Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Warwickshire
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Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal April 2015 QUANTS environmental Ltd Tel: 01765 600799 Email: [email protected] Web: www.quantsenvironmental.com QUANTS environmental Ltd 639.03 – Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 3 2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey ....................................................................................... 4 2.3 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 4 3 Results ................................................................................................................................ 5 3.1 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.1 Statutory Sites ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.2 Non-Statutory Sites .............................................................................................................. 5 3.1.3 Species Records .................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Field Survey ......................................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1 Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 5 3.2.2 Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2.3 Bats ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 Other Fauna ......................................................................................................................... 7 4 Evaluation and Recommendations .................................................................................. 8 4.1 Protected Sites ..................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Habitats ................................................................................................................................ 8 4.3 Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 8 4.4 Bats ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4.5 Other Fauna ......................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix 1. Legislation Context ................................................................................................ 9 Appendix 2. Photos ....................................................................................................................10 Appendix 3: Information provided by LRERC .........................................................................12 2 QUANTS environmental Ltd 639.03 – Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal 1 Introduction This report presents the results of an ecological appraisal of land at Austrey House Farm, Orton Lane, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 3EA. The appraisal was conducted in relation to the proposed development of an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant to the north of the existing farm buildings. The proposed development will be located at approximate grid reference SK302053. Figure 1 provides an illustration of the proposed siting for the development. Arable farmland is the dominant land use in the area. The site is located in rural location approximately 1km south-east of the village of Austrey. The site survey was conducted on 25th February 2015 by Toby Fisher MCIEEM CEnv and Gemma Longman ACIEEM of Quants Environmental Ltd. A desk-based study was also undertaken to obtain existing ecological information on the site and the surrounding area. The aim of the assessment was to inform planning decisions relating to ecology for the proposed development. Figure 1. Aerial image of proposed AD plant (approximate development area shown in red) (image dated 2011) 3 QUANTS environmental Ltd 639.03 – Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal 2 Methodology 2.1 Desk Study The site lies in Warwickshire but only ~400 metres north-west of the border with Leicestershire. Therefore, ecological data searches were commissioned from Warwickshire Biological Records Centre (WBRC) and Leicestershire and Rutland Environmental Records Centre (LRERC) in order to identify any existing records of protected / notable species and protected sites within 1km of the site. In addition, the following web sources were searched for additional ecological data of most relevance to the site. • Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC). • Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 mapping. • Aerial imagery (dated 2013). 2.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey An extended phase 1 habitat survey was conducted on 25th February 2015 by Toby Fisher MCIEEM CEnv and Gemma Longman ACIEEM in accordance with the standard guidance1. The habitats on the site were assessed and categorised in order to provide baseline information and subsequent interpretation of the ecological value of the site. In addition, the site was searched for evidence of protected/notable species and assessed in terms of its potential to support protected/notable species. 2.3 Limitations The survey was undertaken outside of the optimum season for extended phase 1 habitat surveys (May to September). However, during the survey, it was possible to identify a significant proportion of plant species and to identify broad habitat types, and therefore this limitation was not considered to be significant with regards to be objectives of the survey. 1 JNCC, (2010), Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey - a technique for environmental audit, ISBN 0 86139 636 7 4 QUANTS environmental Ltd 639.03 – Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal 3 Results 3.1 Desk Study WBRC confirmed that they did not hold any records within 2km of the site. Information provided by LRERC is reproduced in Appendix 3 and the information is summarised below. 3.1.1 Statutory Sites There are no statutorily protected nature conservation sites within 4km of the site. The closest site is Alvecote Pools SSSI2 located >4 km west3; a series of shallow pools which have arisen as a result of colliery subsidence. 3.1.2 Non-Statutory Sites LRERC confirmed the presence of one Potential Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and two Parish level sites within 1km of the site. According to LRERC, Parish, County and District sites were designated during the late 1980s/early 1990s, based on comprehensive habitat surveys done largely in the 1980s. Although the system of designation has been superseded by the LWS process, many of these sites have retained their biodiversity value and this series of sites remains an important part of the local biodiversity ‘alert’ system). • Murray’s Meadow Potential Local Wildlife Site (PLWS) which is also a Parish level site comprising a mesotrophic grassland located 870m south-east at its nearest point. • An additional Parish level site ~900m south-east of the development site which comprises plantation broadleaved woodland adjoining Murray’s Meadow PLWS. 3.1.3 Species Records LRERC provided two species records within 1km of the site. Both records relate to White-letter hairstreak butterfly (a Biodiversity Action Plan priority species) recorded at Orton on the Hill. Please note that the paucity of records does not necessarily mean that there is no nature conservation interest present. 3.2 Field Survey 3.2.1 Habitats Also refer to Figure 2 and photos included in Appendix 2. Overview of Site The Anaerobic Digestion plant is proposed to be sited in an arable field to the north of a working farm; Austrey House Farm. The village of Austrey is located ~1km to the north-west. Arable land dominates the wider area, interspersed with a small number of hedgerows bordering large fields and very occasional small areas of broadleaved woodland and minor watercourses. Habitats The AD plant is to be sited within an arable field which gently slopes upwards to the north. The arable field has been sown with winter wheat Triticum sp. 2 Abbreviations: SSSI – Site of Special Scientific Interest. 3 Please note, all measurements to determine the distances between habitat features or protected sites and the turbine are an approximation only. 5 QUANTS environmental Ltd 639.03 – Austrey House Farm, Austrey, Atherstone, Warwickshire Ecological Appraisal The farm buildings to the south of the proposed AD plant are predominantly large modern agricultural sheds. At the time of survey, a large spoil heap and farm machinery/vehicles were located on the land immediately north of the farm buildings. However, a small