Hazel Hill Wood, Farley, Wiltshire Ecological Assessment for The

Hazel Hill Wood, Farley, Wiltshire Ecological Assessment for the Hideaway www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Report Number: 0167 Issue Number: 02 Date of Issue: 17th April 2018 Peach Ecology 9 Elizabeth Road Wilton Wiltshire England SP2 0JH COPYRIGHT: Peach Ecology disclaims any responsibility to the Client and others in respect of any matters outside the scope of this document. This document has been prepared with all reasonable skill, care and diligence, within the terms of the Contract with the Client. The report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the Client and Peach Ecology accepts no responsibility of whatever nature to third parties to whom this report, or any part thereof, may be made known. Any advice, opinions, or recommendations within this document should be read and relied upon only in the context of the document as a whole and do not, in any way, purport to include any manner of legal advice or opinion. No part of this document may be reproduced without the prior written approval of Peach Ecology. www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Contents Page 1.0 Summary 1 2.0 Introduction 2 3.0 Methodology 3 4.0 Results and Analysis 5 5.0 Requirements and Recommendations 11 Appendices Appendix A: Site location Appendix B: Existing site plan Appendix C: Proposed site plan Appendix D: Protected sites and habitats data Appendix E: Annotated site plan Appendix F: Mitigation and enhancement plan Appendix G: Protected species legislation www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 1.0 Summary The proposal is to construct a new-build off-grid accommodation building at Hazel Hill Wood. The proposals will mean that additional people will be able to stay on site when attending courses, the numbers of visitors have been agreed as part of a separate planning application as a way to maintain the integrity of the County Wildlife Site. The location for the new building has been chosen as it is close to the other buildings on site and although the existing habitat has some ecological value, mitigation and enhancement measures have been included which ensure there will be no net loss in ecological value at the site scale. Hazel Hill Wood is an area of Ancient Woodland however the area where the new building is proposed is on land that has no trees, although some young trees will need to be removed from the construction area surrounding the building. Measures have been detailed to protect important habitats and features during construction and further management measures have been set out to be included into the new proposed management plan. www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Page 1 2.0 Introduction Background 2.1 Peach Ecology was commissioned in November 2017 to carry out an Ecological Assessment of the land where the new accommodation building is proposed at Hazel Hill Woodland, Grid Reference: SU 22086 28473, located as shown in Appendix A and laid out as shown in Appendix B. This report will contribute to the planning application being submitted to Wiltshire County Council for permission to construct the new building as shown in Appendix C. 2.2 The site was surveyed in 2007 (Wilson, Clarke, Green 2007) prior to the original Eco- lodge being constructed and recommendations were made which were included into the woodland management and have since been carried out. Description of site and surrounding area 2.3 Hazel Hill Woodland is located approximately 4 miles to the east of Salisbury. The site is situated in the Salisbury Plain and West Wiltshire Downs Natural Area, described by Natural England as follows1: ‘Salisbury Plain is a sparsely settled, predominantly agricultural area with a strong sense of remoteness and openness. The dominant element in the landscape – apart from the expansive sky – is the gently rolling chalk downland, forming part of the sweep of Cretaceous Chalk running from the Dorset coast and across the Chilterns to north of the Wash.’ 2.4 The site forms part of a complex of sites including Bentley Woods Site of Special Scientific Importance (SSSI) and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve Backmoor Copse. It is surrounded by farmland used as arable land and for grazing, this consists of many individual small fields with mature hedgerows with trees at the field boundaries. The woodland is divided into ten different compartments which are coppiced on rotation. Compartment 14 where the new Hideaway building is proposed consists of a W10a sub community although due to the coppicing of hornbeam more mature oaks have been excluded by management. A management plan exists for the woodland although this is being updated and advice has been sought from Butterfly Conservation on management of the woodland, paths and rides. Brief 2.5 To carry out an Ecological Assessment of the immediate area where the new Hideaway building is proposed and inform the clients of any ecological implications associated with the proposals. 1 Natural Areas are defined by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office as ‘biogeographic zones which reflect the geological foundation, the natural systems and processes and the wildlife in different parts of England, and provide a framework for setting objectives for nature conservation' (Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, HMSO, 1995). www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Page 2 3.0 Methodology Desk Study 3.1 This involved gathering ecological data relating to statutory nature conservation sites, protected habitats and species from 2km and beyond, the results of which are shown in Appendix D. A search was undertaken using Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC), a DEFRA run website, to check for European Protected Species licences and areas of Ancient Woodland nearby. Ordnance Survey maps and aerial images were assessed to check for other relevant data on notable habitats and species nearby including wildlife corridors where the site connects into the surrounding area. A protected species and habitats data search was undertaken within 2km of the site with Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC). Site Assessment 3.2 The site was assessed on the 29th November 2017 by Davog McCloskey and Clare Halliday. The visits employed techniques based on standard Phase I Habitat Survey methodology (CIEEM, 2016). Habitat types on and adjacent to the site were identified according to standard habitat definitions. The collection of botanical information focused on the dominant and key indicator species for each habitat type, some samples were taken home and a range of different keys were used to identify these where necessary. The site survey included an assessment of the habitats immediately adjacent to the site, where possible, to look at the value of the site within the local landscape and to see whether these sites supported protected species. Indicative methodologies for the most likely protected and notable species that could occur on site and be impacted by the proposals are set out below. An annotated site plan is shown in Appendix E. Bats 3.3 Any trees potentially impacted by the proposals were inspected in accordance with current survey guidance (Bat Conservation Trust, 2016) for roosting features which could support bats and for bat commuting and foraging potential. Trees were checked for ivy cover, crevices and rotten sections. The area where the new building is proposed was assessed for its bat commuting and foraging potential with the aim of determining the impact of a new building at the location, especially the impact in relation to lighting. Birds 3.4 Vegetation was surveyed for signs of breeding birds and any nesting activity was noted along with birds in the area. Badgers 3.5 Any areas that could be used for foraging or could potentially contain a Badger sett were surveyed and any signs noted. Signs include active or disused setts, digging, latrines and dung pits, foraging signs like snuffle holes, footprints, hairs and mammal tracks. www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Page 3 Dormice 3.6 The suitability of the habitat was assessed for dormice in terms of the trees and shrubs and the sites connectivity into the wider landscape. Any small mammal feeding signs were checked and assessed, these include teeth marks on nuts and seeds and any evidence of nest building. Great Crested Newts 3.7 Any ponds on site and within the vicinity of the site were noted and the potential of the land to act as a commuting route, shelter or foraging resource for great crested newts was assessed. Reptiles 3.8 Habitat features suitable as hibernating, foraging or basking areas were noted. These were all carefully examined to look for reptiles or for evidence of reptiles, including shed skins. Hedgehogs 3.9 The site was searched for signs of hedgehogs including looking for areas of suitable habitat, searching for mammal tracks and droppings and deep piles of leaves. Any composting piles of logs or tree roots were noted. Invertebrates 3.10 The area of habitat impacted by the proposals was assessed in terms of rare and notable species of invertebrates, most notably pearl bordered fritillary. www.peachecology.co.uk 07887 248031 Page 4 4.0 Results and Discussion Desk study 4.1 Two statutory sites of nature conservation importance were found within 2km of the site, to the east, Bentley Wood and Blackmoor Copse SSSI. Blackmoor Copse is a nature reserve managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, it is an area of botanically and entomologically rich broadleaved woodland and is well known as a butterfly site: over 40 species were recorded in the 1950’s. The contemporary fauna is more limited, with 29 species recorded. However, this does include species typical of established woodland, such as the white admiral, purple emperor, pearl-bordered fritillary and a large population of silver-washed fritillary.

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