Urban Tree Experts BS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting ECOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT (BATS) AT HOLLYBUSH FINCHAMPSTEAD Prepared for: Mr N Blair Hollybush Lower Wokingham Road Finchampstead Berkshire RG45 6BX 12th June 2017 Ref: SPH/ESR-01/12-06 Urban Tree Experts, Unit H Bridge Farm, Reading Road, Arborfield, Berkshire, RG2 9HT Tel: 0118 976 2904 Urban Tree Experts BBS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting Unit H Bridge Farm Reading Road Arborfield Reading Berkshire RG2 9HT Tel: 0118 976 2902 Mobile: 07557 982091 Email: [email protected] CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Instruction 5 1.2 Aims and Objectives 5 1.3 Proposed Works 5 1.4 Surveyor Background and Experience 5 2 Survey Methodology 6 2.1 Constructions/Limitations 6 2.2 Dusk and Dawn Surveys 6 3 Survey Findings 7 3.1 Dusk and Dawn Surveys 7 4 Conclusions/Interpretation 9 5 Outline Method Statement for Planning 10 6 References 12 7 Queries 12 Appendix 1 Appendix 2 ©2017 Urban Tree Experts All rights in this report are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced, edited or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without our written permission. Its content and format are for the exclusive use of Mr N Blair or his agents in dealing with this site. It may not be sold, lent, hired out or divulged to any third party not directly involved in this site without the written consent of Urban Tree Experts. It may be reproduced as part of a planning application. The validity of this report ceases at the prescribed time limit or after two years from the site inspection, or if the site conditions change due to unspecified works that affect the site whichever is the sooner. Registered Office: Unit H Bridge Farm, Reading Road, Arborfield, Reading Berkshire, RG2 9HT Registered in England and Wales – Number 7106204 2 Urban Tree Experts BS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Urban Tree Experts was commissioned by Mr N Blair to carry out two dusk emergence and a dawn return to roost survey at Hollybush, Lower Wokingham Road, Finchampstead, Berkshire RG45 6BX. This is to support a current planning application to Wokingham Borough Council that seeks to demolish the existing house, bungalow and outbuildings and erect two, five bedroomed detached dwellings with linked garages. Externally and internally the house is in a good condition and is occupied. Whilst the roof, lead flashing, fascias and soffits are all well sealed, the building has been used by bats, as evident by a small number of bat droppings located in the loft, behind the front right hand gable end, indicating that bats have used the house to roost. The bat droppings were sent for DNA testing by Warwick University and the results identified them to be those of the brown long-eared bat (BLE), see Appendix 1. Due to the various constraints internally within the loft void during the inspection and the potential for roosting opportunities, there is a medium to high risk of bats being present during the optimum period of bat activity, May to September. Three further surveys were undertaken at Hollybush and provided further information on the presence or absence of bats at the site, information on the status of bats using the building, to establish the aappropriate mitigation for the proposed works and to determine if a European Protected Species (EPS) licence is required. The dusk emergence surveys were conducted on Sunday 7th May and Monday 12th June 2017 and the dawn re-entry survey was conducted on Monday 22nd May 2017. Whilst there was considerable bat activity around the house and garden, no bats were seen to leave or enter the any of the buildings. Additional survey effort in the form of a SMBat4 FS detector and IR trail camera were deployed between the 10th May and 31st May to monitor the loft void where the droppings were located, no bat calls or bats were detected. A search of the Berkshire & South Buckinghamshire bat group records confirmed 7 different species within the 2 kilometer search radius, a summary of the records are included at Appendix 2. A 2 kilometer search of the surrounding area on the Magic interactive website revealed three local nature reserves (Heathlake, Ambarrow Court and Edgbarrow Woods) and one Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – Heath Lake. It also revealed 22 European Protected Species (EPS) licences have been granted since 2009, 14 of which were for BLE bats. This report confirms the findings of the surveys, completed by an experienced licensed bat ecologist, in accordance with current best practice guidance where possible, and outlines any ecological constraints or issues with the proposed works. 3 Urban Tree Experts BS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting Despite no bats being seen emerging from or re-entering any of the buildings the site surroundings and details revealed from the Magic interactive search indicate that there is a high likelihood that BLE bats may occupy the building after this survey and that in the short term, in the absence of mitigation, the demolition of the house will result in the damage/destruction of a roost, the disturbance and/or alteration of access points, and the potential disturbance, killing, or injury of any resident bats. However there is no reason why continued roosting provision at the site cannot be successfully maintained and or enhanced in the long term with appropriate provision made within an EPS method statement and therefore an EPS licence must be obtained from Natural England before works commence at Hollybush. An outline method statement has been included to enable the Local Planning Authority to have regards to the requirements of the Habitats Directive… in the exercise of their functions in considering the planning application. A full method statement will be prepared as part of an EPS licence application to be submitted to Natural England. 4 Urban Tree Experts BS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting 1. Introduction 1.1 Instruction Urban Tree Experts was commissioned by Mr N Blair to carry out two dusk emergence and a dawn return to roost survey at Hollybush, Lower Wokingham Road, Finchampstead, Berkshire RG45 6BX. 1.2 Aims and Objectives The dusk and dawn surveys are designed to: Identify the presence/likely absence of bats using the building to roost. Estimate the size and status of any existing bat roost within the building. Determine the potential impacts on any bat roost from the proposed development. The emergence survey was carried out in accordance with Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edition). 1.3 Proposed Works The surveys were commissioned in connection with a current planning application to Wokingham Borough Council, ref 171374, that seeks to demolish the existing house, bungalow and outbuildings and erect two, five bedroomed detached dwellings with linked garages. 1.4 Surveyor Background and Experience The surveys were conducted by Bridget Parslow (7/5/17 and 22/5/17), Elaine Charlson (7/5/17, 22/5/17 and 12/6/17), Alastair (Ali) Barnes (7/5/17, 22/5/17, 12/6/17), Matt Baillie (7/5/17) and Peter Smith (12/6/17/17) and the report was completed by Simon Holmes, MSc, a Natural England licenced bat ecologist. Simon Holmes has 27 years’ experience of carrying out bat surveys and bat conservation work and has attended numerous training courses run by the Bat Conservation Trust, Wildwood Ecology, local bat groups and individual ecologists, he holds Class 2, 3 and 4 Bat Licence (No.CLSO03440). Bridget Parslow has 29 years’ experience of carrying out bat surveys, bat care and bat conservation work and has attended numerous training courses, she holds both RV and Survey licence numbers CLS 10324 and 10391 respectively. Ali Barnes has been surveying bats for five years and has received training in surveying techniques, bat detector (EM3 and Batlogger M) use, and echolocation analysis. He holds a Class 2 Bat Licence number C143559. Elaine Charlson and Peter Smith have been surveying bats for 3+ years with Urban Tree Experts and have received training in surveying techniques, bat detector (EM3, SM2 and Batlogger M) use and echolocation analysis. Matt Baillie is a new surveyor who was shadowing Bridget Parslow for experience. 5 Urban Tree Experts BS5837 – Tree Surveys – Ecological Consulting 2. Survey Methodology 2.1 Constraints/Limitations There were no constraints or limitations to the surveys and the weather conditions at the time were appropriate for bat activity surveys and bats were observed foraging during the surveys. 2.2 Dusk and Dawn Surveys Two dusk emergence surveys were conducted on the evenings of Sunday 7th May and Monday 12th June 2017 and the dawn return to roost survey was conducted on Monday 22nd May 2017. The surveys were at a time of year when active bats are most likely to be present. Weather conditions were suitable for the bat surveys, being conducted during warm weather and when bats were likely to be active. A static detector and automated infrared camera were installed within the loft where the droppings were observed to monitor bat activity. They were installed on the 10th May and recovered on the 1st June 2017. The surveyors were stationed around the building (as shown in Figure 1), to ensure the features identified in the preliminary bat report could be observed. During the surveys bat activity was monitored using BatLogger M and Echo Meter Touch bat detectors together with a FLIR T1020 thermal camera and a Sony Handycam video camera. The detectors and camera were fitted with SD cards for recording bat activity, allowing for later analysis with Kaleidoscope Pro 3 software and BLC media player.