B i o d i v e r s i t y A s s e s s m e n t H I N C K L E Y A N D B O S W O R T H B O R O U G H F i n a l R e p o r t March 2009 Cover Photographs : Arable fields; hedgerows and woodland at Higham on the Hill River Sence, near Witherley Arable fields at Nailstone Hedgerows at Witherley Acknowledgments : Darwin Sumner, Leicestershire Environmental Records Centre Dr. Pam Mynott, Leicestershire Badger Group Mr. A Heaton, Leicestershire Amphibian and Reptile Group Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Mr. Keith Stevenson Images : Unless otherwise credited habitat photographs were taken by FPCR for the purposes of this project Unless otherwise credited, images and photographs of fauna are sourced from publically available resources on the internet H I N C K L E Y A N D B O S W O R T H BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 6.0 DESIGNATED SITES Introduction and Context for Study Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Requirement for Study within the Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation European and UK Planning Context (SINC) National, Regional and Local Nature Local Nature Reserves Conservation Legislation and Policy Country Parks Aims of the Biodiversity Assessment Bidiversity in the East Midlands 7.0 OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY 2.0 METHODOLOGY Woodland and Trees Inception Grassland Desktop Study Wetlands Field Study Hedgerows Analysis of Results Other Habitats Constraints Species 3.0 BOROUGH OVERVIEW 8.0 KEY HABITATS AND GREEN CORRIDORS Location and Context River and Canal Corridors Natural Areas Hedgerows Range of Habitats and Fauna North-east of the Borough Quarry and Gravel Pit Restoration 4.0 HABITATS National Forest 4.1 Woodland Urban Areas/villages 4.2 Individual Trees Farmland 4.3 Grassland 4.4 Standing Water 9.0 CONCLUSION 4.5 Running Water 4.6 Hedgerows 4.7 Other habitat areas 5.0 FAUNA 5.1 Great crested newts 5.2 Bats 5.3 Reptiles 5.4 Badgers 5.5 Water-vole 5.6 Brown Hare 5.7 Birds H I N C K L E Y A N D B O S W O R T H BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT CONTENTS FIGURES 1 Natural Areas 2 Woodland and Hydrology 3 Protected Species 4 Protected Bird Species 5 Location of Designated Sites APPENDICES 1 Details of Fauna Within Borough 2 Field Survey Forms 3 SSSI Citations and Condition 4 Wildlife Area Information 5 Glossary 6 References SUPPLEMENT Sites Allocated for Development 1 . 0I N T R O D U C T I O N HINCKLEY ANDBOSWORTH BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT FOR STUDY states to ensure that there is an assessment of the environmental effects of plans, policies and programmes 1.1 Biodiversity is described as the variety of life in all its forms and at a strategic level within the setting and determining of the habitats where it occurs. Biodiversity assets will include such proposals at the earliest stage. This is set out within not only those habitats which are of inherent value in Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of themselves, but also those which support fauna which are certain plans and programmes on the environment, protected either by European or UK statute or which are transposed into UK law by the Environmental Assessment nationally and locally important. It is considered to be a key of Plans and Programmes Regulations SI 2004 No. 1633 factor in helping us achieve sustainable development, Environmental Protection. The directive aims “to provide contributing to the three underpinning themes of this concept: for a high level of protection of the environment and to environmental, economic and social development. contribute to the integration of environmental 1.2 This document represents the final report of the work considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans commissioned by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and programmes with a view to producing development”. (HBBC) in 2007 - 2008 to provide a baseline assessment of Further guidance on adopting an integrated approach to the biodiversity and nature conservation interest (including planning, both throughout the national, regional and local regional biodiversity targets) of the Borough of Hinckley and level and across the different sectoral issues at each level Bosworth. Maps illustrating the key habitat areas, nature is laid out within Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 12 conservation designations and locations of protected and Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance and notable species are supplied within this document. its associated government circular. 1.3 The background for the study is described below (Sections 1.4 1.6 HBBC are preparing their LDF which will inform their future onwards) including the legislative and policy context principles and policies for development and land-use surrounding the requirements for this work. This is followed by within the Borough until 2026. This process must be a description of the survey approach (Section 2) along with an undertaken in accordance with, and under, the umbrella outline of how this document is structured. The biodiversity policies set out at a national and regional level, to ensure baseline is then described under Sections 3 onwards. A cohesiveness and integration of the various policy aims summary and conclusions for the work is given in Section 9. and objectives. 1.7 This Biodiversity Assessment has therefore been Requirement for Study within the European and UK commissioned by HBBC as an integral part of their LDF Planning Context process. The next section of this study sets out the 1.4 All local planning authorities (LPA) must provide a plan for national, regional and local legislative and policy context their representative area, outlining their requirements with with regards to nature conservation and biodiversity. respect to potential new or re-development. These proposals, known as the Local Development Framework (LDF), must be National, regional and local nature conservation drawn up in accordance with current Government guidance legislation and policy and legislation and with reference to national and regional 1.8 Selected habitats and species are afforded varying levels policies, for a range of sectoral issues, including nature of protection from harm or disturbance through the law, conservation and biodiversity. due to their rarity within Europe or within the UK. Some are 1.5 At the highest level the European Union requires member protected at a European level and also under UK law; H I N C K L E Y A N D B O S W O R T H BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Melton Charnwood North West Leicestershire Leicester City Hinckley & Bosworth 2 M4 Oadby & Wigston Blaby Harborough 9 6 M M1 M6 Figure 1.1 Location Map showing Hinckley & Bosworth Borough within the county of Leicestershire. H I N C K L E Y A N D B O S W O R T H BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT 2 INTRODUCTION 1 others are protected solely under UK legislation. Further improve their status, with plans at a national and local species and habitats are afforded a degree of protection, level. The UK BAP has been recently revised in 2007 to although not direct statutory protection, through their include a much greater number of individual species, inclusion within national and local policies, whereby their although a small number have been removed from the lists presence should be considered by the LPA within a planning as their status is considered to have improved as a result of application. Those species and habitats within the Borough focused activity. Specific species and habitats within each are described within the baseline and their specific level of smaller region are then also addressed by the local BAPs, protection highlighted. which may include the same, or different priorities, depending on the local concerns. Hinckley and Bosworth European legislation falls within the BAP covering Leicestershire, the targets of 1.9 Nature conservation issues are predominantly, although not which are this currently under review (www.lrwt.org.uk). exclusively, addressed in Europe through the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (or the Nature conservation policies Habitats Directive) 1992 and the Wild Birds Directive 1979. 1.13 National policy for England and Scotland with regards to Species and habitats of value and importance in an nature conservation is outlined within PPS 9: Biodiversity international context are identified within these. and Geological Conservation and its associated government circular: Biodiversity and Geological UK Legislation Conservation: Statutory Obligations and their impact 1.10 Key legislation of relevance to nature conservation and within the planning system, ODPM 06/2005. Under this biodiversity within a national (England and Wales) context policy, LPAs must have due regard to biodiversity within include: their planning process, to ensure that such assets The Habitat Regulations 1994 (as amended) (including habitats and species) are not only not lost or (transposing the Habitats Directive) adversely affected by inappropriate development (unless The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) there is a clear over-riding imperative to the contrary), but The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 that they are also actively enhanced as a result of The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 development. Where losses are made, adequate 1.11Species and habitats of value and importance in the national compensation must be put in place. context are identified within the above legislation, including 1.14 The adopted Regional Spatial Strategy for the East both those which are afforded individual protection by law, in Midlands (RSS8) filters this broad guidance with specific addition to those which are considered to be of nature strategic level policy objectives concerning nature conservation value and which are in decline / danger, conservation.