west side of the site extending northwards along the fence border of the adjacent residential dwellings to the woodland in the north.

Areas of water are also present to the north of the wood at a distance of approx 400 metres from the north of the site. Semi natural habitats with woodland, scattered mature trees and water are likely to support high numbers of insects suitable for a variety of bat species.

The site was initially operated by the (Royal Air Force) RAF in 1941, with American military forces stationed shortly after the United States’ formal entry into World War II in 1942. The site was subsequently disused between 1945 and 1951. Between 1951 and 2007 the site was again operated by United States Visiting Forces, with activity on the base reduced by 1992 with the end of the Cold War. Between 1971 and 2007, the base was also home to The London Central High School (a boarding school for the children of the US service personnel). The site was handed back to DE in April 2008.

The site includes office, technical and stores buildings, housing, a school and supporting infrastructure such as community and sport facilities. Buildings on the site date from 1942 to 2007. The residential estate of Doolittle village was redeveloped in 2006. Currently housing on site is temporarily occupied by MoD serving personnel and their families; the remainder of the site is vacant.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 8 The site can be divided into three main areas:

• The central Technical Area.

This area situated at central ordnance survey grid reference SU 870 917 contains unoccupied buildings (warehouses, offices and utility buildings). Kennedy Avenue borders the west side of the Technical Area and First Street borders the east side. In the middle of the area are Second Street, Third Street, Birch Street, Beech Street and Oak Street. Fourth Street borders the west side by the residential gardens of Sandford Gardens. Fifth Street and Sixth Street are on the north side of the Technical Area near the north woodland. The buildings within the Technical Area have been unoccupied since October 2007 and were surveyed in detail.

• Eaker Estate to the east.

This Estate is an occupied residential area of houses built in the 1950s and recently refurbished. The houses are situated at central ordnance survey grid reference SU 871 916 The west side is bordered by a pathway bordered by mature trees, there are fields and recreational areas to the south and east and woodland to the north. Florida Street curves around the Estate. Bat evening transects including an evening emergence survey was conducted around the Eaker Estate.

• Doolittle Village to the west.

This is an occupied residential area of recently built new houses situated at central ordnance survey grid reference SU 868 915. This area is bordered by Daws Hill Lane to the west, the residential houses and gardens of Knights Templar Way and Sandford Gardens to the north and the Technical Area to the east. Roads within Doolittle Village include Alabama Drive, California Circle, Arizona Street and Alaska Street. Bat evening transects were undertaken of this area but due to the occupation of the buildings the interiors of the buildings were not investigated.

An additional area with bat potential but not included within the main survey are the bunkers within the north woodland at the north end of Kennedy Avenue.

Each of the buildings is described below in terms of their bat roosting potential. The location of the buildings is shown in the accompanying plan.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 9 Technical Area

Buildings in the southeast corner of the site along Kennedy Avenue (Ref: 1200, 1205, 1217 and 1219) are situated within a wooded area favourable for foraging bats.

Photograph 1: South woodland east of Kennedy Avenue

Trees within the woodland include beech Fagus sylvatica, hornbeam Carpinus betulus, ash Fraxinus excelsior and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. Pipistrelle bats Pipistrellus pipistrellus were recorded foraging around the buildings during all three evening bat surveys. The buildings however within the wooded area offered limited potential for roosting bats.

Building 1217/1219 is a former shop and garage built in 1960. It has a warehouse construction with corrugated metal walls and a flat roof covered in roofing felt. The building construction is unfavourable for bats. The building is classified as being of unsuitable-low potential for roosting bats.

Photograph 2: Building 1200 Admin Office Photograph 3: Building 1205

Building 1200 is a former single storey administrative office built in 1954. The building has a cavity brick wall with a shallow pitched unlined corrugated asbestos roof. The building has a false ceiling with only a small void above. There are plastic soffits around the building assessed as unfavourable for roosting bats. A hole in the brick wall provides some potential for bat access. No signs of any bat use were found. Building 1200, although within favourable bat habitat offers few roosting opportunities and is assessed as low bat roosting potential.

The adjacent building 1205 built in 1961 is a flat roofed single storey building. The roof is clad with felt. No potentially favourable bat roosting areas were identified and no signs of any bat use were found during the external and internal inspection. The building is assessed as being of unsuitable - low potential for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 10 Photograph 4: Building 1206 Conference Centre Photograph 5: East woodland

Building 1206 to the east of Kennedy Drive is the Pinetrees Conference Centre built in 1955. The building is within close proximity of mature trees. Trees around the building include lime Tilia sp, horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, hornbeam, ash, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, beech and palm trees. The trees provide favourable foraging habitat and cover for any bats potentially roosting in the building.

The single storey Conference Centre supports a mixture of double pitched slate roofs and flat concrete roofs covered with roofing felt. The building has pebbledashed walls and concrete soffits. The soffits are tight with only one slight gap between the soffit and the wall identified. There was slight potential for bat access where the slates had slipped in the valleys where they joined the lead. The interior has a vaulted middle section. Inspection of the interior of the roofs below the peaked sections found them to be unsuitable for roosting bats. During the evening pipistrelle bats were recorded flying within the trees to the east of this building. No bats emerged from the building.

Photograph 6: 1206 exterior Photograph 7: 1206 interior (roof void)

No signs of any bat use were found during the exterior and interior inspection. The building is assessed as providing low-moderate potential for roosting bats.

Buildings 1100 to 1102 are single storey buildings to the west of Kennedy Avenue.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 11 Photograph 8: Building 1100 view north along Kennedy Avenue

These buildings are situated within lawns of short amenity grassland with immature cherry Prunus sp trees along the road and taller trees of hornbeam and sycamore to the west of the buildings.

The buildings were built in 1963. They have brick walls with shallow pitched corrugated asbestos roofs.

Photograph 9: View south Photograph 10: Building 1100

Attached to the buildings are small flat-roofed extensions covered with roofing felt.

Photograph 11: Building 1101 Photograph 12: Gap under bargeboard

Along the rear of all three buildings (1100, 1101 and 1101) slight gaps were identified between the bargeboards and the walls but, at the time of the survey, the gaps were full of cobwebs rendering current roosting by bats unlikely. The interior inspection found a false ceiling with a 30cm gap above the ceiling to the asbestos roof. The void is generally unsuitable for roosting bats and the ridge is tightly fitted with no gaps allowing bat access.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 12 No signs of any current or past use by bats were found during the inspection of the buildings and no bats were recorded feeding in the area during the evening surveys. The buildings are assessed as offering low roosting potential for bats.

Photograph 13: Building 1102 Photograph 14: Ware houses to the northwest

1329

1107

To the northwest are some large storage warehouses (1329, 1328) built in 1995 and 1996. The Warehouses support corrugated metal walls and metal roofs and are assessed as being unsuitable for roosting bats. Pipistrelle and serotine bats were recorded flying along Kennedy Avenue in the vicinity of the west warehouses.

Building 1107 (stores) built in 1955 consists of two small huts adjacent to the warehouses. One has breezeblock walls with a pitched corrugated metal alloy roof and the other has brick walls with a flat felt covered roof. There are some small gaps behind the timber fascia boarding but the majority of the gaps are full of cobwebs. The internal and external inspection found no signs of any current or past use by bats. The building provides low potential for roosting bats.

Photograph 15: Building 1107 Photograph 16: Gap behind boarding

In the northwest corner between Kennedy Avenue and Fourth Street are the Warehouses 1323, 1325, 1327, 1300 and 1301. A Serotine bat was recorded near Fourth Street during two of the evening bat transects. It was thought most probable that the Serotine/s had emerged from one of the adjacent residential houses along Sandford Gardens. The houses along Sandford Gardens supported favourable external structural features for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 13 Photograph 17: Building 1301 Warehouse Building 1301 is a single storey warehouse built in 1961. The building has brick cavity walls with a roll up garage and virtually flat corrugated asbestos roof adjacent to a narrower painted concrete building with a more steeply pitched metal roof. No suitable bat roosting areas were identified and no signs of any bat presence were found. The building is assessed as being of unsuitable - low potential for bats.

Photographs 18 - 19: Metal Warehouse building 1323 exterior and interior

Building 1300 and 1327 are large metal warehouses built in 1991 and 1989. They are unsuitable for roosting bats. Building 1323 was built in 1954 and consists of a tall metal garage building with a lower brick building extending east to west. The construction of the metal warehouse is unfavourable for roosting bats.

Photographs 20 - 21: Building 1323 lower brick building

The lower single storey building has brick cavity walls with a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof with gaps at the eaves.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 14

Photograph 22: Roof void above the brick building 1323

The roof void above is supported with a pre-formed truss timber construction with a short rise to the ridge of c. 1.2 metres. The roof is lined internally with roofing felt and there is insulation on the floor. The void contains numerous cobwebs. The timbers and felt within the roof void provide favourable internal roosting surfaces. The tall metal building is assessed as unsuitable but the lower building offers moderate potential due to the presence of a roof void containing timbers and traditional roofing felt.

Photographs 23 - 24: Racquet Court building 1325

Vertical timber posts with an Knotholes in internal cavity posts providing potential access for bats to the timber cavity.

Building 1325 is a relatively recent Racquetball Court built in 1981. The tall flat roofed building is constructed of metal and lined with boarding. The construction is unsuitable for bats but the exterior timber posts do have potential for bat access to the cavity inside.

Photograph 25: Vertical timber post interior

The timber posts were inspected for any signs of bat use but on the date of the survey no signs of any bat use were found. Viewed from beneath the box cavities were filled with cobwebs rendering any presence of bats less likely. Nevertheless the presence of the vertical timber posts offers some moderate potential for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 15 On the east side of Kennedy Street south of Second Street are buildings 1201, 1202 and 1203. These are RAF administrative offices built in 1954.

Photograph 26: Command Fire Branch building 1201

The buildings are located with an area of trees supporting beech, sycamore, hornbeam, ash and silver birch Betula pendula.

They are single storey buildings with pebbledash walls; bargeboards and shallow pitched corrugated metal roofs. The roof is lined internally with plasterboard.

Photograph 27: Building 1201 Photograph 28: Secretariat building 1202

The similar buildings are generally assessed as being unfavourable for roosting bats although building 1202 and also building 1203 contains a hole in the wall with theoretically potential for access by bats. The buildings are therefore assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats.

Photograph 29: Hole in wall of Photograph 30: Secretariat building 1202 building 1202

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 16

Photograph 31: Building 1203 and building 1204

To the east of building 1203 is building 1204.

This building is the NAVACTUC Headquarters built in 1991 and is similarly set within trees of sycamore, beech and silver birch

B1204 B1203 This single storey brick building has a wall cavity and a pitched asbestos pantile covered roof.

The interior inspection found no suitable roof void for roosting bats. The hipped ridges are set in concrete providing little potential for bats to roost below the ridge

Photographs 32 - 33: Building 1204 exterior and interior

Photograph 34: Structure of roof with gaps under the tiles.

There are gaps under the asbestos pantiles suitable for bat access to favourable roosting sites between the tiles and roofing felt. Internally the tiles are lined with traditional bitumastic roofing felt below which is a layer of insulation over a small void before the ceiling. The crevices formed between tiles are felt are favoured roosting sites for common pipistrelle bats.

In some areas around the eaves chicken wire was noted preventing any bat access. The building has metal soffits over wood. There is potential for bats to access the interior of the soffits in areas where the ventilation grills have been removed.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 17 Photograph 35 - 36: Ventilation grill area

Ventilation grills have been removed enabling potential bat access to the soffits around the building. Photograph 37: Building 1204 During one of the evening survey a bat was observed to fly from the direction of this building although follow up surveys failed to confirm emergence from the building. Common pipistrelle bat activity however around the building during both evening surveys was relatively high. The building is therefore assessed as providing moderate - high potential for roosting bats particularly between the tiles and roofing felt.

Buildings 1400, 1402, 1404 and 1406 are located between Second Street and Third street set within an area supporting beech and oak trees.

Photograph 38 - 39: Building 1400 RAF Administration Block

Building 1400 is an RAF administrative block built in 1964. The building has pre-fab walls with one section supporting a pitched corrugated asbestos roof and an extension with a flat roof covered with roofing felt. There are tightly fitted bargeboards. Some

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 18 gaps are present under the asbestos. No signs of any bat use were found and the building is assessed as low potential.

Photograph 40: Building 1402 Old Fire Station

Building 1402 is an old Fire Station built in 1954. It is a single storey building with pebbledash walls and a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof. The building has a roll up garage door. No signs of any bat use were found and the building is assessed as providing unsuitable-low potential for roosting bats.

Buildings 1403 and 1404 are a pair of warehouses built in 1954.

Photograph 41 - 42: Building 1403/1404 exterior and interior

The buildings have concrete walls with shallow pitched corrugated asbestos roofs, roof lights and no roof void. These buildings are unsuitable for roosting bats. The connecting lower brick building has a cavity wall with internally a flat metal roof covered with roofing felt above. The metal would provide an unfavourable surface for roosting bats. There are gaps in the brickwork above the windows providing some potential for bat access. The building is assessed as unsuitable - low potential.

Photograph 43: Interior central section Photograph 44: Warehouse interior

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 19 Photographs 45 - 46: Building 1406 Administrative Building

Building 1406 is an RAF Administrative Office built in 1952. The two-storey building has concrete walls with a pitched corrugated metal roof and a flat-roofed extension. The flat roofed section has a steel roof with skylights and is unsuitable for bats

Photograph 47: Roof void inside building 1406

The two-storey building has two low lofts. The lofts support a short rise to the ridge of c. 1m. There is a timber ridge but the metal roof is unlined. The metal construction is unfavourable for roosting bats.

The presence of a timber ridge within a roof void however offers some roosting potential and the building is assessed as providing moderate potential due to the presence of the roof voids.

Building 1405 is a boiler house built in 1954. The brick building supports a flat metal roof with metal bargeboards and tall brick chimneys. The building is assessed as being having unsuitable-low potential for bats. Building 1407 is an oil storage tank.

Photographs 48 - 49: Building 1412 (Music Hall): Flat and arched roofed sections

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 20

Photograph 50: Building 1412 Music hall Interior Building 1412 is a former music building/ chapel built in 1960.

The complex has brick cavity walls with flat and arched roofs covered with roofing felt. There are plaster ceilings with no obvious roof void. Slight gaps are present in the soffit boxes around the building but no signs of any bat use found. There is some wood panelling but the boards are tightly fitted with no gaps.

Photograph 51 - 52: Gaps under soffits

Bat activity was recorded around the trees (beech, oak and hornbeam) during the evening survey. The building is assessed as providing moderate bat roosting potential.

The adjacent building 1413 is a Bowling Building built in 1957. The building is unsuitable for bats.

Photograph 53: Buildings 1501 to 1502

The single storey Administrative buildings built in the early 1950s between Beech Street and Fifth Street include 1501, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509 and 1510.

The buildings are generally unsuitable for roosting bats and no signs of any bat use were found. The buildings were assessed as unsuitable - low roosting potential.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 21 Photograph 54: Ash tree with hollows providing bat roost potential

Bat activity was recorded by the trees of building 1501 and also along the road by building 1505. The trees by building 1501 include sycamore, ash and hornbeam.

Some of the trees in the area contained hollows favourable for roosting bats and several trees with woodpecker holes were noted.

Building 1501 has masonry cavity walls and a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof with tightly fitted bargeboards. No favourable bat roosting sites were identified and no signs of any bat use found during the external and internal inspection. This has been assessed as unsuitable – low in Table 10.

Photograph 55 - 56: Area around buildings 1501 to 1503

Photograph 57: View west (Fifth Street) Photo 58: View south (Beech Street)

B1504/5 B1503 B1502 B1501

Single storey Building 1907 administrative School buildings

Buildings 1516 and 1512 to the south of building 1501 are large warehouses built in 1956 with metal walls and metal roof. They are unsuitable for bats. Building 1500 to the east is a fitness centre constructed of metal and similarly unsuitable for bats. Building 1525 is a two-storey office block in the east. Although parts are constructed

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 22 of brick the building is largely of a metal construction with a flat metal roof. The building is unsuitable for bats.

Photograph 59: Building 1505 exterior Photograph 60: Building 1505 interior

Along Fifth Street, building 1505 is a single storey building with a pitched corrugated asbestos roof and tightly fitted bargeboards. Internally the roof is lined with plasterboard. No suitable bat roosting areas were identified and no signs of any bat use found. The building is assessed as being of unsuitable - low potential for bats.

Photograph 61: Building 1506 Building 1506 is a single storey storage building with pebbledash walls and a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof.

The building is generally unsuitable for bats and no suitable roosting sites or signs of bat use were found. Buildings 1507 and 1508 are of a similar construction. The interior of 1508 has a concrete frame and metal roof. A small open shed with a pitched tiled roof and bitumastic felt lining is adjacent to the building but the open nature of this building renders it unsuitable for daytime roosting bats. No signs of any bat use were found.

Photograph 62 - 63: Building 1507 - 1508 Canadian Administrative building

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 23 The former Community Bank (1509) and Post Office Building (1510) are single storey buildings built in 1954. The buildings support pebbledashed walls with a shallow pitched corrugated metal roof and plastic/metal bargeboards. The metal construction of the buildings is unfavourable for bats and the buildings are assessed as being unsuitable – low in Table 10.

Photograph 64 - 65: Post office building 1510

Buildings 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509 and 1510 are all assessed as having unsuitable - low potential for roosting bats.

Building 1604 at the junction of Fifth Street and Kennedy Avenue is a theatre built in 1954. The tall building has lower walls of precast concrete with upper walls of corrugated asbestos and supports a pitched metal roof.

Photograph 66: Building 1604 Theatre exterior Photograph 67: Theatre interior

Photograph 68: Theatre roof construction

The metal roof is lined internally with insulation between the roof and ceiling. No suitable bat roosting areas were identified and no bat signs found during the external and internal inspection.

Bat activity was recorded by the trees along Kennedy Avenue and around the theatre during the evening survey.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 24

The theatre is assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats.

Other buildings between Kennedy Avenue and Beech Street in this area include Buildings 1600, 1601, 1603, 1605 and 1609. These are single storey brick buildings with flat roofs covered with roofing felt. The buildings were assessed as unsuitable- low potential. Bat activity was recorded near to the buildings.

On the north side of Fifth Street is the Main School building (1907) built in 1987 with earlier classrooms (buildings 1900-1905) built in 1959 to the east. There is a line of pine trees extending along the west side of Fifth Street providing a favourable flight line for bats.

Photographs 69 - 70: Main School building 1907

The main school building is a tall brick building consisting of a two-storey building to the north and three-storey building to the south. The building has a series of pitched tiled roofs with wooden slatting and asbestos soffits. The tiles are generally tightly fitted but with a few gaps identified allowing potential bat access. Gaps were also identified in the timber slatting and between the soffits and the wall. No signs of any bat use were found.

Photograph 71: Gap in soffit Photograph 72: Roof structure.

There is a false ceiling with a roof space above providing potential for roosting bats. The tiles are lined internally with roofing felt providing potential for bats to roost between the tiles and felt. Due mainly to opportunities for bats to roost within the

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 25 soffits and between the tiles and roofing felt, the building is assessed as providing moderate-high potential for roosting bats. No signs of any bat use were found during the exterior and interior inspection and no bat emergence was observed during the two evening bat surveys by this building. Bat activity however was recorded around the trees to the east of the building and along the pine trees lining the road to the west.

No bats emerged from the single storey classrooms to the west of the main school. The buildings support flat roofs covered with felt. No signs of any bat use were found and the buildings are assessed as being generally unsuitable with some, but limited, potential for roosting bats. They are assessed as having unsuitable-low potential for roosting. Bat activity was recorded around the classrooms.

Photograph 73: Buildings 1800 and 1802

To the east of the main school building along Fifth Street are buildings 1800 and 1802.

Building 1800 is a flat roofed power supply unit built in 1951. The roof is covered with roofing felt. The building is generally unsuitable but with some limited potential for roosting bats. The building is assessed as unsuitable-low potential.

Building 1802 is a block of stores and garages built in 1963 set amongst the trees to the east of the site. Bat activity was recorded by the trees to the east of the garages.

Photograph 74: Building 1802 Garage Block The garages have brick walls with some vertical metal corrugated panelling above the windows and a flat metal roof.

There are windows along the west side of the buildings with some broken panes allowing potential bat access to the interior. Gaps allowing potential bat access to the interior are also present above gaps in the doors and through louvre openings in the wall.

Although there are potential areas for roosting bats inside, the interior is not regarded as being highly favourable for roosting bats. No signs of bat activity were found inside. Bat activity, including both soprano and common pipistrelle bats and serotine bats, was recorded around the trees by this building. Mainly due to the close proximity of the building to favourable habitat for bats, the stores are assessed as providing low - moderate potential for roosting bats in Table 10.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 26 The Warehouse (building 1805) constructed of metal walls and roof is regarded as being unsuitable for roosting bats.

Photograph 75: 1802 west elevation Photograph 76: 1802 east elevation

1805 1802

On the north side of the site, either side of Sixth Street are two three storey residential terraces built in 1960.

Photograph 77 - 78: Trinity Hall 1810 north elevation

Trinity Hall Residential terrace (building 1810) is located on the south side of Sixth Street. Habitats immediately adjacent to the building include amenity grassland, immature and mature trees. To the south of the building is a line of beech and sycamore trees providing a potentially favourable bat foraging area and connecting flight corridor to the wooded area in the east. Bat activity was recorded around these trees during the evening surveys.

Photograph 79 - 80: Trinity Hall gable ends

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 27 The building has brick walls supporting a pitched tiled roof and soffits. From the ground viewing with binoculars, the tiles and soffits appear to be tightly fitted. No obvious bat signs were found during the exterior inspection and no bats emerged from the building during the evening survey. The pitched roof void extends along the full length of the building and provides some favourable features for roosting bats. The tall roof void supports a rise to the ridge of c.3m and provides a potentially favourable flight area for species such as long-eared bats. The king post metal construction (including along the ridge) however is less favourable although there are timber rafters providing a more favourable roosting surface. The tiles are lined with traditional bitumastic roofing felt providing potential for bats to roost between the felt and tiles. Tears and folds were noted in the felt. There are ventilation holes at the gable ends of the roof providing potential for bat access. No signs of any past or current bat use were found inside the loft. Due to the presence of a large roof void, the location of the building within favourable habitat and the presence of favourable crevices between the tiles and roofing felt, the building is assessed as providing high potential for roosting bats.

Photograph 81- 82: Roof void of building 1810

Mansfield Hall (building 1814) is a similar residential terrace building located by the north woodland on the north side of Sixth Street.

Photograph 83 - 84: Building 1814 south elevation

Woodland

The three storey building is bordered by a line of immature cherry trees along the south elevation and sloping amenity grassland with mature trees bordering the north elevation.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 28 Photograph 85: Building 1814 Photograph 86: Tree by north elevation

Tree with high bat roosting potential located near the north elevation of the building.

The woodland, adjacent to the building, to the north supports trees of beech, hornbeam, ash and sycamore. High bat activity was recorded by the woodland edge during the evening surveys. Ivy covered trees providing potential for roosting bats and also trees with holes and crevices leading to favourable roosting cavities within the tree were identified.

Photograph 87: Building 1814 east elevation Photograph 88: 1814 north elevation

Photograph 89: Raised ridge tile

The building has brick walls, soffits and a pitched tiled roof. The soffits are generally tightly fitted with the occasional slight gap allowing bat access where the soffits have decayed.

Gaps allowing potential access were also noted in decaying brickwork above the windows of the north elevation and through raised ridge tiles.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 29 Photograph 90 - 91: Building 1814 roof void structure

The pitched roof void, divided into sections, extends along the full length of the building. The tall roof void supports a rise to the ridge of c.3m and provides a potentially favourable flight area for species such as long-eared bats. The king post metal construction is less favourable although there are timbers within the roof (including along the ridge) favourable for roosting bats. Potentially favourable roosting crevices were identified along the ridge. The tiles are lined with traditional bitumastic roofing felt providing potential for bats to roost between the felt and tiles. Tears and folds were noted in the felt.

Photograph 92: East gable wall

Ventilation holes are present at the gable ends of the roof although the holes were full of cobwebs on the date of the survey. Gaps favourable for roosting bats were identified between the top of the brick wall and the roofing felt. No signs of any past or current bat use however were found in the brick wall crevices or inside the loft.

Photograph 93: Area of bat emergence from soffit.

Although no signs of any bat use were found during the internal inspection of the bat loft, bat emergence was recorded from the northeast corner of the building in the area of the decaying timber soffit.

The building is therefore a confirmed bat roost.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 30 Building 1819 is a Sports Hall built in 1961 located on the north side of Sixth Street at the west end of the site adjacent to the woodland. The Sports Hall is divided into an east domed hall and a west gymnasium.

Photograph 94 - 95: Sports Hall building 1819 south elevation

West East Sports Gymnasium Hall

Photograph 96: Building 1819 east and north elevation

The east Sports Hall is a tall long brick building an arched roof covered with roofing felt. The brick walls have no cavity. The windows are boarded over providing a dark interior.

The west gymnasium is a two-storey square building with brick cavity walls and a pitched metal roof. There are wooden slats between the two roof levels.

Photograph 97: East sports hall interior Photograph 98: West gym roof area

There is no roof void in the east section and the construction of the building is generally unsuitable for roosting bats. However, due to the favourable location of the building and the potential for bats to access the interior, the building is assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats.

A large roof void was identified inside the west gymnasium; parts of which are c 5 metres in height. Much of the void is however occupied by air conditioning apparatus.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 31 Internally parts of the metal roof are lined with building paper. No signs of any current or past use by bats were found. Due to the location of the building and the presence of the large roof void, the west building is assessed as providing moderate potential for bats.

Buildings 1906 and 1910 are also in a favourable bat location being situated in the northwest corner of the site near the woodland. Building 1906 is a fenced in concrete telephone exchange built in the 1959 with a half pitched metal roof and metal bargeboards. No bats emerged from this building during the evening survey. The building is assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats.

Photograph 99 - 100: Buildings 1910 and 1906

Photograph 101: Building 1910 west elevation Building 1910 is an Electricity Substation built in 1959 and surrounded by trees of hornbeam, sycamore and beech. The small single-storey building has brick cavity walls, no windows and a pitched roof with asbestos tiles over corrugated asbestos sheets. The building supports tightly fitted wooden cladding on the upper level of the north and south elevations.

Photograph 102: Gaps under eaves of Building 1910

The building has wide eaves with gaps into the roof space. The majority of the gaps however are covered with cobwebs.

No signs of any past or current bat use were found during the inspection and no bats emerged from the building. Bat foraging activity was recorded by the surrounding trees. The building is assessed as offering moderate potential for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 32

An area not part of the development area but of value to bats is the Bunker area at the end of Kennedy Avenue to the northwest of the site. This area includes an underground bunker built in 1942 and Warehouses built at a later date. Their setting within the woodland renders the buildings highly favourable for bats.

The Bunker area was not surveyed but from the exterior inspection the built structures offered high potential for hibernating bats.

Photograph 103 – 104: Bunker area

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 33 Eaker Estate

The Eaker Estate is an occupied residential area on the east side of the site. The buildings were built in the 1950s and have recently been refurbished. The Estate is bordered by woodland to the north, a tree-lined pathway to the west and playing fields bounded by trees and hedgerows to the south and east. There is a small group of trees by the southeast corner of the Estate (by building 1003).

Photograph 105 - 106: Habitat along south side of Eaker Estate Group of trees by building 1003

Building 1001

The buildings in the Eaker Estate were occupied during the visit a close inspection and the taking of detailed photographs of the buildings was not possible. Jones and Sons had been specifically asked not to take any pictures that may feature people on the site. Several people were walking within the Eaker Estate on the date of the survey.

Photograph 107: Louvre wooden slats on the gable ends.

Photographs taken from the field side showed buildings 1001 and 1002 to have louvre wooden slats on the gable ends providing potential for bat access.

The buildings bordering the field on the south and east side of the Estate are semi- detached bungalows with brick cavity walls and pitched tiled roofs. The buildings have wooden cladding on the upper section of the gable ends providing potential for bats to roost behind the boarding. During the evening survey bat activity was high just after sunset around buildings 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005 and 1006 with particularly high activity around building 1003. Pipistrelle bats were observed circling this building. Although no bats were actually observed to emerge from the buildings the survey suggested that bat emergence from one of the buildings (particularly building 1003) was highly probable. All six buildings are therefore assessed as being of high potential for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 34 Buildings 1007 to 1012 inside the estate are taller two storey terraces with brick cavity walls, shallow pitched tiled roofs and soffits. The buildings support favourable external features for roosting bats although no external inspection for suitable gaps etc was possible. During the evening survey no bats emerged from these buildings although bats were recorded hunting between the wooded path in the west and the west gable end of buildings 1008 and 1012. From the initial survey, the terrace buildings provide moderate potential for roosting bats. However further more detailed survey may identify features providing high potential for roosting bats.

In the northeast corner of the site is an open-fronted outbuilding (building 1015) with brick walls and a pitched corrugated metal roof.

Photograph 108 - 109: Building 1015 set within favourable bat habitat

The building is within favourable semi-natural habitat for foraging bats and bat activity was recorded around the building during the evening survey. The building is unsuitable as a day roosting site but offers some potential as a night roost. No signs of any bat use however were found during the inspection. There is a small void above the ceiling but the unlined metal roof renders the void interior unfavourable for roosting bats. Cracks were noted in the brick wall. The building is asessed as offering moderate potential as a night roosting site only.

Photograph 110: Outbuilding interior Photograph 111: Void with metal roof.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 35 Doolittle Village

The third area surveyed during the bat transects is the Doolittle Village. This is also a residential area largely comprising new houses completed in 2007. The houses are occupied.

Photograph 112: Doolittle Village houses

The village consists of single storey brick houses with cavity walls and pitched tiled roofs with plastic soffits. The soffits and roof tiles are tightly fitted. The structure of the buildings offers limited potential for bat access and provides only low potential for roosting bats.

During the evening bat transects no bat activity was recorded within the central area of the village.

Occasional pipistrelle bat activity was however recorded around the village boundaries. One bat was recorded foraging on the south side of the village by building 1053 and the site office (building 1104) and a pipistrelle bat was also detected by building 1064 on the far southwest corner of the site adjacent to the gardens of a house along Knights Templar Way.

Photograph 113: The site office building 1104.

The site office (building 1104) is an older building constructed in 1955. This building was inspected in more detail. The building has pebbledashed walls with a pitched tiled roof, bargeboard and soffits. The tiles, bargeboards and soffits are tightly fitted to the walls with no potential bat access. The exterior and interior inspection found no suitable bat roosting sites and no signs of any bats.

Bat activity was recorded near the building during the evening survey. The house is assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 36 Evening Bat Detector Surveys

21st July 2008

During the evening emergence bat detector survey on the 21st July 2008, observers were placed around the buildings of the Technical Area on the north side of the site focussing particular attention on buildings 1906, 1910, 1819, 1814, 1810 and 1907. Observations began just before sunset (sunset at 21:09 hours) and continued for just over 1 hour.

Four species of bat were recorded during the evening survey. These were common 45kHz pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), soprano 55kHz pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) and Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) 1.

The first bat recorded was a common pipistrelle bat that was observed to emerge from the northeast corner of the three storey residential building (building 1814). The bat emerged 5 minutes after sunset. Subsequently the bat flew between the northeast end of the building and the adjacent trees. A second pipistrelle bat emerged from the same location 10 minutes after sunset. The two bats continued to hunt along the north side and gable ends of the building, circling around to the adjacent trees. Approx 20 minutes after sunset three bats were recorded flying along the side of the building with further bats recorded flying along the adjacent woodland edge (estimated six common pipistrelle bats). Common pipistrelle bat activity between the woodland and the buildings along the north side of the site (buildings 1814, 1819, 1916 and 1910) continued throughout the evening survey within this area.

The first soprano pipistrelle bat was recorded on the northwest corner of the site 20 minutes after sunset. This bat is likely to have emerged from a nearby roosting site. It was noted that the residential houses to the west of the survey area support features favourable for roosting bats. Any bats emerging from these houses are likely to fly along tree lines towards the north woodland. A single soprano pipistrelle bat subsequently continued to fly between the north woodland and buildings along the north side of Sixth Street throughout the evening survey within this area.

A single Noctule bat was recorded 12 minutes after sunset from the northwest corner of the site flying overhead towards the east. It is probable that the bat had emerged from a tree roosting site within the close vicinity. No further noctule activity was recorded.

A serotine bat was heard (but not observed) 55 minutes after sunset in the northeast corner of the site and again 2 minutes later at the northwest corner of the site. It was assumed that a serotine bat was flying east to west along the north boundary of the site.

1 In 1995 Pipistrelle bats were separated as two species: Common pipistrelle bat (45kHz) Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Soprano pipistrelle (55kHz) Pipistrellus pygmaeus.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 37 No bat activity was recorded by building 1805, building 1810 and the north side of building 1907. The bat activity for the evening emergence survey is summarised in the table below.

Table 1: Evening emergence bat survey on 21st July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 21:05 Start of emergence survey 21:09 Sunset. 21:14 45kHz Pipistrelle First bat emerged from northeast corner of 1814. 21:14- 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed flying between northeast corner of building and adjacent 21:18 trees. 21:19 45kHz Pipistrelle Second bat observed from northeast corner 1814 21:20- 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats feeding along north elevation of 1814. Hunting up and down 21:22 and circling gable ends. 21:21 Noctule Detected flying overhead northwest corner 21:23- 45kHz Pipistrelle Estimated 6 bats flying between north buildings and woodland. High 21:29 activity of at least 3 bats along north elevation of 1814. No bat activity by 1810, 1907, 1910, 1906 or 1819. 21:29 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat detected flying by northwest corner of 1819 towards wood. 21:31 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat detected between 1819 and 1814. 21:30- 45kHz Pipistrelle Several bats foraging between 1814 and woodland. At least 4 bats. 21:45 21:40 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed flying from the east to the west long north elevation of 1814 and 1819 21:43 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed flying from the west to the east along north elevation of 1814 and 1819. 21:45 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat foraging between 1814 and 1819. 21:45- 45kHz Pipistrelle Bats foraging by the trees northwest corner of the site and flying along 21:50 north elevation of 1819 and 1814. Hunting up and down by east gable end of 1814. Minimum of 2 bats. 22:04 Serotine Bat heard by trees on the northeast corner of the site. 22:06 Serotine Bat heard by trees northwest corner of site 21:50- 45kHz Pipistrelle Bats foraging between woodland in north and north buildings no bat 22:15 activity on the south side of 1814 and 1819. 22:15 End of survey

Following on from the emergence survey a bat transect continued around the site using bat detectors from a slow moving vehicle. The transect started from Sixth Street with two circuits in the Technical Area around streets between Fifth Street and the southern point of Kennedy Street. One circuit was driven around the Eaker Estate and one circuit was driven around the Doolittle Village.

Common pipistrelle bat activity was recorded by the tree lined path to the east of First Street and west of the Eaker Estate. One bat was recorded around the trees near building 1501 in the centre of the site; another was recorded along Kennedy Avenue by the Music building (building 1412) and a single bat was also recorded in the woodland at the south end of Kennedy Avenue near building 1200.

There was no bat activity by the front of the houses adjacent to Florida Street in the Eaker Estate or in the streets within the Doolittle Village.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 38 The weather conditions during the survey were warm with little wind and no rain. The bat survey and weather conditions are summarised in the tables below.

Table 2: Evening car bat transect on 21st July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 22:16 Start of car transect from Sixth Street. 22:19 First Street. No bat activity 22:20 Buildings 1505 to 1510, 1802, no bat activity. 22:21- No bat activity along First Street, Beech Street, Second Street, Fourth 22:28 street, Kennedy Avenue 22:29 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by trees junction of First Street with Florida Street (Eaker Estate) near 1204 22:33 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by Beech tree along Beech Street by 1501 22:38 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected feeding along Kennedy Street by trees by 1412 22:48 55kHz Pipistrelle Detected by trees east end of Fifth Street by Eaker Estate 22:51 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging around trees around 1200 (Kennedy Avenue) 22:52- Slow drive around Doolittle Village. No bat activity 22:55 23:00 End of survey

Table 3: Weather conditions survey 21st July 2008

21/07/2008 Lux Wind Speed Temperature Wind Chill Humidity Heat Index Dew Point Wet Bulb Baro. Pressure Range Sunset 21:09 2000 mph °C °C % °C °C °C mb 21:05 247 0 14.9 14.9 66 14.4 8.6 11.4 1013.1 21:10 171 0 14.6 14.6 67.3 14.2 8.6 11.2 1013.3 21:15 112 0 14.2 14.2 67.1 13.8 8.1 10.8 1013 21:20 70 0 14.3 14.3 66.8 13.9 8.2 11 1013.3 21:25 44 0 14.1 14.1 66.5 13.7 7.9 10.7 1013.3 21:30 25 0 13.8 13.8 68 13.4 8 10.6 1013.4 21:35 14 0 13.6 13.6 68.8 13.2 7.9 10.5 1013.4 21:40 7 0 13.8 13.8 68.7 13.4 8.1 10.6 1013.6 21:45 2 0 13.5 13.5 69.9 13.2 8.1 10.5 1013.6 21:50 1 0 13.7 13.7 70.3 13.4 8.3 10.7 1013.7 21:55 0 0 13.5 13.5 67.7 13.1 7.6 10.3 1013.7 22:00 1 0.8 13.7 13.7 68.2 13.3 7.9 10.5 1013.8 22:05 1 0 13.4 13.4 69.9 13.1 8 10.4 1013.7

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 39 Survey 22nd July 2008

During the evening emergence bat detector survey on the 22nd July 2008, observers were placed around the Eaker Estate on the west side of the site. One observer watched the buildings from Florida Street, a second observer watched the west side of the site from the wooded pathway and a third observed watched from the playing field along the south boundary of the site. Observations began just before sunset (sunset at 21:08 hours) and continued for just over 1 hour.

Table 4: Evening emergence bat survey on the 22nd July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 21:05 Start of emergence survey 21:08 Sunset. 21:10 Noctule Observed from Eaker Estate (path by First Street) flying overhead from Technical Area in a northeast direction towards wood 21:20 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed flying west to east along south field edge bordering Eaker Estate. Flew from direction of 1204 and tree lined path 21:20 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed from inside estate flying north by Building 1006. 21:21 Noctule Detected overhead from south and east side of Eaker Estate 21:23 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed flying along Florida Street by 1008 from west tree lined pathway 21:23 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed from within Estate by 1003. Possible emergence. 21:24- 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat continuously circling southwest gable end of 1003. 21:36 21:28 55kHz Pipistrelle Observed flying from west pathway along field edge bordering south of Eaker Estate 21:30- 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat hunting along tree lined path bordering west side playing field 21:31 south of Eaker Estate 21:32 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat flew from tree lined path towards 1002 21:35 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat detected from inside Estate by 1005 21:35- 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat feeding around of woodland copse in field by 1003 21:40 21:36 45kHz Pipistrelle 2 bats flying north to south along tree lined path by First Street south of wood. 21:37 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat detected from within Estate flying around 1003 21:37 55kHz Pipistrelle Detected foraging along tree lined path by First Street south of wood. 21:38 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats flying around 1003. Observed from inside Estate. 21: 40 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat flying over roof of 1001 observed from inside Estate 21:41 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat flying between 1001 and 1002 field side. 21:41 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats Flying north to south along tree lined path by 1012 21:42- 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats hunting along tree lined path west of field, south of Eaker 21:43 Estate. 21:44 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying from south tree lined path flying north between 1001 & 1002 21:45 Serotine Detected in playing field south of Eaker Estate 21:45 45kHz Pipistrelle Hunting along tree lined path west of Estate south of wood. 21:45 55kHz Pipistrelle Hunting along tree lined path west of Estate south of wood 21:47 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by 1004 from inside Estate 21:47- 45kHz Pipistrelle Up to four bats hunting along tree lined path west of Estate south of

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 40 22:12 wood. Several bats also observed hunting along path west of playing field and along hedgerow bordering southern border of Eaker Estate 21:47- 55kHz Pipistrelle Minimum of 1 bat hunting up and down tree lined path west of Eaker 22:12 Estate occasionally also observed flying along hedge bordering field south of Eaker Estate 23:15 End of survey

The first bat recorded was a noctule bat recorded 2 minutes after sunset flying overhead from the Technical Area in a northeast direction towards the woodland. It was though possible that the bat had emerged from a nearby tree possibly within the Technical Area itself. A noctule was heard a second time by the Estate 11 minutes later.

At 12 minutes after sunset, the first common pipistrelle bat observed flew west to east from First Street along the southern playing field bordering Eaker Estate. At the time it was though possible that the bat had emerged from building 1204. At the same time a common pipistrelle bat was observed by building 1006 within the Estate. During the evening bat activity by the single storey buildings bordering the south and east sides of the estate was high. The early time of the high bat activity suggested that the bats could have emerged from the single storey buildings within the Estate. Bat activity was particularly high around building 1003 on the southeast corner of the Estate. Bat activity was also high along the wooded path to the west of the Estate and bats were observed flying between the path and the taller buildings (1008 and 1012). No bats however emerged from these buildings during the survey.

The first soprano pipistrelle bat was detected 20 minutes after sunset. This bat was first observed flying from the west wooded pathway along the field edge bordering the south side of the Eaker Estate. A soprano pipistrelle bat subsequently foraged around the copse of trees adjacent to building 1003. During the evening further soprano pipistrelle bat activity was recorded along the west wooded pathway.

A serotine bat was detected briefly 37 minutes after sunset from the playing field south of the Eaker Estate

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 41

Table 5: Evening car bat transect on 22nd July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 22:22 Start of car transect from Eaker Estate. 22:27 55kHz Pipistrelle Detected along Florida Street 22:28 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected along Florida Street between tennis court and west footpath 22:29- 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging along road towards outbuilding 1015 and around trees by 22:33 outbuilding. 22:31 Serotine Detected by trees by 1015. 22:38 Noctule Detected overhead in area of 1200 Kennedy Avenue 22:42 Serotine Detected by Warehouses north end of Kennedy Avenue 22:44 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by playground along Kennedy Street (1412) 22:46 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging along trees west side of Kennedy Avenue by residential houses outside survey area. 22:47 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by trees around Building 1910 22:49 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat activity between Building 1819 and 1814 including front of 1814. Activity around hornbeam trees east gable 1814. 22:51 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected along Fifth Street by group of trees by 1603 22:52 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected trees east of 1802 22:54- 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by tree lined path west of Eaker Estate south side. 22:56 23:00 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by trees around 1200 23:02 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected along Alabama Drive by 1053 and near site office 1200 23:03- No bat activity along Alaska Street, Arizona Street, California Circle 23:05 23:06 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat detected by 64 Alabama Drive (house bordering gardens of Templar Way outside survey area) 23:08 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by entrance of Daws Hill 23:15 End of survey

Following on from the emergence survey a bat transect continued around the site using bat detectors from a slow moving vehicle. The transect started from Florida Street in the Eaker Estate and included the outbuilding 1015 to the north of the Estate. Two circuits of the roads within the Technical area were then driven with one circuit of the roads in the Doolittle Village.

Both common and soprano pipistrelle bat activity was recorded along Florida Street particularly within the vicinity of the wooded west footpath. Common pipistrelle bat and also a serotine bat were recorded in the area around the outbuilding (1015). Within the technical area common pipistrelle bat activity was recorded in the wooded area on the south side of Kennedy Avenue by building 1200 and further along Kennedy Avenue by the playground near the music building, along the trees by the fence line bordering the site with the adjacent residential houses and gardens, along Fifth Street, and by the buildings on the north side of the site adjacent to the woodland. Within the Technical Area a Noctule bat was also detected on the south side of the site and a serotine bat was detected by the Warehouses along Kennedy Avenue near the residential houses of Sandford Gardens.

There was no bat activity in the middle of the Doolittle village but a single common pipistrelle bat was detected at the south end of the village by the site office (1104) and also at the west end where the village borders the gardens of Knights Templar Way.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 42

The weather conditions during the survey were warm with little wind and no rain. The bat survey and weather conditions are summarised in the tables below.

Table 6: Weather conditions 22nd July 2008.

22/07/2008 Lux Wind Speed Temperature Wind Chill Humidity Heat Index Dew Point Wet Bulb Baro. Pressure Sunset 21:08 Range 2000 mph °C °C % °C °C °C mb 21:05 361 0 18.3 18.3 78.5 18.3 14.5 15.9 1012.1 21:10 253 0 17.4 17.4 82.7 17.5 14.4 15.5 1012.1 21:15 163 0 17.7 17.7 80.1 17.8 14.2 15.5 1012.2 21:20 97 0 17.3 17.3 81 17.4 14 15.2 1012.3 21:25 56 0 16.8 16.8 83.1 16.9 13.9 15 1012.3 21:30 29 0 17 17 83.5 17.1 14.2 15.2 1012.5 21:35 13 0 16.9 16.9 83.3 17 14 15.1 1012.6 21:40 6 0 17.1 17.1 82.1 17.2 14 15.2 1012.5 21:45 2 0 16.9 16.9 85.1 17 14.4 15.3 1012.5 21:50 0 0 16.4 16.4 84.2 16.5 13.7 14.8 1012.3 21:55 1 0 16 16 86.9 16.2 13.8 14.7 1012.4 22:00 1 0 16.1 16.1 88.6 16.3 14.2 14.9 1012.5 22:05 1 0 17.3 17.3 85.8 17.5 14.9 15.8 1012.6

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 43 Survey 23rd July 2008

During the evening emergence bat detector survey on the 23rd July 2008, observers were placed within the Technical Area where bat activity had been previously recorded during the car bat transects to determine any emergence from the nearby buildings. One observer was positioned on the southeast end of the site. From this location buildings 1204, 1203, 1202, 1201, 1206 could be observed for any bat emergence. It was also possible to watch for any bats commuting from the woodland around building 1200. A second observer was positioned at the junction of Fifth Street and Beech Street. From here it was possible to watch the main school building (1907), the buildings either side of Fifth Street and the buildings along Beech Street. The third observer was positioned in Kennedy Avenue by building 1412 (The Music Hall). From here it was also possible to watch for any bat emergence from the Warehouses, buildings to the south of Kennedy Avenue and also monitor bat activity along the west boundary with the residential gardens of Sandford Gardens and Wallingford Gardens. Observations began just before sunset (sunset at 21:07 hours) and continued for just over 1 hour.

The first bat recorded (not observed) was a noctule bat heard on the bat detector in the vicinity of building 1204 at 17 minutes after sunset. Two minutes later a noctule bat was observed flying overhead over the Eaker Estate in a northeast direction. At 30 minutes after sunset a Noctule bat was observed flying reasonably low south to north along Beech Street towards the woodland. Due to the bat’s low height it was though possible that the noctule could have emerged from one of the trees between Beech Street and First Street. Trees within this area contained holes with potential for roosting bats.

A serotine bat was also detected in the early evening 18 minutes after sunset from the direction of the houses along Sandford and Wallingford Gardens. The houses within this area support features with potential to provide roosting sites for this species of bat. A serotine bat was again observed within this area later in the evening. A serotine was observed flying east, from the Sandford garden area, along Fifth Street. Just afterwards, a serotine was observed foraging around the trees to the east (west of the garage 1802). This bat was observed to fly west along Fifth street, flying briefly by the trees between buildings 1810 (Trinity Hall) and 1907 (Main School). At more- or-less the same time a serotine bat was detected within the vicinity of building 1206.

The first pipistrelle bat was a soprano pipsitrelle detected 21 minutes after sunset along the wooded pathway to the east of First Street. The bat had not emerged from the buildings observed along the east side of the Technical Area. One minute later a common pipistrelle bat was also detected by the wooded footpath to the east of First Street. Similarly this bat had not emerged from the buildings observed on the east side of the technical area. On the west side of the site the first pipistrelle bat observed were two common pipsitrelle bats feeding around trees within the playground near the

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 44 music building (1412). The bats were observed late in the evening (49 minutes after sunset). They had not emerged from the buildings either side of Kennedy Avenue. Subsequently occasional common pipistrelle bat activity was recorded along Kennedy Avenue particularly near the west border with Sandford Gardens, along Fifth Street, along Beech Street and around the trees between Building 1204 and Building 1206 on the west side of the site. Occasional soprano pipistrelle bat activity was recorded between Kennedy Avenue and Fifth Street, around the trees between the school building and the residential terrace (1810), by the trees to the east of the garage (1802) and along the wooded pathway to the east of First Street.

Table 7: Evening bat emergence survey on the 23rd July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 21:00 Start of emergence survey 21:07 Sunset. 21:24 Noctule Detected, not seen, overhead by 1204 21:25 Serotine Detected Kennedy Avenue from direction of houses along Sandford/Wallingford Gardens 21:26- Noctule Observed flying high over Eaker Estate northeast direction 21:27 21:28 55kHz Pipistrelle Detected by trees along wooded pathway east of 1204 21:29 45kHz Pipistrelle Detected by wooded pathway east of 1204 21:36 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats foraging around trees by playground near 1412 21:37 Noctule Observed flying reasonably low south to north along Beech Street towards woodland in the north. 21:39 45kHz Pipistrelle One bat foraging around trees by playground 21:40 55kHz Pipistrelle Detected to the east of 1204 21:41 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying north to south along Kennedy Avenue towards houses (Sandford Gardens area) 21:45 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat observed foraging around trees east of 1206. Flew east across to Eaker Estate. 21:46 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying by theatre 1604 21:47 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying from wooded path by field west towards 1206 21:47 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying east between 1604 and 1605 towards Beech Street 21:49 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying along Kennedy Avenue towards Sandford Gardens 21:49 55kHz Pipistrelle Bat flying east along trees bordering south side of 1603 21:49 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging around trees south side of 1603 21:50 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging around trees between 1206 and 1204 21:51 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying east across Kennedy Avenue from Sandford Gardens area 21:53 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying east across Kennedy Avenue from Sandford Gardens Area 21:55 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging trees south of 1204 21:55 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying Fourth Street by 1323 21:57 45kHz Pipistrelle Hunting up and down west fence bordering residential gardens. 21:58 Serotine Flying from Sandford Gardens area east along Fifth Street. 21:59- Serotine Observed foraging around trees to the east of the garage B1802. Flew west along Fifth Street 22:00 Serotine Flying by trees south of 1810 Flew back to Fifth Street. Flew west. 22:00 Serotine Detected near Kennedy Avenue 1206 area not observed. 22:00 55kHz Pipistrelle Heard briefly by trees east of garages 1802. 22:02 55kHz Pipistrelle Commuting south between 1907 and 1810 22:04 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat foraging by trees south of 1204 22:08 45kHz Pipistrelle Two bats detected by Fifth Street trees south of 1900 and 1903. 22:10 45kHz Pipistrelle Bat flying by 1204 22:15 End of survey

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 45 Following on from the evening emergence survey a car transect was started from the south end of Kennedy Avenue proceeding to the north end of the site. Both common pipistrelle bats and soprano pipistrelle bats were detected along Sixth Street by buildings at the north end of the site adjacent to the north woodland (in areas where these species had previously been recorded). A soprano pipistrelle bat was also recorded between the main school building and building 1810 on the south side of Sixth Street. Driving back down Kennedy Avenue there was no bat activity until reaching the south end of Kennedy Avenue where a common pipistrelle was detected within the wooded area adjacent to building 1200. In the Eaker Estate common pipistrelle bat activity was recorded along Florida Street and along the west wooded pathway. There was no bat activity within the Doolittle Village.

Table 8: Evening car bat transect on the 23rd July 2008

Time Bat Species Notes hours 22:15 Start of car transect from Kennedy Avenue south end. 22:21 55kHz Pipistrelle Flying Sixth Street between 1810 and 1907 22:22 55kHz Pipistrelle Flying north and east side of 1814 22:26 45kHz Pipistrelle Foraging around trees by 1200 22:29 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying along Florida Street (1005) Eaker Estate 22:30 45kHz Pipistrelle Flying along wooded pathway west side of Eaker Estate. 22:31- No bat activity around Doolittle Village 22:34 22:40 End of survey

Table 9: Weather conditions 23rd July 2008

23/07/2008 Lux Wind Speed Temperature Wind Chill Humidity Heat Index Dew Point Wet Bulb Baro. Pressure Sunset 21:07 Range 2000 mph °C °C % °C °C °C mb 21:05 331 0.7 19.9 19.9 65.3 19.4 13.1 15.7 1008.8 21:10 213 1.2 19.6 19.6 66.3 19.1 13.1 15.6 1008.9 21:15 130 1 19.4 19.4 66.3 18.8 12.9 15.4 1009 21:20 76 2.3 19.4 19.4 66.4 18.8 12.9 15.4 1009 21:25 41 2.1 19.2 19.2 66.7 18.7 12.8 15.2 1009 21:30 20 0.9 19 19 67.2 18.5 12.7 15.1 1008.9 21:35 8 0 18.5 18.5 68.4 18 12.5 14.8 1009 21:40 3 0 18.3 18.3 69.7 17.9 12.6 14.8 1009 21:45 0 0 17.8 17.8 71.2 17.5 12.5 14.6 1009.1 21:50 1 1.7 18.1 18.1 70.9 17.8 12.7 14.8 1009.1 21:55 2 0 18.1 18.1 70 17.7 12.5 14.7 1009.1 22:00 2 0 18.3 18.3 69.7 17.9 12.6 14.8 1009.2 22:01 2 1 18 18 70.2 17.6 12.4 14.6 1009.1 22:02 2 0 18.1 18.1 70.1 17.7 12.5 14.7 1009.1 22:03 2 0 18.1 18.1 69.9 17.7 12.5 14.7 1009.1

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 46

Table 10: Summary of Building Bat Roosting Potential in Technical Area

Building Favourable bat Evidence of bat Bat Roost structural features presence Probability 1814 Roof void, tiles lined with Bat emergence from soffit. Confirmed bat Mansfield Hall felt, timber soffits with No bat droppings in loft. roost gaps 1810 Roof void, tiles lined with No bat signs. Bats flying High Trinity Hall felt, soffits adjacent to building. 1907 School Tiles lined with felt. No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate - high Soffits with gaps adjacent to building. 1204 Tiles lined with roofing No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate - high NAVACTUK felt, access under tiles, near building at bat headquarters gaps in soffits. emergence time. 1910 Electricity Gaps under eaves, tile No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate substation crevices, wooden cladding adjacent to building. 1819 west Roof Void No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate Gymnasium adjacent to building. 1323 brick section only Roof void with timbers No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate and roofing felt. adjacent to building. 1325 exterior Vertical wooden posts No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate Racquetball court with cavities wall exterior. adjacent to building. 1406 Admin office Roof void No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate near to building. 1412 Music Building Soffit gaps No bat signs. Bats flying Moderate adjacent to building. 1802 Garage/store Bat access to interior No bat signs. Bats flying Low - Moderate adjacent to building 1206 Pitched slate roof. Soffit No bat signs. Bats flying Low - Moderate Conference Centre gaps adjacent to building. 1200, 1201, 1202, 1203 Cavity wall with holes No bat signs. Bats flying Low Admin offices adjacent to building. 1100,1101, 1102, 1107 Bargeboard gaps No bat signs. Bats flying Low Stores nearby. 1400 Gaps under roof No bat signs. Bats flying Low Office near to building. 1604 Bat access to interior No bat signs. Bats flying Low Theatre adjacent to building. 1819 east Potential access to interior No bat signs. Bats flying Low Sports Hall adjacent to building. 1906 No bat signs. Bats flying Low Telephone Exchange adjacent to building. 1205,1217, 1219, Mainly unsuitable. Some No bat signs. Bats flying Unsuitable - 1301,1402-1405,1501- very limited favourable nearby. Low 1510, 1600-1609, 1900- features. 1905, 1800, 1300, 1327- 1329, No favourable features Unsuitable 1407, 1413, 1500, 1512, 1516, 1525,1805

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 47

Table 11: Summary of Building Bat Roosting Potential in Residential areas

Building Favourable bat Evidence of bat Bat Roost structural features presence Probability

Eaker Estate 1001- 1006 Wooden cladding with Bats flying adjacent to High potential bat access buildings at bat emergence time. 1007- 1012 Suitable features observed Bats flying adjacent to Moderate - high from a distance buildings at bat emergence time. 1015 Open ended covered Bats flying adjacent to Moderate (night building within favourable building. roost only) bat habitat Doolittle Village 1051-1075 Cavity walls Bat activity only around Low boundary 1104 Older building but no Bat activity nearby Low obvious bat access

The built structures within the bunker area to the northwest, outside the development area, also offer high potential for hibernating bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 48

Evaluation

At the RAF Daws Hill, four species of bat were recorded during the July 2008 surveys. These are Common 45kHz pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Soprano 55kHz bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) and Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula). The bat activity of the different species is discussed below:

• Common pipistrelle bat – This species of bat was recorded roosting in Mansfield Hall (1814). Two bats emerged from the northeast corner of the building. Other buildings near Mansfield Hall also support roosting opportunities for this species of bat. Bat activity was also high around the Eaker Estate to the east and it was thought highly probable that common pipistrelle bats were roosting in one of the single storey residential houses along the south and east side of the Eaker Estate. Bat activity at emergence time (including circling the building) was observed by the house 1003 in the southeast corner of the Estate. This species of bat typically moves between roosting sites within the same area during the year. Individual pipistrelle bats may roost in crevices in any building that provides favourable roosting opportunities. Other buildings and some trees with bat roosting potential were also identified within RAF Daws Hill. No obvious maternity pipistrelle bat roosting site was identified during the July evening surveys and no bats or bat droppings were found in the buildings during the daytime investigations. Small numbers of pipistrelle bats were recorded flying by the buildings within the RAF Daws Hill site with higher numbers recorded flying along the woodland edge in the north and along the wooded pathway to the east of First Street. Only occasional pipistrelle bat activity was recorded within the central Technical Area and the Doolittle Village. Common pipistrelle bats were recorded during all three evening surveys.

• Soprano pipistrelle bat - No roosting site was recorded for this species but single bats were recorded flying by the buildings to the north of the site within the near vicinity of the north woodland. Individual bats were also recorded flying around the Eaker Estate particularly along the wooded pathway to the east of First Street. This species of bat was recorded during all three surveys but soprano pipistrelle bat activity was not high. Soprano pipistrelle bats tend to gather together in large nursery colonies. No maternity roosting site was recorded within the survey area but there is potential for the houses (particularly those in the Eaker Estate) to provide roosting sites for individual bats of this species.

• Serotine bat - No roosting site was identified for this species within the RAF Daws Hill site itself but the surveys suggest the probability of a serotine bat roosting site being present in the area of the residential houses to the northwest (off Knights Templar Way). This species of bat was recorded flying across RAF Daws Hill during all three surveys. On the third survey a serotine was detected in the early evening on the border of the RAF site by the residential area and was also observed later in the evening flying by the border

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 49 with the residential housing and along Fifth Street within the Daws Hill site. Serotines favour parkland, pasture and woodland edge foraging habitats and rely on buildings for roosting preferring to roost in small crevices with high access points. Individual serotine bats without young may frequently change roosting sites within the local area.

• Noctule bat - This species of bat was recorded during all three surveys. Initially Noctules were observed flying overhead from the direction of the Technical area in a northeast direction towards the woodland. This species frequently forages over aquatic habitats and areas of water are known to be present to the north of the wood. Noctules roost almost exclusively in tree holes. During the third survey a noctule was observed flying reasonably low from an area of trees between Beech Street and First Street. Although no noctule roosting site was positively identified, trees with potential for roosting bats, including woodpecker holes, were identified within this area. It is concluded that the trees within RAF Daws Hill support potential to provide roosting sites for Noctule bats. An estimated three noctule bats were recorded flying across the site.

No bat droppings or other signs of bat use were found during the external and internal daytime inspections of the buildings within the Technical Area. It was not possible to conduct a detailed inspection of the residential houses.

Within the Technical Area, in addition to the confirmed roost in Mansfield Hall (1814), other buildings that support moderate/high or high potential for this species of bat include Trinity Hall (1810), the Main School (1907) and the NAVACTUK headquarters (1204). Buildings of moderate potential include the electricity substation (1204), the Gymnasium (1819 west), the brick section of the vehicle store (1323), the long vertical wooden boxes on the exterior walls of the Racquet Court (1323), the administrative building (1406), the Music Building (1412) and the office/store (1802). Buildings with some favourable features providing potential for roosting bats (low potential) include the Pine Trees Conference Centre (1206), the administrative offices (1200-1203), the stores (1100-1102 and 1107), the office building (1400), the community centre (1906), the theatre (1604) and the Sports Hall (1819 east). A further 33 buildings were mainly unsuitable but with some limited features providing potential and a further 11 buildings were assessed as being unsuitable for roosting bats.

Within the Eaker Estate in addition to the buildings providing high potential for roosting bats (1001-1006), the taller residential terraces in the centre of the Estate (1007-1012) also provide moderate potential for roosting bats. The outbuilding in the northeast corner (1015) is unsuitable as a daytime roost but provides moderate potential as a night roost.

Only one of the three evening surveys recorded any bat activity in the Doolittle Village and then the activity was recorded by the southern boundary of the area near the site office building (1104) and by the boundary with the residential houses off Knights Templar Way to the west. The older site office and the newly built houses within this area are assessed as providing low potential for roosting bats.

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 50

The mature trees within the site are an important ecological feature within the RAF Daws Hill site that, in addition to providing potential roosting sites for bats, provide favourable habitat for foraging bats. Foraging bats were recorded around the groups of trees scattered across the site. High bat foraging activity was recorded along the tree lines bordering the west and east boundary of the site and along the edge of the woodland to the north. Trees with bat roosting potential were also identified in the trees by the edge of the woodland. Recommendations

Due to the presence of a bat roosting site in one building and the possible presence of bat roosting sites in other buildings (buildings with high roosting potential or moderate - high), further bat survey is required to establish the level of use of the building roosting sites. The results of the 2008 summer survey suggest that the confirmed roost is of minor conservation significance to the bats of the area, being a roost used by individual bats of the more common species and is unlikely to be a maternity site.

To derogate from the protection afforded to bats and their roosting sites, any building works impacting on buildings with confirmed bat roosting sites will require a Habitats Regulations Licence to be granted by Natural England prior to commencement of building works.

For a Habitats Regulations Licence to be granted by Natural England, the developer, advised by an experienced bat ecologist, will need to submit a Method Statement to include the results of appropriate bat surveys (species using the site and type of roost present), the details of the mitigation (measures to avoid harm to any roosting bats) and the compensation measures proposed (replacement bat roost provisions) to ensure no net loss of bat roosting sites and the maintenance of the bats at a favourable conservation status within the local area.

In addition to the Method Statement, Natural England will require a copy of the planning consent, a Reasoned Statement providing justification as to why the proposed activity meets the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994 and a completed Local Planning Authority Consultation Document.

Where works to buildings with moderate - high bat roosting potential are planned, but no bat roosting site confirmed during the 2008 survey, it is recommended that further checks for bats are undertaken prior to the commencement of any building works, to ensure the works will not impact on a currently used bat roosting site. In the event of bat roosting sites being confirmed a Habitat Regulations Licence will be required prior to any building works impacting on these roosting sites.

It is recommended that the established trees within the site be retained since these provide important linking bat flight routes and foraging areas for bats. Some of the mature trees with cracks and holes in their trunk and branches also have potential to provide roosting sites for bats. Although no tree bat roosting site was positively confirmed, it was thought highly probable that Noctule bats were roosting within the

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 51 mature trees on the site. In the event of any of the mature trees requiring felling or branch removal, further bat survey should be undertaken to ensure there is no impact on a tree bat roosting site. Any tree bat roosting site confirmed would need a Habitats Regulations Licence to be granted prior to any works impacting on a bat roosting site.

Lighting will also be an important consideration. Any lighting required should be positioned so as to avoid any bat roost areas and established bat flight areas, particularly along the woodland edge to the north and along the wooded pathway to the east of First Street.

References

English Nature (2004) Bat Mitigation Guidelines.

HMSO (1981) The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Stationery Office Ltd, Norwich.

HMSO (1994) The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c) Regulations 1994. The Stationery Office Ltd, Norwich.

HMSO (2000) The Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. The Stationery Office Ltd, Norwich

Jones & sons Environmental Sciences Ltd. 52

Appendix D Badger survey

h:\projects-mod\ea-210\#20000\20158 raf daws hill\1 client\reports\disposal reports\disposal report - ecology (final) August 2008 c054.doc 20158/C054