Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

Planning Services Peak District National Park Authority c/o Mr K Clayton Acumen Designers and Architects Ltd Headrow House Old Leeds Road Huddersfield HD1 1SG

10th January 2018

FAO: Mr John Scott RE: BG17.320 (Adaption of stables to form holiday accommodation NP/HPK/1015/0926, Park Hall Manor, Little Hayfield, Glossop, SK22 2NN) – Ecological Method Statement

Dear John,

I write to provide you with an ecological method statement pertaining to bats following emergence surveys undertaken at Park Hall Manor, Little Hayfield in order to discharge condition 6, associated with planning application NP/HPK/1015/0926, which stated:

“No development shall take place until full details of an Ecological Method Statement have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority. These details shall include:

• Details of a working method statement to show how the proposed works will be undertaken in a manner that minimises the potential disturbance to bats and safeguards the value of the roost. • Details of bat friendly lighting, demonstrating avoidance of light spill onto roosts and provision of dark corridors for commuting bats. • Details of wildlife friendly planting and other ecological enhancements as deemed appropriate.”

Summary

Brindle & Green were commissioned by Leon Van Tonder to undertake bat emergence/re-entry surveys on a single storey stable block known as ‘The Stables’ at Park Hall Manor, Little Hayfield, prior to the buildings conversion into a residential dwelling. The bat surveys were undertaken during July, August and September 2015. The purpose of the bat surveys was to determine whether bats were using ‘The Stables’ building as a roosting site and to assess the level and type of bat activity on site. The bat surveys revealed evidence of two myotis species day roosts, thought to be Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii). Furthermore, five bat species were recorded during the three surveys including Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Daubenton’s Bat, Leisler’s Bat (Nyctalus leisleri) and Common noctule (Nyctalus noctula). The level of activity was considered to be low to moderate and bats were thought likely to be using the linear habitat features of the mature woodland and buildings on site to guide commuting efforts to wider connective habitat.

Background

The site is the subject of a full planning application for the conversion of the existing building into a residential dwelling. It is understood that the converted building will be used as holiday accommodation. An initial Ecological Appraisal of the site was undertaken by Brindle & Green on 7th July 2015. This appraisal

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105 identified evidence of bat feeding remains within the internal loft space of the single storey building referred to as ‘The Stables’. As a result, the building was awarded high suitability to support roosting bats (Appendix 1) and further bat emergence/re-entry surveys were recommended. Three further surveys were subsequently carried out during July, August and September 2015.

Aim of the Bat Emergence/Re-entry Survey

All bat species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and Habitat Regulations (2017) making it an offence to, intentionally kill, injure, or take any species of bat, intentionally or recklessly disturb bats, intentionally or recklessly damage destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts.

The aim of the bat emergence/re-entry survey was to establish whether bats were roosting within ‘The Stables’, to inform the client of any ecological impacts of the proposed works with regards to bats, to summarise any necessary mitigation measures and to ensure the client works within the law.

Methodology

Bat surveys were conducted according to methodologies outlined within Natural England’s Bat Mitigation Guidelines (Mitchell-Jones, 2004) and the Bat Conservation Trust Good Practice Guidelines (Colins, 2016). The dusk surveys began 15 minutes before sunset and lasted for two hours following sunset, and the dawn survey began an hour and a half before sunrise and were completed 15 minutes following sunrise.

During the surveys, surveyors operated an Echo Meter Touch detector connected to an iPad. Where possible, species were identified using information from visual and audio cues; all sonograms were recorded onto the iPad and were analysed using Analook software to confirm species identification.

All bat passes, including time and species, were recorded on to field maps, noting direction of flight and emergence. Where possible, the number of individuals observed and behaviour of the bat was also recorded, including foraging, commuting and social calling behaviours.

Bat Emergence/Re-entry Survey Results

Two dusk emergence surveys were carried out on 5th August 2015 and 3rd September 2015 and a single dawn re-entry survey was undertaken on 21st July 2015.

During the dawn re-entry survey on 21st July 2015 two Myotis bats, likely to be Daubenton’s bat were seen entering ‘The Stables’ building at two different locations, namely, under a roof tile in the southwest corner of the south-eastern elevation of the building and under a ridge tile along the north-western aspect of the building. During the dusk emergence survey on 5th August 2015, two Myotis bats. likely to be Daubenton’s bat, were recorded emerging from the same two locations and during the final dusk emergence survey on 3rd September 2015 a single Myotis bat, thought to be a Daubenton’s Bat, was observed emerging from beneath a roof tile in the southwest corner of the south-eastern elevation of the building.

Both roost locations were classified as day roosts where individual bats, or small groups of males, rest or shelter during the day.

Bats were recorded using the surrounding habitat features for commuting and foraging purposes. Both common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle species appeared to favour the foraging opportunities along the trees to the north and west of ‘The Stables’ building.

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

A total of five bat species were recorded during the three surveys carried out on ‘The Stables’ building including Common pipistrelle, Soprano pipistrelle, Daubenton’s Bat, Leisler’s Bat and Common noctule. The level of activity was considered to be low to moderate. Bats are likely to be using the linear habitat features of the mature woodland and buildings on site to guide commuting efforts to wider connective habitat.

Mitigation Measures

Roost mitigation

Two Myotis species, thought to be Daubenton’s Bat, day roosts were identified within the ridge and roof tiles of ‘The Stables’ building. Each of the day roosts were found to support an individual Myotis species bat. The recommendations outlined below suggest mitigation work aimed at reducing the impact upon this protected species. These works can take place at any time, however should ideally take place over the winter period (between October and April) when the building is considered to be unsuitable to support this species.

• Natural England Development Licence A European Protective Species development licence from Natural England is to be applied for. This will include a method statement produced by a suitably qualified ecologist.

• Installation of temporary bat boxes Install 2 x temporary bat boxes (2FN Schwegler Bat Box) on the southern face of two of the mature trees located to the north and west the building. Any bats found during the following exclusion and/or soft stripping works to be transferred to these boxes by hand.

• Install exclusion devices Where possible, the installation of one-way excluders will be undertaken prior to the permanent blocking of access points to known roost sites on ‘The Stables’. Excluders also to be installed on potential access points for crevice-dwelling bats on ‘The Stables’. Devices to remain in-situ for a period of five nights where weather conditions are favourable for bat activity. Period to be extended should unfavourable weather conditions occur.

• Capture exercise during soft stripping of roofing features Bat roosting features should be soft stripped under the supervision of the Named Ecologist. Should bats be encountered during soft stripping then they will be captured by hand and relocated to pre- installed temporary bat boxes. Once all bat roosting features have been stripped, checked and structures made unsuitable for roosting bats the building can be declared free of bats and the development process can proceed without ecological supervision. Temporary bat boxes to remain in place during this period.

• Creation of compensatory habitat Permanent compensatory bat roosting habitat to comprise of two Bat Tiles (such as a Habibat Bat Access Slate) incorporated within the north-western and south-eastern elevations of the renovated building.

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

Lighting mitigation measures

The use of artificial lighting can have a profound detrimental effect on bats. In addition to causing disturbance to bats at the roost, artificial lighting can also affect the feeding behaviour of bats and their use of commuting routes. The following guidelines are aimed at minimising the impact upon this protected species.

• The use of lighting should be proportionate to the task and the direct illumination of the roosting sites should be avoided.

• Artificial security lighting should not be installed post construction particularly along the north- western and south-eastern elevations of ‘The Stables’ building.

• The spread of light should be minimised to at, or near horizontal and only the task area should be lit. Flat cut-off lanterns or accessories should be used to shield or direct light to where it is required.

• Consideration should be given to the height of the lighting columns to ensure an appropriate balance between the task and the need for mitigation is achieved. A lower mounting height may not always be the best solution particularly if this creates more light spill or requires more columns.

• Temporary close-boarded fencing can be used to shield sensitive areas from lighting until screening vegetation matures sufficiently to remove the risk of light pollution.

• Employing a system of adaptive lighting can help to reduce the impact on light-sensitive species such as bats. Reducing lighting levels or switching off lighting installations after certain times can provide some dark periods for these species.

• Wherever possible chosen light sources should emit a narrow spectrum that lowers the range of potentially affected species. These light sources should also emit minimal ultra-violet light and should peak higher than 550 nm. Avoiding white and blue wavelengths of the light spectrum will reduce attraction. Where the use of white light sources is unavoidable they should be of a warm/neutral colour temperature < 4,200 kelvin.

Planting and landscaping measures

Providing and enhancing foraging habitat is a key mitigation measure to improve the landscape for bats. As all bat species are insectivores, interventions that increase insect abundance, particularly nocturnal flying , will be of great benefit to bats.

Any planting scheme should seek to attract nocturnal flying insects by including the planting of:

• A mixture of flowering plants, vegetables, trees (including fruit trees) and shrubs, to encourage a diversity of insects to sustain bats and other wildlife throughout the year.

• Flowers that vary in colour, fragrance, shape, amount of nectar and time of flowering.

• Pale flowers that are more easily seen in poor light, so attracting insects at dusk.

• Single flowers, which tend to produce more nectar than double varieties.

• Flowers with insect-friendly landing platforms and short florets, like those in the daisy or carrot families. Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

• Nectar-bearing flowers and night-scented plants are particularly good for . A recommended planting list is provided in Appendix 2.

• Native food plants that provide an important food source for caterpillars. The native plants which are most likely to attract caterpillars are those which already occur in the locality, so it is worth noting what plants grow in nearby fields, hedgerows and verges, or on local urban brown-field sites. A list of suitable food plants is provided in Appendix 3.

Kind Regards,

Paul Sheridan

For and on Behalf of Brindle & Green Limited

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

Appendix I – Potential suitability of roosting habitat within structures

Table 1. Potential suitability of roosting habitat within structures (Buildings and trees) to be applied to each structure using professional judgement. Adapted from Collins J (2016)

Category Description of roosting habitat Number of presence / absence surveys required No The building is wholly unsuitable for a None Potential bat roost. Negligible Suitable cavities may exist, but these None Potential are open to wind, rain or disturbance. Low This category describes a structure with One survey between Potential one or more potential roost sites that May and August could be used by individual bats opportunistically, that less than ideal in some way. For example, the feature may be subject to intermittent disturbance, and does not provide enough shelter, conditions* space and/or suitable surrounding habitat (e.g. unlikely to support a maternity or hibernation roost).

This category describes a tree of Trees – No further sufficient size and age to support surveys required roosting bats, but with no features observed from the ground, or the features only have a limited potential to support roosting bats.

Moderate This category describes a structure or Two surveys between Potential tree considered to have one or more May and September potential roost sites that could be used (with at least one survey by bats due to their size, shelter, undertaken between protection, conditions* and surrounding May and August) habitat but are unlikely to support a roost of high conservation status (With One Dusk emergence regard to roost type only – assessments and One Dawn re-entry are made irrespective of species survey to ideally be conservation status, which is undertaken at least two established after presence is confirmed) weeks apart.

Features considered to have adequate potential would include cavities of appropriate dimensions that are Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105 generally free from disturbance and free from fluctuations in the weather.

High A structure or tree with one or more Three surveys between Potential potential roost sites that are obviously May and September suitable for use by larger numbers of (with at least two bats on a more regular basis and surveys undertaken potentially for longer periods of time due between May and to their size, shelter, protection, August) conditions* and surrounding habitat. One Dusk emergence and One Dawn re-entry survey to be undertaken. The third survey can be either Dusk or Dawn.

The surveys should ideally be undertaken at least two weeks apart. Confirmed This category is where positive Three surveys between evidence of bats has been recorded. May and September For example, bats are found; bat (with at least two droppings may be present at a suitable surveys undertaken location for roosting bats; existing bat between May and records may be associated with the August) structure. One Dusk emergence and One Dawn re-entry survey to be undertaken. The third survey can be either Dusk or Dawn.

The surveys should ideally be undertaken at least two weeks apart.

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

Appendix 2 – Plant species list for encouraging bats

Table 2 below contains a suggested species list of plants that can provide benefit for bats by providing a food source for insects. The plants listed are predominately native to Britain. The small group of non- native plants is included for their documented value for wildlife.

Common Name Scientific Name Native (N) Soil Type Light Cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis N Moist Sun/shade Common Centaurea nigra N Dry, not acid Sun knapweed Red valerian Centranthus ruber N Well Sun drained/alkaline Wild carrot Daucus carota N Any Sun Pinks Dianthus spp. N Well drained Sun Foxglove purpurea N Well drained Shade/partial shade Bell heather Erica cinereal N Sandy Full sun Hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum N Moist Sun/shade Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Well drained Sun Hebe species Hebe spp. Well drained Sun/shade Ivy Hedera helix N Any Sun/shade Sweet rocket Hesperis matrionalis N Well drained/Dry Sun/shade Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta N Loam Shade/partial shade Common jasmine Jasminum officinale Well drained Sun Lavender species Lavandula spp. Well drained/sandy Sun Toadflax Linaria vulgaris N Well Sun drained/alkaline Bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus N Well drained/dry Sun Honesty Lunaria annua Any Sun/partial shade Apple Malus spp. Any Sun Night-scented Matthiola longipetala Well drained/moist Sun stock Forget-me-not Myosotis spp. N Any Sun species Ornamental Nicotiania alata Well drained/moist Sun/partial shade tobacco Evening primrose Oenothera spp. Well drained/dry Sun species Marjoram Origanum vulgare N Well drained/dry Sun Cowslip Primula veris N Welll drained/moist Sun/partial shade Primrose Primula vulgaris N Moist Partial shade Wild cherry Prunus avium N Any Sun Plum Prunus domestica Well drained/moist Sun Dog rose Rosa canina N Any Sun Soapwort Saponaria officinalis N Any Sun Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia N Well drained Sun Small scabious Scabiosa columbaria N Well Sun drained/alkaline Ice plant Sedum spectabile Well drained/dry Sun Red campion Silene dioecian N Any Shade/partial

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105 shade Lambs ears Stachys lanata N Well drained/dry Sun Michaelmas daisies Symphotrichum spp. Any Sun French marigold Tagetes patula Well drained/moist Sun Creeping thyme Thymus serpyllum N Well drained/dry Sun Clover species Trifolium spp. N Any Sun Valerian species Valeriana spp. N Moist Sun/partial shade Verbana Verbana bonariensis Well drained/moist Sun Mulleins Verbascum spp. N Well drained Sun Wayfaring tree Viburnum lantana N Any Sun/shade Pansy Viola tricolor N Well drained/moist

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105

Appendix 3 – Suitable food plants for moth species

Table 3 below contains a suggested species list of plants that can provide a food source for specific species of moth.

Common name Scientific name Specific moth species Trees & Shrubs Ash Fraxinus excelsior Centre-barred Sallow, Coronet Apple Malus domestica Eyed Hawk-moth Barberry Berberis spp. Scarce Tissue Beech Fagus sylvatica Clay Triple-lines, Barred Sallow Birch Betula spp. Lesser Swallow Prominent, Grey Dagger, Vapourer Blackthorn Prunus spinose Blue-bordered Carpet, Peppered Moth, Chinese Character Bramble Rubus fruticosus Peach Blossom, Buff Arches Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Swallow-tailed Moth, Brimstone Moth, Feathered Thorn Hazel Corylus avellana Scalloped Hazel, Purple Thorn Lime Tilia spp. Lime Hawk-moth, Orange Sallow Privet Ligustrum vulgare Privet Hawk-moth, Willow Beauty Willow Salix spp. Sallow Kitten, Poplar Hawk-moth, Puss Moth, Herald, Red Underwing Herbaceous Plants Bedstraws (including Cleavers) Galium spp. Humming-bird Hawk-moth, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Barred Straw Clematis, cultivated varieties and Clematis spp. Small Emerald, Haworth’s Pig Traveller’s Joy Comfrey Symphytum officinale Scarlet Tiger Currant Ribes spp. Magpie, V-moth Dog Rose Rosa canina Shoulder Stripe, Streamer, Barred Yellow Foxglove Foxglove Pug Fuchsia Fuchsia spp. Elephant Hawk-moth Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolate Garden Carpet Heathers Erica spp., Calluna spp. True Lover’s Knot Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Early Grey, Twenty-plume Moth Hop Humulus lupulus Currant Pug, Buttoned Snout, Buff Ermine, Pale Tussock Ivy Hedera helix Double-striped, Old Lady Mallow (Common mallow & Tree Malva sylvestris & M. arborea Mallow mallow) Marjoram Origanum vulgare Mint Moth Mint Mentha spp. Mint Moth, Beautiful Plume Ox-eye Daisy Lencanthemum vulgare Dichrorampha alpinana Nettle Urtica dioica Mother of Pearl, Burnished Brass, Jersey Tiger, Beautiful Golden Y, Spectacle, Snout Red Campion Silene dioica Rivulet Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Varied Coronet

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd ECOLOGISTS FOR BUSINESS www.brindlegreen.co.uk TEL: 0800 222 9105 Mulleins Verbascum bombyciferum, V. Mullein thapsus Yarrow Achillea millefolium Tawny Speckled Pug

Brindle & Green Ecological Consultants Ltd, Unit 3, Silverhill Court, Radbourne, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 4LY

Registered in England Company No. 8174516