Tarmac Trading Limited Hartshill Quarry ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL February 2018 FPCR Environment and Design Ltd Registered Office: Lockington Hall, Lockington, Derby DE74 2RH Company No. 07128076. [T] 01509 672772 [F] 01509 674565 [E] [email protected] [W] www.fpcr.co.uk This report is the property of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd and is issued on the condition it is not reproduced, retained or disclosed to any unauthorised person, either wholly or in part without the written consent of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Ordnance Survey material is used with permission of The Controller of HMSO, Crown copyright 100018896. Rev Issue Status Prepared/Date Approved/Date - Draft 1 AWB / 08.12.17 RJS / 22.12.17 Draft 2 AWB / 14.02.18 RJS / 16.02.18 Ecological Appraisal fpcr CONTENTS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 2 2.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 3 3.0 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 3 4.0 RESULTS............................................................................................................................ 11 5.0 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 24 TABLES Table 1: Classification and Survey Requirements for Bats in Trees Table 2: HSI Score and Suitability for Supporting Great Crested Newts Table 3: Non-statutory Sites within 1km Table 4: Notable Species Records within 1km Table 5: Target Notes Table 6: Assessment of On-site Hedgerows Table 7: Building Descriptions Table 8: Bat Potential Trees Table 9: HSI Details for Off-site Quarry Lagoons APPENDICES Appendix A: Desk Study Results for Warwickshire Biological Records Centre Appendix B: Botanical Species Lists Appendix C: Photographs FIGURES Figure 1: Location of Designated Sites Plan Figure 2: Protected and Notable Species Plan Figure 3: Phase 1 Habitat Plan Figure 4: Bat Transect Plan J:\6800\6881\ECO\Eco App\6881 Ecoapp Reduced Site.Docx 1 Ecological Appraisal fpcr 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The site is dominated by arable habitat and also supports woodland, mature trees, hedgerows and improved grassland. 1.2 Habitats are predominantly considered to be of limited botanical value. Snowhill Wood LWS within the site boundary will be retained and protected as part of the proposals as will the majority of hedgerows and mature trees. 1.3 No designated sites are considered to represent a constraint to the proposed development. 1.4 Habitats within the site, most particularly Snowhill Wood, woodland adjacent the east boundary and hedgerows were shown to provide suitable foraging and commuting habitat for bats with the majority recorded during nocturnal surveys were common pipistrelles. 1.5 A small number of trees with bat roost potential have been identified and recommendations are for retention. Two residential dwellings at the south site boundary provide low suitability for roosting bats with detailed external and internal surveys having been undertaken. 1.6 Habitats to be lost or affected provide limited suitability for reptiles and where sub-optimal habitat exists it is largely isolated within arable habitat. Where limited areas of suitability are to be lost and have connectivity with suitable off-site habitat best practice removal methods are recommended to minimise potential harm to reptiles. Reptiles are therefore not considered to represent a constraint to development. 1.7 Removal of suitable bird nesting habitat should be undertaken in accordance with best practice and outside the bird nesting season (March to August inclusive). No other species are considered to provide any constraints to development. 1.8 Best practice methods for preventing pollution have been set out and measures to reduce potential impacts caused by increased recreation are put forward in a separate woodland management plan. 1.9 Enhancements for wildlife will include provision of bat and bird boxes, hedgerow strengthening and new native shrub, tree and hedgerow planting as part of a cohesive green infrastructure network. Together with the management of Snowhill Wood (detailed in a separate plan) this is considered to provide a net gain for biodiversity overall. J:\6800\6881\ECO\Eco App\6881 Ecoapp Reduced Site.Docx 2 Ecological Appraisal fpcr 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The following report has been prepared by FPCR Environment & Design Ltd on behalf of Tarmac Trading Limited. It provides details of ecology survey work including Extended Phase 1 and Preliminary Protected Species surveys undertaken on a site south of Jees Quarry (Hartshill Quarries LWS), Warwickshire (Central OS grid ref. SP 3310 9362). 2.2 The site is located east of Hartshill village with residential properties associated with the village of Camp Hill bordering the southern site boundary and Hartshill School and associated recreation ground bordering the west. To the north-east of the site lies adjacent the now restored Jees Quarry that supports two large waterbodies and associated woodland. At the time of survey the site largely comprised arable land with associated compartments of semi-natural broad-leaved woodland. 2.3 The proposed development is for residential dwellings with associated access, green infrastructure and attenuation as detailed on the indicative layout (drawing no. N001 – 00217). 3.0 METHODOLOGY Desk Study 3.1 In order to compile existing baseline information, relevant ecological data was requested from both statutory and non-statutory nature conservation organisations for the purposes of this Ecological Appraisal, including: Multi Agency Government Information Centre (MAGIC)1 Warwickshire Biological Records Centre (WBRC) 3.2 Further inspection, using colour 1:25,000 OS base maps (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk) and aerial photographs from Google Earth (www.maps.google.co.uk), was also undertaken in order to provide additional context and identify any features of potential importance for nature conservation in the wider countryside. 3.3 The search area for biodiversity information was related to the significance of sites and species and potential zones of influence, as follows: 5km around the application area for sites of International Importance (e.g. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Ramsar sites). 2km around the application area for sites of National or Regional Importance (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)) 1km around the application site for sites of County Importance and species records (e.g. Local Wildlife Site, proposed Wildlife Sites and protected, and/or notable species). Flora/Habitats 3.4 The site was surveyed on 20th July 2015 and a further walkover survey to update the baseline data was undertaken on 19th September 2017 using the standard Extended Phase 1 habitat 1 http://www.magic.gov.uk J:\6800\6881\ECO\Eco App\6881 Ecoapp Reduced Site.Docx 3 Ecological Appraisal fpcr assessment methodology (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 2010)2 as recommended by Natural England to identify specific habitats of ecological interest. Target notes were used to record features or habitats of particular ecological interest. Whilst species lists should not be regarded as exhaustive, sufficient information was gained to enable determination of broad habitat types and identify any features of interest. 3.5 Hedgerows were surveyed using the Hedgerow Evaluation and Grading System (HEGS) (Clements and Toft 1993). This method of assessment includes noting down canopy species composition; associated ground flora and climbers; structure of the hedgerow including height, width and gaps; associated features such as number and species of mature trees, banks, ditches and grass verges. 3.6 Each hedgerow is given a grade using HEGS. These grades are used to assign a nature conservation value as follows: Grade 1 – High to very high value Grade 2 – Moderately high to high value Grade 3 – Moderate value Grade 4 – Low value 3.7 Hedgerows graded -2 and above are suggested as being of nature conservation priority. Fauna Bats 3.8 The methodology undertaken during the surveys has taken into account the statutory guidance from English Nature (now Natural England)3 and the Bat Conservation Trust guidance4. Building Assessment 3.9 Buildings within the site were inspected for their potential to support roosting bats by a licenced bat worker on 9th October 2017 (Natural England licence no. 2016-26252-SCI-SCI). A further external inspection of the most suitable features was undertaken from an elevated work platform by a licenced bat worker (Natural England licence no. 2015-19188- CLS) using endoscopes and torches as appropriate on 1st February 2018. 3.10 Two residential dwellings (no.116 and 118 Camphill Road) were assessed internally and externally for features with potential to support roosting bats such as small gaps under barge/soffit/fascia boards and gaps at gable ends or door frames, which have the potential to provide access points/roost sites for bats. Each property supported loft voids that were inspected for evidence of bats. Evidence that bats actively use potential access points includes staining within gaps and bat droppings or urine staining under gaps, a note being made wherever these were present. Indicators that potential access points had not recently been used include the presence of heavy cobwebbing and general detritus