Smiths Concrete Ltd Bubbenhall Pit

Site Biodiversity Action Plan

Prepared: Dec 2008 Updated: Jan 2014

Site Information- Bubbenhall

Site Name and Bubbenhall Pit, Bubbenhall, nr . Location (incl. Grid Centre of wood and grassland area Grid SP 370 717 Ref.) Hanson Company Smiths Concrete (JV) BAP(s) that will be Local Biodiversity Action Plan targeted UKBAP LBAP Habitat(s) to Broadleaved woodland be developed Lowland neutral grassland, Ponds, lakes and reservoirs BAP species to be Dormice Starling encouraged (UKBAP Soprano pipistrelle bat Great crested newt species in italics) Brown long-eared bat Wood white Noctule bat Grizzled skipper Skylark Dingy Skipper Yellowhammer White-letter Hairstreak Grey partridge Snipe Barn owl Designated Natural Just within the Midland Clay Pasture Natural Area and adjacent to Area the Midland Plateau Background and Sand and gravel pit extracting formation deposits to a site description depth of up to 8m comprising top sand and lower sand/gravel, beneath variable depth of often clayey overburden. Glebe Farm (47.5Ha) and Wood Farm (21.5Ha) areas both formerly under arable cultivation. Restoration of Glebe Farm based on backfill with inert waste to roughly original ground levels to achieve agricultural afteruse, Wood Farm restored at lower level with on- site overburden materials only, to biodiversity afteruse of native woodland, ponds and low key agricultural use. Total landholding of approx. 91ha includes Bubbenhall Wood, 21Ha of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland. National Approx. 1ha area at SW corner of Bubbenhall Wood is designated Designations (SSSI, as Geological SSSI due to palaeo river channel deposits. SAC, SPAs, RAMSARs and NPs) Ryton Wood SSSI 100m to east of Wood Farm, which is within 500m Warwickshire Wildlife Trust ASNW nature reserve Resource  Most restoration earthworks and aftercare costs already Requirements- previously budgeted for as normal restoration expenditure comment on cost if required to implement approved restoration design. appropriate  Dormouse monitoring ongoing via PTES and NE Species Recovery Programme.  Woodland management and establishment grants likely to be available through FC EWGS. Contribution to  Significant contribution to providing continuity of woodland biodiversity habitat and vital linkages between existing fragmented ancient woodlands  Many opportunities within Wood Farm restoration area to benefit ground flora, a number of bird species, amphibians, invertebrates, bats and dormice  Use of predominantly natural regeneration and use of locally collected stock will preserve local genetic integrity  Ongoing sensitive management of Bubbenhall Wood will preserve and enhance ancient woodland flora and fauna Partners and Local  Princethorpe Woods Project operating within Warwickshire initiatives Wildlife Trust (owners of adjacent Ryton and Woods)  Peoples Trust for Endangered Species re dormice  Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group  Butterfly Conservation (manage Ryton Meadow BC Reserve and with local Conservation Officer available)  Ecoline ecological consultants Other documents  Annual wildlife survey reports provided by Jim Timms (local supporting the site BC volunteer) BAP  Wood Farm approved restoration scheme B116m/126a  Glebe Farm approved restoration scheme Bright & Associates Masterplan BH827-D1c Site Layout

Target 6

Target 1 Target 1

Target 2

Target 7 Targets 3, 4 &5

Action Plan

Item Objective Biodiversity Targets Tasks Assessing Responsible Timescale No. Feature Indicator Person (Completion) 1 Linkage and Improved wooded Achieve closed canopy 1. Promote natural No. of trees Landscape Substantial extension of habitat linkage woodland and hedgerow regeneration and planted and Manager, woodland fragmented between Bubbenhall establishment across hedge/copse planting in natural regeneration or priority Wood and the rest of extensive restored areas accordance with annual regeneration planting habitats the Princethorpe of Wood Farm and Aftercare programmes. guarded up as per established by Woodland Complex for Glebe Farm approved Year 5 of dormouse proposals plan aftercare. B116m/126a

2. Take opportunity to Glebe Farm consultants Glebe hedges enhance woodland buffering restoration as per re revised and tree and linkage with Glebe plan 20e or any Glebe planting restoration re-design in improved revised restoration completed event of soil shortfall for restoration plan within 2 years of intended agricultural afteruse final soil placement. 2 Provide new Brown long-eared Provide communal and 1. Erect and monitor a Biennial checks of Ecological 12 bat boxes hibernation bat, Daubenton’s bat solitary roost sites within number of Schwegler style bat boxes during consultant, erected in bat roost. (possibly Whiskered woodland bat boxes within the southern September local bat woodland since Provide new bat) Soprano section of the woodland group? 2010, occupied summer and pipistrelle bat, Creation of an by pipistrelle in autumn bat Common pipistrelle bat underground ‘cave’ 2011 checks. roosts (with (poss. noctule) feature in former possible conveyor tunnel beneath 2. Modify existing conveyor Records of winter Complete bat hibernacula) Pagets Lane tunnel to provide bat ‘cave’ bat populations cave fixtures by containing roosting features 2016 3 Flower-rich Flower-rich grassland, Establish species- rich 1. Sow native wildflower Wildflowers Landscape Substantial grassland woodland rides and grassland (NVC type plant mix derived from local recorded in Manager, sowing of locally habitat coppice areas to MG5) provenance source or by the monitoring Butterfly collected seed favour grizzled spreading of green hay. records Conservation in summer 2012 skipper and other butterflies Secure appropriate 2. Secure suitable Establish long- Grazing in place meadow management grazing/hay cutting tenant term vegetation by cattle and and woodland ride/glade and implement appropriate monitoring sheep since management grazing/cutting regime programme to 2010 assess richness and diversity of grassland habitat Grassland management 3. Implement mowing of Glade and ride ongoing through grassy ride/glade network mowing 20 year within woodland regeneration undertaken as per aftercare period areas aftercare proposals 4 Meadow and Barn owl, common To provide nesting 1. Erection of four barn owl Annual summer Ecological Completed - owl woodland woodland birds opportunities for barn nest boxes on poles around monitoring to consultant. boxes erected birds including starling owls and other birds of the grassland site. assess nesting Landscape 2008 (but yet to prey. 2. Erect a number of and foraging Manager be occupied) Schwegler style bird nesting activity in the Bird boxes boxes including some boxes area. erected in designed for starling. woodland 2010 5 Enhance site Skylark, grey To create an 1. Establish a suitable low- Grazing regime in Landscape Completed – for ground partridge, environment suitable for input agricultural regime of place. Manager, wet rush pasture nesting birds yellowhammer and ground nesting birds hay cutting and aftermath Annual summer Grazing areas now well possibly snipe including areas of grazing free from spring & monitoring to tenant developed, permanently wet rush early summer grazing. assess nesting summer grazing pasture and foraging only from July activity in the area onwards 6 Establish and Great crested newts, To create a series of 1. Provide habitat Marginal scrapes Unit Pond edge maintain daubenton’s bats and species rich open water enhancements to open water completed Manager, enhancements ponds and snipe features and associated features including islands completed associated wetland habitats Area of marginal Landscape summer 2008 , wetland willow scrub Manager additional pools vegetation coppiced & scrapes completed 2011

2. Periodic management of GCN monitoring ecological Pond margin pond vegetation and pond records showing consultants management edge scrub to maintain continued ongoing for 20 optimum light conditions presence year aftercare period

7 Positive ASNW flora and fauna Maintain conditions 1. Submit new EWGS 10 Dormouse Landscape FC 10-year plan management including dormice and suitable for dormouse year management plan and monitoring Manager and WIG in of Ancient wood white butterfly population by WIG application records place 2012 and Semi-Natural appropriate woodland underway in Woodland management 2. implement thinning and Area thinned and 2013 coppicing coppiced Further 3. Implement woodland ride Annual ride management management and ride edge mowing ongoing under scallops. completed WIG scheme