Flintshire Bridge 400Kv Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan

Melissa Wilson (BA Hons MLPM)

Landscape Manager

01925 844074 (Direct Dial)

07501 467995 (Mobile)

Planning : Design : Environment

Warrington: 01925 844004

Milton Keynes: 01908 526003

Gateshead: 0191 490 9210

Fax: 01925 844002

Please consider the environment before printing this email http://tepsharepoint/projectcentral/TEP2/nongreen/Useful%20Documents/Site%20Risk%20Assessme nt.doc

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan

Report Ref: 3840.018 May 2019 Version 7.0

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT AND

MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR FLINTSHIRE BRIDGE 400kV CONVERTER STATION, FLINTSHIRE

(Report Ref: 3840.018) May 2019 Version 7.0

Prepared by;

TEP Genesis Centre Birchwood Science Park Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 844004 Fax: 01925 844002 E-mail: [email protected]

for

National Grid 1 – 3 Strand London WL2N 5EH

Written: Checked: Approved: AB LD LD

Amendment History Version Date Modified Checked/ Reason(s) for issue Status by Approved by 1.0 May 2013 AB LD Draft Superseded 2.0 April 2019 VJ AL Draft 2 Superseded 3.0 May 2019 DR/ AL JC Final Version Superseded 4.0 May 2019 VJ JC Amendment to Superseded Appendix 3 5.0 June 2019 VJ JC Amendment to Plan Superseded D3840.002E 6.0 July 2019 VJ JC Wildflower remedial Superseded scheme amendments 7.0 November VJ DR Added schedule from Issued 2019 client.

Contents PAGE

1.0 Introduction Introduction to the Management Plan 1 Scope of the Management Plan 1 Structure of the Management Plan 1 Limitations of the Management Plan 2

2.0 Securing Future Management Responsibility for Site Management 3

3.0 Site Context Planning and Development Context 4 Biodiversity Action Plan and Habitat Action Plan 5

4.0 Site Description Site Location 6 Designations 6 Landscape Elements 6

5.0 Factors to be Considered within Management Decisions Ecological Factors 9 Social Factors 10 Legal Factors 11

6.0 Management Aims and Objectives 12

7.0 Monitoring and Review 13

8.0 Management Intentions and Maintenance Operations 15

Appendices

1. Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C) 2. Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) 3. Remedial Scheme – Management the existing landscape with a view to increasing biodiversity (TEP ref: 3840.52) 4. Division of Responsibility Matrix (Siemens and NGET)

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 1.0 Introduction

Introduction to the Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan

1.1 National Grid received planning permission from Flintshire County Council in February 2013 (Application Ref: 050340) for the erection of a 400kV Converter Station and associated access landscaped areas and habitat creation on the land south of Weighbridge Road, Deeside.

1.2 This Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan provides sensitive management techniques for future management of the newly created landscape scheme (Drawing ref: P-010221_E_C5_0828_F_D3840.001 and P-010221_E_C5_0828_F_D3840.002 which includes mixed native woodland, grassland and swales.

1.3 The site covers 22.63 ha, and the landscape scheme will provide wildlife corridors to the north and west of the development which will improve biodiversity. National Grid will retain responsibility for the site and surrounding landscape. A landscape management organisation may be employed to facilitate the long-term maintenance and management of landscape elements on the site.

1.4 The site is brownfield and comprises trees, shrubs and rough grassland. Further landscape elements will be introduced providing habitat improvements and foraging opportunities for badgers, bats and birds.

1.5 This Management Plan has been produced by The Environment Partnership (TEP) Limited on behalf of National Grid to provide a framework for long term management and maintenance of the site, and to enhance wildlife value. The plan provides guidance on management techniques in respect of priority species and habitats which occur within the site, in particular within the areas that are important for their nature conservation value.

Scope of the Management Plan

1.6 This Management Plan provides information on managing the landscape within the site boundary, specifically to enhance its biodiversity and that of the surrounding landscape. The Plan describes the site in terms of landscape elements and management operations.

1.7 The Management Plan should be read in conjunction with the Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C), Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) and Grassland Management Remedial Scheme (TEP ref: 3840.052) included in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

Structure of the Management Plan

1.8 Chapters 2.0 to 4.0 provide background information including proposals for securing the future management of the site, the policy context and a site analysis. A summary of factors influencing management can be found in Chapter 5.0.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 1.9 Chapter 6.0 outlines the long-term aims and objectives for management and Chapter 7.0 sets out how the success of the plan will be monitored, reviewed and updated over time.

1.10 Chapter 8.0 provides a table of management intentions and maintenance operations.

1.11 Appendices 1, 2 and 3 contain the Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C), Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E) and Grassland Management Remedial Scheme (TEP ref: 3840.052).

Limitations of the Management Plan

1.12 The Management Plan is for the duration of 10 years but should be fully reviewed after 5 years to secure a sustainable and financially viable future for the site.

1.13 It is also recommended that the Plan is subject to an informal annual review to ensure the management operations remain conducive to the situation.

1.14 This plan has been updated in April 2019, post construction, to reflect the as built landscape, therefore the first 12 months of landscape maintenance has already been undertaken as part of the Landscape Contract.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 2.0 Securing Future Management

Responsibility for Site Management

2.1 The site owner and/or manager may employ/facilitate a managing organisation or organisations who will be responsible for operational management and maintenance of the landscape within the site boundary, if this responsibility is not retained in-house.

2.2 Therefore at this stage the Management Plan needs to be flexible and responsive to enable the most appropriate and responsible management to be undertaken.

2.3 It will be ensured that any managing organisation has the necessary experience and certificates of competence to undertake landscape management operations and contractors with experience in management for biodiversity will be sought where practical. The managing organisation will ensure that management complies with the guidelines set out in this plan.

2.4 In November 2019 Siemens and NGET agreed a division of responsibility with regards to the grassland and swale management for maintenance works up to December 2022. The Division of Responsibility Matrix has been provided in Appendix 4.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 3.0 Site Context

Planning and Development Context

3.1 National Grid received planning permission in February 2013 (Application Ref: 050340) for the erection of a converter station at Flintshire Bridge for conversion and transmission of electricity.

Planning Condition

3.2 National Grid have been granted planning permission, subject to conditions including, Condition 15, which states that:

“15. All planting, seeding, turfing, fencing, walling or other treatment comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the completion of the development and any trees or plant which, within a period of five years of the development, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased, shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species.”

3.3 Conditions 14 and 16, also relating to this Plan, state:

“14. No development shall take place, unless otherwise agreed, until there has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, a detailed scheme of hard and soft landscaping for the site, and such scheme shall include details of:

a) all existing trees, hedgerows and other vegetation on the land, details of any to be retained, and measures for their protection during the course of the development

b) proposed new trees, hedgerows, shrubs or vegetation, including confirmation of species, numbers and location and the proposed timing of the planting

c) proposed materials to be used on the driveway(s), paths and other hard surfaced areas

d) proposed earthworks, grading and the mounding of land/land profiling and changes in levels, final contours and the relationship of proposed mounding to existing vegetation and surrounding landform

e) proposed positions, design, materials and type of boundary treatment”

and,

“16. Prior to commencement of development an Environmental Management Plan shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for approval and implemented to a timeframe agreed beforehand by the Local Planning authority.”

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 3.4 This Management Plan has been informed by the Landscape Proposals (TEP ref: D3840.001C) and the Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E), which formed part of the planning application documents.

3.5 Management of the Flintshire Bridge site will contribute to habitat provision and enhancement, protection of protected species and improvements to visual amenity

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and Habitat Action Plan (HAP)

3.6 National and Local Biodiversity Action Plans provide a further indication of the relative value given to existing habitats and species. The following nature conservation and biodiversity action plans have been used when assessing the value of the habitats and species present within the site:

 UK Biodiversity Action Plan: national biodiversity priorities (UK BAP) 1; and

 Flintshire Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP).

3.7 No Schedule 1 species have been recorded on site, however many of the trees within the boundary are suitable to support nesting birds. Skylark, a UK BAP species, has been recorded singing over the site during a walkover in March 2012.

3.8 The woodland habitat within the site will act as a wildlife corridor, providing nesting and foraging opportunities for a range of bird and bat species and potentially, UKBAP and Flintshire LBAP priority species.

3.9 Further information on the above species and the implications on management of the site can be found in Section 5.0 under ‘Ecological Factors’.

1 http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/UK_Post2010_Bio-Fwork.pdf 3840.018 Version 4.0 5

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 4.0 Site Description

Site Location

4.0 The site is 22.63 ha, centred at NGR NS 331100 371000. It is approximately 10km north of Deeside town centre.

4.1 The site is within the already established Deeside Industrial Park and to the east is the Wrexham to Birkenhead railway line. Land to the north is rural and mainly agricultural.

Landscape Character

4.2 The landscape is characterised by rough grassland and shrub vegetation. The east, south and west of the site consists of largely industrial related character.

Designations

4.3 There are no statutory protected wildlife sites within the proposed development site. Designated sites (Ramsar, Special Protected Areas (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)) are over 1km away and no effects are anticipated. The nearest Local Nature Reserve to the site is over 2.5km on the other side of the River Dee.

4.4 There are no Tree Preservation Order (TPO) relating to the trees on site.

Landscape Elements

4.5 The site comprises various landscape elements listed below. These are illustrated on the Landscape Proposals Plan (Appendix 1).

Existing Landscape Elements:  Vegetation (trees and shrubs)  Fencing

Proposed Landscape Elements:  Mixed native woodland planting and edge shrub planting  Species rich wet meadow seeding  Species rich tussocky grassland  Swales  Bare ground, sand and gravel  Hibernacula  Fencing  Hard surfacing

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 4.6 The management operations assigned to each landscape element can be found in Section 8.0 ‘Management Intentions and Maintenance Operations’.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 5.0 Factors to be considered within Management Decisions

Ecological Factors

Non-native Invasive Species

5.1 There are no non-native invasive species that have been identified on the site, however due to the potential significant management implications of species such as Japanese knotweed it is recommended that the site is regularly inspected to ensure this situation remains unchanged.

5.2 Japanese knotweed has significant management implications as it is classified as a non-native invasive species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, under which Schedule 9, Section 14 makes it an offence for anyone to knowingly allow the species to spread.

Sensitivity of Wildlife Habitats

5.3 All maintenance works must be particularly sensitive to habitats known to support mammals, amphibians, birds and invertebrates – management should be sensitive to the specific ecological and geological value of the site.

Mixed native woodland and scattered trees

5.4 These habitats are essential for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species. Woodland in the north and west of the area is likely to be used by foraging and commuting bats, hibernating amphibians and a range of nesting and foraging birds.

5.5 At the Flintshire Bridge site trees and woodland also provide an important buffer habitat around the development. Although there is no site designation for this habitat it is valued at a local level and it provides a connective buffer to adjacent woodlands.

Important Species Badgers (Meles meles)

5.6 Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and are a UK BAP and Flintshire LBAP species. No badgers have been recorded on site, although evidence of badgers has been noted. It is likely that the site is used for foraging and possibly commuting by badgers. The provision of grassland and wet scrapes on the Landscape Proposals Plan will provide foraging opportunities for badgers.

Common Toad

5.7 Common Toad are listed as a Species of Principal Importance for the Conservation of Biodiversity under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. It is likely that Common Toad are present on the site, and many of the landscape elements proposed will be beneficial to the species.

Bats

5.8 Bats and their roosts are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended). There are currently no opportunity for bats using the site for roosting, however the site could be used for foraging and commuting bats. 3840.018 Version 4.0 8

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Breeding and Nesting Birds

5.9 All UK wild birds are protected during nesting season under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Effectively, this means that if removal of habitats (which can include buildings, trees, scrub and grassland) cannot be timed to avoid the bird breeding season (March to August inclusive), then survey by a suitably experienced ecologist will be required to ensure no nesting birds will be affected. There is generally no process to gain a licence to disturb nesting birds; therefore, if active nests are present works will need to avoid the area of the nest until the young have fledged.

5.10 In March 2013 four kites in the form of birds of prey and 1000 poles with double sided reflective tape were erected to deter birds nesting on site. Precautionary work methods will be employed in order to prevent the disturbance to any birds nesting within the site.

Social Factors

General Amenity

5.11 The balance of both wildlife conservation and site user interests must be carefully managed due to the close proximity of the development. The site will predominantly be managed to enhance potential for biodiversity, therefore, management is crucial to prevent any conflict of interest.

Health and Safety

5.12 A Health and Safety Risk Assessment should be undertaken for the site. This will be passed on to the managing organisation (if appropriate) who will take on general responsibility for Health and Safety. National Grid will retain ultimate responsibility for the Health and Safety of the site and will review Health and Safety as part of its regular inspections of the site. The site will be subject to informal inspections and formal annual inspection. Whenever the site is visited, any deficiencies in safety provision will be noted and acted upon.

5.13 The site will be managed to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice (ACOP’s) and Health and Safety Executive guidance. The managing organisation will be responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken for the site as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and ACOP (L21), and for monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of control measures implemented as a result of the risk assessment to ensure their effectiveness.

5.14 The managing organisation will also be responsible for ensuring that accidents and incidents which occur on the site are reported to the relevant enforcing authority as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013. The managing organisation must also notify National Grid in the event of accidents or incidents on site requiring notification to the enforcing authorities.

5.15 The Health and Safety regime for any work undertaken on the site will follow the guidelines as laid down in the HSE publication ‘Managing Health and Safety in Forestry’. As the managing organisation will be the instigator and controller of works on site, the managing organisation will fulfil the landowner’s role and the work 3840.018 Version 4.0 9

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan manager’s role. This also places an obligation on the managing organisation to ensure that any contractor understands and fulfils their role.

5.16 It is understood that there are areas of asbestos contaminated ground within the site. All relevant information regarding the contamination should be passed onto the managing organisation (if appropriate) so that they can be aware of the associated health and safety implications.

Legal Factors

Health and Safety

5.17 The interests of public health and safety must be maintained at all times. In particular this will relate to presence of dead wood and reduced sightlines within areas of public access for example along the access road.

 The Site will be managed to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, approved codes of practice (ACOP’s) and health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.  Accidents and incidents which occur on the Site will be reported to the relevant enforcing authority as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013.  The health and safety regime for any work undertaken on the Site will follow the guidelines as laid down in the HSE publications, including HSGs ‘Managing for Health and Safety and HSG268 ‘How to Control Risks at Work’. As the managing organisation will be the instigator and controller of works on the Site, the managing organisation will fulfil the landowner’s role and the work manager’s rile. This also places an obligation on the managing organisation to ensure that any contractor understands and fulfils their role.  The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: All operations carried out on the Site must only be undertaken by trained personnel, using methods and equipment approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  The Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: Risk assessments will be undertaken for the Site as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and for monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of control measures implemented as a result of the risk assessment to ensure their effectiveness.  Occupiers Liability Act 1984: The Occupier’s Liability Act imposes an obligation on the chosen management organisation to ensure that every reasonable care is taken to remove any risks to both legitimate visitors and to any trespassers. In compliance it will be necessary:

- To make sure that all footpaths and any other structures are safe; - To remove any hazardous objects; and - To conduct an annual safety audit in order to identify any further hazards.

Byelaws, Covenants, Leases and Easements

5.18 Any byelaws, covenants, leases and easements will be needed from National Grid Solicitors as appropriate.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Compliance with Environmental Legislation

5.19 The following legal and non-legal obligations, among others must be considered in carrying out any management operations:

 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended): There is an obligation to comply with legislation for UK species protected (including amphibians, reptiles and bats) under this Act.  Environmental Protection Act 1990: There is an obligation to keep the site free from litter and refuse.  The Environment Act 1995: The Act established provisions relating to waste, contaminated land, mineral planning and control of water pollution.  Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000: Imposes a new right of access on foot to registered common land and other areas of ‘open countryside’ which under certain circumstances allows access without being confined to footpaths.  Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (as amended) (2017): The Habitat Regulations assign a greater level of protection to a variety of native species of animals and plants listed, which are known as European Protected Species (EPS).

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 6.0 Management Aims and Objectives

6.1 The following aims and objectives guide the Landscape Management Plan, providing the basis for specific management operations. The objectives are cross-cutting; actions within the management schedule will meet a number of different objectives.

Aim 1: Conserve and enhance the ecological and landscape value of the site:  Safeguard and enhance the biological and physical integrity of the site;  Maintain European protected, UKBAP and Flintshire BAP species at a favourable conservation status*; and  Maintain and enhance the connectivity of the landscape and habitats both within the site and to adjacent areas.

Aim 2: A healthy, safe and secure site:

 Establish and maintain health and safety procedures for the management and maintenance of the site complying with all statutory legislation and best practice.

Aim 3: A sustainable site:  Maximise the sustainability of site operations by minimising waste;  Promote a cost effective management strategy;  Promote an ecological based approach to landscape management by minimising the amount of herbicide use and where possible using mechanical methods of management in favour of machinery;  Maintain a flexible landscape management approach which responds to landscape changes and user requirements; and  Adopt a transparent management approach.

*The definition of favourable conservation status The conservation status of a species is defined in Article 1(i) of the Habitats Directive as favourable when:  population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats; and  the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced the foreseeable future; and  there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its population on a long-term basis.

The population must be viable in the long term, the range must not be contracting and sufficient habitat must exist to support the population in the long term.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 7.0 Monitoring, Review and Remediation

7.1 A system of monitoring performance within the plan and for reviewing the plan will be agreed within the first year. A careful balance needs to be struck between ensuring that this can take place without it becoming a burden in its own right, which ends up detracting attention and resources from the actual management of the site.

7.2 National Grid will have an on-going role to monitor and review the site’s management through its managing organisation(s).

Monitoring

7.3 Simple monitoring reports against key measures will be submitted to National Grid on a quarterly basis, together with financial information.

7.4 The landowner will make periodic inspections of this site as follows:-

 An annual site meeting and review with the managing organisation;  Quarterly (initially) formal site inspections with the managing organisation; and  Ad hoc unannounced inspections to be made as frequently as possible to review condition of entrances, site boundaries etc.

7.5 The results of all of the above will be documented and issues raised in writing with the landowner.

Annual Report

7.6 An annual report will be produced by the managing organisation(s), summarising the management of the site over the last year and the measures achieved.

Review

7.7 This Management Plan will be reviewed on an annual basis by the landowner and its managing organisation(s) and other key partners to ensure that the plan is meeting the original management aims and objectives and responding to the developing needs of the site. The review will include both the management of the habitats and the uses and activities promoted and undertaken on the site.

7.8 It is proposed that the Management Plan will be reviewed on a more formal basis. If required, an amended plan will be developed and adopted for the subsequent 5 year period.

Remediation

7.9 The tussocky grassland has not established to the desired standard. Some sown species including yarrow Achillea millifolium, common knapweed Centaurea nigra, wild carrot Daucus carota and teasel Dipsacus fullonum are present in small numbers. There are large swathes of rank grasses, dominated mainly by cock’s foot Dactylis glomerata interspersed with less desirable species such as broad leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense.

7.10 Although the grassland is not as floristically species rich as had been planned it still offers some good habitat for wildlife with there being evidence of a healthy small

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan mammal population and at least one pair of skylark Alauda arvensis noted during a walk over of the site in April 2019. In order to improve the current habitat and encourage biodiversity a Remedial Scheme (TEP ref: 3840.052) to manage the existing landscape with a view to increasing biodiversity has been provided in Appendix 3 and in the Management Intentions and Operations in Section 8.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan 8.0 Management Intentions and Maintenance Operations

8.1 This section provides management intentions and operations for the site. All existing landscape elements as listed in Section 4.0 and illustrated on the Landscape Proposals Plan (Appendix 1) are described below.

8.2 The intentions and operations have been put into the table on the following page to provide a clear overview of how the site should be managed.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan

Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type Whole site Annual inspections and Health and Safety Care must be taken As required. assessments are The Site will be maintained so that it is safe for site during cleansing to required for vegetation users. Any remedial actions required to address check for wildlife, which and habitats in order to health and safety issues will be implemented as soon may be hiding in or ensure the site is being as possible. under items. Any wildlife managed appropriately. found should be returned Cleansing to suitable cover. All litter should be removed from site and disposed of in an authorised manner. Any fly-tipping that occurs should be removed immediately to prevent an accumulation of debris.

Inspections Inspections are to be undertaken as part of the maintenance operations and include:

 Tree hazard inspection: inspection of mature trees within or adjacent to areas of public access;  Inspection of ditch / swale: bank stability, water quality, coverage of aquatic/marginal vegetation, drainage and depths; and  Assessment of condition and structure of trees (young woodlands and structure planting areas) to assess requirements for thinning, beating up, hazard tree works, formative pruning and addressing branch/stem breakages.

Surveys An agreed programme of ecology surveys will ensure that management procedures are successful in

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type delivering wildlife benefits and inform future management decisions concerning bats in particular. Any works requiring a licence will involve submitting an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

Trees and Trees will be Annual inspections should be carried out by trained Prior to any tree work Works should not woodland- maintained to provide arboriculturalists of all mature trees within or adjacent commencing, an be carried out existing nesting opportunities to areas of public access to check for damage and assessment of the during bird for birds as well as disease, and to maintain appropriate height potential for bat roosts to nesting season providing amenity clearances for safe pedestrian access. be present in those trees (March-August value. should be undertaken. If inclusive). Any deadwood found on site should be stacked and required, a survey for Woodland provides a kept onsite where possible as it is of value to presence of any bat connective habitat to invertebrates. roosts should be surrounding ancient undertaken. woodland and a buffer The following specifications are applicable to all between this landscape arboricultural works: Where bat roosts may be and the development.  An appropriately qualified operative such as present, tree works must Arboriculturalist or Tree Surgeon must be be authorised and consulted prior to undertaking any major tree supervised by an works on the site. appropriately qualified  Wood under 250 mm diameter collected from ecologist. thinning, brashing, or coppicing should, wherever possible, be chipped and used on site for mulching, either by blowing directly back into planting areas or by storing on site for future use.  Trees for coppicing should be cut back to 50 mm above ground level. Where a number of stems are coppiced on one plant, cut faces are to slope away from the centre. Care should be taken to ensure that thinning operations do not cause damage to desirable plants, or rutting of the

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type ground in wet conditions.  Trees for thinning should be cut to a level stump length of 150 mm for treatment with stump grinder where required, or an appropriate herbicide application such as eco plugs. Shrub The focus of the Pruning of shrubs will be undertaken in order to clear Extensive pruning vegetation- management approach dead wood, facilitate sight lines and access (where should be carried existing and for proposed and required), promote healthy growth and produce out outside of bird edge shrub existing and proposed desired growth of flowers, fruit, foliage or winter nesting season planting- shrub planting will be to colour as appropriate. Where the pruning is limited to (March to proposed maintain a neat and the extent of the current year’s growth, work can be August). tidy appearance which carried out at any time of year. Extensive pruning enhances the character works, thinning or coppicing works should however be of the site. carried out outside the bird nesting period.

Management will Within years 2 or 3, shrub planting will be ‘faced up’ therefore involve weed as necessary to encourage dense branch growth. control, annual pruning Replacement planting may be required to close up and occasional thinning gaps where any specimens have failed. or coppicing to encourage vigorous After establishment, newly planted shrubs will be growth. pruned twice yearly to ensure a neat and tidy appearance. These cuts will not be undertaken during breeding season (March to August) unless advice from a suitably qualified ecologist is sought.

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type needed this should be in small controlled areas and should only target the undesirable species. Herbicides should comply with the Control of Pesticides Regulations as amended (1997) and be on the current list of approved products.

Mixed native Mixed native woodland Where trees are staked, the stakes and ties should be Due to areas of asbestos Remove stakes woodland planting is proposed to checked frequently and it is anticipated that they will contaminated ground, as necessary, planting- create a wildlife need adjusting at least twice annually. To reduce any arisings from tree when the tree is proposed corridor and screen excessive competition, a weed free area (through planting pits from below suitably views of the hand-pulling in the first instance or, if necessary, the level of the clean established, development. using herbicide spot treatment) should be retained imported fill layer shall approximately around any trees less than 3m in height and should be segregated from the year 5. It is proposed that the be maintained to a diameter of 0.5m around the base clean arisings must be landscape character is of the trees. removed from site to naturalistic and formed prevent the spread of by a combination of Where installed, rabbit proof fencing should be contaminated materials. native woodland checked regularly and repaired immediately. Rabbit structure planting and proof fencing around areas of woodland planting and tree planting providing rabbit guards around woodland edge planting will be a wildlife corridor that maintained until the trees have reached sufficient will improve habitats maturity so as not to be vulnerable to rabbit predation, and biodiversity. or vandalism.

Long term Young trees will require formative pruning to maintain management should a desirable shape as well as to maintain health and focus on creating vigour. Any broken or damaged stakes should be woodland that delivers replaced and ties re-fixed at a slightly lower position, a wide range of allowing for growth since planting. environmental benefits, increasing the Once trees attain a height of 3m, the maintenance of ecological value of the a weed free base and formative pruning can be 3840.018 Version 4.0 19

Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type site. discontinued. However, crown pruning is still desirable and any dead or severely damaged trees should be felled and replaced accordingly.

Within all areas of woodland planting, the management approach should facilitate tree establishment and canopy closure. The management will therefore primarily comprise of weed control (which should be limited to controlled glyphosate spot treatment) and re-firming of trees where required; annual grass strimming where required to facilitate growth of young trees; monitoring the condition of tree growth and minor restructuring through thinning to establish a diverse woodland structure. Occasional re-planting and beating up of both trees and understorey shrub layer species should also be undertaken to improve the woodland structure and ecological value.

A regular (i.e. annual) assessment of condition and structure of younger trees should inform future management requirements in relation to requirements for thinning, beating up, hazard tree work, formative pruning and addressing branch/stem breakages. An appropriate cyclical programme of thinning, felling, coppicing (e.g. 5-10yr cycle) should then be implemented, which increases species and structural diversity of canopy layer and woodland edges, whilst also enhancing its amenity value.

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type Species rich Increased diversity of Compartments to the south and north of the Wildflower areas should Timing of the tussocky grassland species is compound boundary will be cut hard using a flail or not be topsoiled or grass cuts will be grassland required to attract a forestry mulcher (or a similar machine capable of fertilised in order to determined by the and species variety of invertebrates removing vegetation down to bare ground or conserve its diversity. wildflower rich wet and ground nesting ‘scorched earth’). The edges and areas around the species mix but meadow birds. The introduction trees can be strimmed using a hand strimmer. The should be seeding- of this landscape area from the southern edge of the swale up to the undertaken either proposed element will improve northern boundary of the compound should be left in early spring or the visual quality of the uncut to act as a refuge for any small mammals, autumn, after area. reptiles or amphibians. This area is not as infested seed heads have with undesirable species as the rest of the site. dropped. Grasslands will be managed to maximise In December 2019 or January 2020 these areas No cuts should be floristic diversity. (central section and the swale) can be cut using the undertaken same methods as above, where possible, but due to between March to topography hand strimming will probably need to be August. employed for a majority of the site.

Weed control where feasible should be undertaken by hand pulling and should remove dominant weeds such as docks, thistles, nettles, ragwort and willowherb. However in certain instances, herbicide maybe the most effective measure to remove unwanted species. Where herbicide application is needed this should be in small controlled areas and should only target the undesirable species. Herbicides should comply with the Control of Pesticides Regulations as amended (1997) and be on the current list of approved products.

Repeat annually for 3 years, then re-assess the management regime.

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Swales Once operational, the The shallow sided banks of the swale, until During growing swale, in conjunction operational, will be strimmed on a monthly basis to a season (May to with the wet grassland height of 150mm during the growing season in line September seeding, will assist with with informal grass and will be managed to maintain a inclusive) on site drainage. tidy appearance. Strimming will apply to the bankside vegetation and the floor of the swale. The swale will have a 2m buffer of grassland of which 1/3 should be strimmed to 100mm on a rotational basis, twice annually and arisings removed and used sustainably elsewhere on site. This will mean that there are no dramatic changes and therefore minimal disturbance of the microhabitat of the swale.

Within the first five years of management it is unlikely that there will need to be any silt clearance works. However, should clearance works be necessary the ecological surveys should be consulted which will highlight the presence of protected species.

Any material that is removed from the swale will be left on the bank for approximately a week, to allow for any invertebrates or GCN which may be in the silt to crawl back to their habitat before the material is disposed of or used sustainably elsewhere on site.

Weed control where feasible should be undertaken by hand pulling and should remove dominant weeds such as docks, thistles, nettles, ragwort and

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type willowherb. However in certain instances, herbicide maybe the most effective measure to remove unwanted species. Where herbicide application is needed this should be in small controlled areas and should only target the undesirable species. Herbicides should comply with the Control of Pesticides Regulations as amended (1997) and be on the current list of approved products.

For the use of herbicide application close to waterbodies prior approval by the Environment Agency. Control mechanisms must be undertaken before the plant has set seed.

Bare The areas of bare It will be essential to protect the bare ground from Scraping bare ground, ground scattered successional growth and encroaching grassland. Any ground should be sand and throughout the site will encroaching vegetation should be scraped off using carried out in gravel be beneficial to non-mechanical methods on an annual basis and all September to invertebrates and weeds should be hand pulled as and when they are November. reptiles, providing open seen. Arisings should be removed off site. areas for basking with sufficient cover nearby and therefore should be retained as such. Hibernacula Hibernacula for reptiles Access to the hibernacula will be restricted to ensure As required. and invertebrates be minimal disruption to the hibernacula and reduce the located north and east chance of them failing. Any tall/ruderal plants will be of the building. removed as necessary from the hibernacula and these will be regularly inspected by the managing organisation

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Flintshire Bridge 400kV Converter Station, Flintshire Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan Landscape Elements Landscape Intentions Operations Constraints When Type Fencing- Must be suitable for the All items should be inspected on a regular basis and As required. existing and intended use with will be kept safe and usable. Any item considered to proposed appropriate width and be unsafe must be removed or made safe and texture. replaced as soon as possible.

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Appendix 1

Landscape Proposals Plan (TEP ref: D3840.001C)

Appendix 2

Planting and Seeding Plan (TEP ref: D3840.002E)