Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement (discharge of condition no11)

Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn Weston Longville

for

Red Frog Developments Ltd.

20 September 2017

20 September 2017 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Client Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn Red Frog Developments Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement Ltd. (discharge of condition no11) 7 Fern Drive Cringleford NR4 7JT

Planning authority District Council 1 Yarmouth Road Norwich NR7 0DU

Document Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Version 1.0 Date 20 September 2017

Author Diane Megias B.Sc (Hons), Grad CIEEM, Natural Bat Survey Licence level 1 Reviewer Etienne Swarts B. Compt (Hons) F Deg Sc ACIEEM Natural England licences (Bat survey level 2, Great crested newt level 2, Hazel dormouse level 1) Signed disclosure The information, data, advice and opinions provided in this report which I have provided is true and has been prepared in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. I confirm that the opinions expressed are my true and professional bona fide opinions. Etienne Swarts, ACIEEM Greenlight Environmental Consultancy Limited Diss Business Hub Hopper Way Diss IP22 4GT www.greenlightco.co.uk

23 August 2017 1 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Table of Contents

Page

1 Introduction 3 2 Summary of ecological features and mitigation measures 3 3 Bibliography 5

Appendix A Examples of bat and bird boxes

Appendix B Recommended locations for boxes to be installed on site

Appendix C Hibernaculum design and suggested location

23 August 2017 2 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Greenlight Environmental Consultancy Ltd. has been commissioned to prepare a Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement for a proposed development at land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville, NR9 5JU. The grid reference of the centre of the proposed site is TG 11403 15833. 1.2. This report provides specifications on the biodiversity enhancement measures recommended in the preliminary ecological appraisal (“PEA”) report of the site, issued by Greenlight Environmental Consultancy Ltd. in May 2017. 1.3. This document is a condition required as part of the planning permission (reference: 20170970) granted by the Broadland District Council. The permitted works are for a residential development of a dwelling with associated access and services. 1.4. Condition number 11 of the planning permission states: “No works shall take place above slab level on the dwelling or garage until details of the type, position and number and a timetable for the installation of the bat boxes, bird boxes and reptile hibernaculum have been submitted to the local planning authority for its written approval. The development shall then take place in accordance with the approved details. Reason: To secure appropriate biodiversity mitigation in accordance with the Policy 1 of the Joint Core Strategy for Broadland, Norwich and 2011/2014 and Policy EN1 of the Development Management DPD 2015”

2. SUMMARY OF ECOLOGICAL FEATURES AND MITIGATION MEASURES FOR BATS, BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

Bats 2.1 No buildings or trees with bat roosting potential are found on the site. 2.2 The site was found to contain good habitat for bats, with foraging habitat along the woodland edges, over the interior grassland, and over the pond. The site is well connected to the surrounding woodland habitats, with hedgerows providing commuting habitats for bats to and from the site. 2.3 To compensate for the loss of bat foraging habitat predicted from the proposed works and to enhance the value of the site for bats, we recommended the following measures: 2.3.1 To enhance the site habitats with a scheme of soft landscaping using native species.

23 August 2017 3 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

2.3.2 To install a low light level regime around the development, without use of high powered security lighting, to minimise impacts on bats that may forage and commute in the vicinity and other nocturnal animals. 2.3.3 To install four bat boxes on trees or buildings on the site (refer to Appendices A and B for suggested types and location). The bat boxes can be installed at any time of the year.

Birds 2.4 The tree and scrub habitats along the boundary and within the interior of the site offer nesting opportunities for birds. The enclosed nature and rank grassland habitat of the site does not provide suitable habitat for ground nesting birds such as skylarks. 2.5 To ensure that no breeding birds will be harmed or disturbed, any works to trees and scrub vegetation should be conducted outside the main nesting season, which lasts from March to August. If this is not possible, the nesting habitats will have to be checked by a qualified ecologist prior to starting the work, to ensure that no birds are nesting on site. 2.6 To compensate for the loss of some bird nesting habitat, we recommended the installation of eight bird boxes on trees on the site (refer to Appendices A and B for suggested types and location). The bird boxes can be installed at any time of the year.

Great crested newts, other amphibians and reptiles 8.6 The habitats on the site are considered of some value for reptiles, and amphibians were recorded on site during the survey. 8.7 To reduce the risk of injuring or killing individual amphibians or reptiles during the construction works, we recommended that the vegetation within the area of works is reduced in stages by hand strimmer, to a maximum height of 10cm, over a period of two weeks prior to groundworks commencing. This will discourage animals from the area of works. 8.8 The tree removal and other vegetation works should be conducted outside the hibernation period for amphibians, which typically last from October to February, to give animals a chance to vacate the area of works while they’re active. Any piles of rubble or logs should be dismantled by hand to ensure no animals are harmed by heavy machinery. 2.7 As an enhancement to reptile and amphibian habitats, we recommended the construction of a hibernaculum on site, near the pond, to provide habitat for these animals (refer to Appendix C for the hibernaculum design and suggested location). The hibernaculum can be installed at any time of the year.

23 August 2017 4 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baker, J., Beebee, T., Buckley, J. Gent, T. and Orchard, D. (2011), Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation: Bournemouth

Bat Conservation Trust (2012), Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines 2nd Edition, Bat Conservation Trust, London.

Collins, J. (Ed.) (2016), Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edn.), The Bat Conservation Trust, London.

Eaton, M.A., Brown, A.F., Noble, D.G., Musgrove, A.J., Hearn, R., Aebischer, N.J., Gibbons, D.W., Evans, A. & Gregory, R.D. (2009) Birds of conservation concern 3: the population status of birds in the , Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. British Birds 102, 296-341.

Edgar, P., Foster, J. and Baker, J. (2010) Reptile Habitat Management Handbook, Amphibian and

Reptile Conservation: Bournemouth

English Nature (2001) Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines, Peterborough.

Froglife (1999), Reptile survey: an introduction to planning, conducting and interpreting surveys for snakes and lizard conservation, Froglife advice sheet 10.

Gent, A.H. and Gibson, S.D. eds. (1998), Herpetofauna Workers’ Manual, Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Griffiths, R.A., Raper, S.J., Brady, L.D. (1996). Evaluation of a standard method for surveying common frogs (Rana temporaria) and newts (Triturus cristatus, T. helveticus, and T. vulgaris). Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report No. 259.

Langton, T., Beckett, C. and Foster, J. (2001) GCN Conservation handbook. Froglife.

Mitchell-Jones (2004), Bat mitigation guidelines, English Nature: Peterborough

Oldham, R.S., Keeble, J., Swan, M.J.S. and Jeffcote, M. (2000), Evaluating the suitability of habitat for the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus). Herpetological Journal 10 (4), 143-155.

23 August 2017 5 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Appendix A

Examples of bat and bird boxes (images sourced from www.nhbs.com, www.habibat.co.uk and www.manthorpe.co.uk)

Integrated bat box Integrated bat box Habibat Bat Box 1FR Schwegler Bat Tube

2F Schwegler Bat Box (General purpose) 1FF Schwegler Bat Box with built-in wooded rear panel

1B Schwegler Bird Nest Box 2H Schwegler Robin Box

2GR Schwegler Bird Nest Box Vivara Pro Barcelona WoodStone Open Nest Box

20 September 2017 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Recommendations for installing bat boxes: (Sourced from Bat Conservation Trust www.bct.org)

Ideally, several boxes should be put up facing in different directions to provide a range of conditions. Locate boxes: • Where bats are known to feed close to hedges and tree lines (some bats use a tree line or hedgerow for navigation, putting boxes near these features may help the bats find the box). • Boxes should be put as high as possible in sheltered sunny places. Ideally at least 4m above the ground (where safe installation is possible). • Sheltered from strong winds and exposed to the sun for part of the day (usually south or south- west). • On buildings, boxes should be placed as close to the eaves as possible. Bats need time to find and explore new homes, and it may be several months or even years before boxes have residents. Once bats find a place they want to live they can return over and over again. Droppings on the landing area, urine stains around the lower parts of the box and chittering noises from inside on warm afternoons and evenings are signs of occupation.

Recommendations for installing bird boxes: (Sourced from British Trust for Ornithology www.bto.org and Manthorpe www.manthorpe.co.uk)

The highest priority when siting a nest box must be to provide a safe and comfortable environment in which birds can nest successfully. Tips for putting up nest box: • Not too close to another nest box - nest boxes of the same type should not be sited too close together as this may promote aggressive behaviour between neighbours. • Shelter your box from the weather - the front of the nest box should be angled vertically or slightly downwards to prevent rain from entering the nest box. Make sure it is sheltered from prevailing wind, rain and strong sunlight (box should be faced between north and east). • Height from the ground should be 3 metres - small-hole boxes are best placed 1-3m above ground on tree trunks, but avoid sites where foliage obscures the entrance hole. If there are no trees in your garden, the next best option is to place your box on the side of a shed or wall. • Make sure cats cannot get into the box. • Keep nest box away from bird feeders. • Use galvanized or stainless steel screws or nails that will not rust. If fixing boxes to trees, galvanised wire can be used to tie the box to the trunk or hang it from a branch. Make sure to regularly inspect these fittings (every two or three years) to ensure the box remains securely attached.

23 August 2017 7 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Appendix B

Recommended locations for bat and bird boxes to be installed on site

Recommended positions for bat and bird boxes are indicated by red and blue rectangles, respectively.

The locations of the boxes indicated below are advisory, and boxes can be placed differently although their installation should follow the height, orientation, and condition recommendations listed in Appendix A. If possible, open-fronted bird boxes should be installed on suitable trees on site, as this is likely to increase their chance of being used by birds.

23 August 2017 8 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Legend

recommended positions for 4 bat boxes (example: 3 on the building and 1 on a tree) recommended positions for 8 bird boxes (all on trees)

20 September 2017 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Legend

recommended positions for 4 bat boxes (example: 4 boxes on the building)

20 September 2017 Land adjacent to Church Farm Barn, Weston Longville Scheme of Biodiversity Improvement

Appendix C

Amphibian and reptile artificial hibernaculum design and suggested location

Source: English Nature (2001) Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines, Peterborough.

Legend

recommended position for the amphibian and reptile hibernaculum

20 September 2017