A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports February 2019 Status: A1 APPROVED - PUBLISHED Document Ref: HE543917-ATK-EBD-RP-LE-000017 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports Notice This document and its contents have been prepared and are intended solely for Highways England’s information and use in relation to A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements. Atkins Limited assumes no responsibility to any other party in respect of or arising out of or in connection with this document and/or its contents. Document history Job number: HE543917 Document ref: HE543917-ATK-EBD-RP-LE-000017 Purpose Revision Status Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date description C03 A1 Final for Publication CF JC CH CH 08/01/19 C02 A1 Final for Sign Off CF AR LJB CH 02/11/18 P02 S3 Final for Sign Off CF AR LJB --- 01/11/18 C01 A1 For NE Review CF AR LJB CH 17/10/18 Revision C03 Page 2 of 224 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports Table of contents Chapter Pages 1. Introduction 7 1.1 Scope of the Document 7 Annex 1 (NVC and Invasive Plants Survey Report) 8 Annex 2 (River Corridor Survey Report) 57 Annex 3 (Bat Survey Report) 62 Annex 4 (Breeding Bird Survey Report) 89 Annex 5 (Great Crested Newt Survey Report) 105 Annex 6 (Otter and Water Vole Survey Report) 137 Annex 7 (Aquatic Invertebrates Survey Report) 155 Annex 8 (Terrestrial Invertebrates Survey Report) 175 Revision C03 Page 3 of 224 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports Foreword This document presents the findings of the surveys, which were undertaken by specialists on behalf of Atkins. Atkins and the specialists would like to thank the landowners for their help and consideration during the course of the surveys. Revision C03 Page 4 of 224 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports Executive Summary Atkins were commissioned by Highways England to undertake bat, badger, bird, great crested newt, otter, water vole, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate, river corridor, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and invasive plant surveys as part of a programme of ecological surveys to inform the detailed design of the Scheme. This report presents the baseline results recorded during the 2018 ecological surveys1 relevant to the Scheme and provides an evaluation of each receptor surveyed, where appropriate. The information in this report has been used to identify and assess the potential implications of the Scheme and inform the requirement for mitigation and compensation. A framework of European and national legislation, and planning policy guidance exists to protect and conserve certain habitats and species. The Scheme area contains lowland mixed deciduous woodland and other habitats comprised of plantation woodland, semi-improved grassland, arable farmland, ponds and scrub. Habitats adjacent to the Scheme area include ancient semi-natural woodland listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, hedgerows and River Ebbsfleet. River Ebbsfleet is heavily modified upstream and very overgrown, heavily shaded with a wide channel and a mix of woodland and wetland habitats downstream. The invasive plant species Japanese knotweed was recorded within the Scheme area. The woodland/scrub edge habitats south-east of Bean Junction and in the south-west corner of Bean Triangle provide foraging and commuting habitat for low numbers of bats, mainly comprised of common and soprano pipistrelle bats. Individual noctule and Myotis sp. bats were also recorded. There are six trees that have moderate bat roosting potential, along with five that have low roosting potential. Two bat boxes are present on trees within Bean Triangle, one of which contained no evidence of roosting bats and the other was overgrown and considered unlikely to support roosting bats. Roosting bats were determined likely absent from the buildings within the bat survey area. Woodland to the south of the A2 provides good quality habitat for badgers in terms of foraging and sett creation. A number of active and disused setts were recorded at the woodland edge and along a hedgerow (further detail contained in separate confidential badger report). Woodland, scrub and ponds within the Scheme area provide suitable nesting habitat for notable birds. The River Ebbsfleet adjacent to the Scheme area also offers suitable habitat for breeding birds. Four notable birds: linnet, mistle thrush, song thrush and dunnock were confirmed to be breeding within the Scheme area. Other notable birds comprised of house sparrow and stock dove were thought to have probably bred and cuckoo, starling, kestrel and bullfinch were thought to have possibly bred within the Scheme area. Two ponds are present within the Scheme area and a total of 13 waterbodies are present within the great crested newt survey area. Great crested newts were determined likely absent from within the survey area. The River Ebbsfleet has limited potential to support otter and mainly unsuitable to support water vole. However, due to records of water vole further north from the survey area, there 1 Note the Badger Survey Report is provided as a separate confidential appendix. Revision C03 Page 5 of 224 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports is a low likelihood of water vole colonising the watercourse prior to construction. No field signs of either species were recorded during the otter and water vole survey. The aquatic invertebrate assemblage within River Ebbsfleet was comprised of an abundance of very common species and no notable species were recorded. Some pollution sensitive species were present; however, this is likely to be due to the shading caused by overgrown vegetation, leaf litter and regular low flows rather than by pollution. A number of nationally significant terrestrial invertebrate species were recorded from three sites within the Scheme area. These sites supported early successional habitat and grassland and scrub matrixes. While possessing a varied structure, these habitats are not unique, and as such, many, if not all, of the species recorded are likely to be found at other sites within the local area. The surveys fulfilled their objectives in recording the bat, badger, bird, great crested newt, otter, water vole, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate assemblages; notable habitats2; notable plant species3; and the presence of invasive plants4, across the Scheme. A complete assessment of potential impacts regarding these receptors has been undertaken and is provided within the main report, along with details of mitigation and compensation measures as appropriate. 2 Notable habitats are taken as principal habitats for the conservation of biodiversity listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. 3 Notable species are taken as principal species for the conservation of biodiversity listed under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; any species listed in an IUCN Red Data Book; and any other species listed under the Kent BAP. 4 Invasive plants are taken as plant species that are listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Revision C03 Page 6 of 224 A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Environmental Statement Volume 2 - Appendix G.2 Biodiversity Survey Reports 1. Introduction 1.1 Scope of the Document 1.1.1 This report presents the baseline survey results recorded during the 2018 ecological surveys. The information in this report has been used together with the previous ecological survey results (provided in Appendix 3) to identify and assess the potential implications of the Scheme and inform mitigation and compensation for impacts to ecological receptors relevant to the Scheme. 1.1.2 Specialist surveyors were commissioned to undertake these surveys on behalf of Atkins. The full reports, which detail the methodologies used, the expereince of the specialists, the results of the surveys, and an evaluation of receptors relevant to the Scheme (where appropriate), can be found in the Annexes to this report. Revision C03 Page 7 of 224 Annex 1 (NVC and Invasive Plants Survey Report) Report NVC and Botanical Species including Invasive Species survey: A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet Junction Improvements Date: August 2018 Submitted to: Prepared by: Atkins RSK ADAS Ltd Battlegate Road Boxworth Cambridgeshire CB23 4NN Tel. no: 01954 267666 Quality Assurance Author Checked Approved Lewis Saunders BSc, Chris Forster Brown MSc James Simpson BSc (Hons) MSc GradCIEEM MCIEEM MCIEEM CEcol The information which ADAS has prepared and provided is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the CIEEM’s Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. Disclaimer Copyright RSK ADAS Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be copied or reproduced by any means without prior written consent from RSK ADAS Ltd. If you have received this report in error please destroy all copies in your possession or control and notify RSK ADAS Ltd. This report has been commissioned for the exclusive use of the commissioning party unless otherwise agreed in writing by RSK ADAS Ltd; no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of the report. No liability is accepted by RSK ADAS Ltd for any of this report, other than for the purposes for which it was originally prepared and provided. Opinions and information provided in this report are on basis of RSK ADAS Ltd using due skill, care and diligence in the preparation of this report and no explicit warranty is provided as to its accuracy. It should be noted that no independent verification of any of the documents supplied to RSK ADAS Ltd has been made.