Lend Lease RAF Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire Reptile
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Lend Lease RAF Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire Reptile Presence/ Likely Absence Survey Report July 2012 Ropemaker Court, 11-12 Lower Park Row, Bristol BS1 5BN Tel: 0117 925 4393 Email: [email protected] www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Document Control Project: RAF Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, Reptile Presence/ Likely Absence Survey Client: Lend Lease Job Number: A076050 File Origin: Z: \2012 \A076050 Lyneham \Reports \Reptiles \A076050 Lyneham Wiltshire Reptile_v1_040712.doc Document Checking: Prepared by: Chris Meddins MIEEM Signed: Principal Ecologist Checked by: Tamsin Clark MIEEM Signed: Associate Ecologist Verified by: Tamsin Clark MIEEM, Associate Ecologist Signed: On behalf of: Claire Wilmer CEnv, MIEEM, Regional Director Issue Date Status 1 06.06.12 DIO draft issue 2 30.07.12 DIO final issue 3 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Contents Page Executive Summary..........................................................................................................................1 1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................2 1.1 Background .........................................................................................................................2 1.2 Site location.........................................................................................................................2 1.3 Proposed development .........................................................................................................3 1.4 Legislation Applying to Reptiles.............................................................................................3 2.0 Methods ..............................................................................................................................5 2.1 The constraints report ..........................................................................................................5 2.2 Site survey ..........................................................................................................................5 2.3 Limitations...........................................................................................................................6 3.0 Results ................................................................................................................................7 3.1 Constraints report ................................................................................................................7 3.2 Site survey ..........................................................................................................................7 3.3 Ecological constraints and impacts ........................................................................................9 4.0 Recommendations for further survey...................................................................................11 5.0 Mitigation and enhancement recommendations....................................................................12 5.1 Mitigation ..........................................................................................................................12 5.2 Monitoring .........................................................................................................................14 5.3 Enhancements ...................................................................................................................14 5.4 Indicative Costs & Timings for Future Works........................................................................15 www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands 6.0 References ........................................................................................................................16 Appendix Contents Appendix A – Figures Figure 1 – Site boundary Figure 2– Reptile survey areas Appendix B – Reptile Hibernacula Design www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Reptile Survey Executive Summary Contents Summary Site location RAF Lyneham, nr Chippenham, Wiltshire (grid reference SU 005 786) Previous Ecological Development Constraints Report , AMEC, 2012 reports/surveys WYG Survey Reptile Presence/ Likely Absence Assessment, May & June 2012 Results Reptiles were only recorded in three areas (ref: WYG 1, WYG 2 and Amec TN5) onsite with the largest reptile population recorded within area reference Amec TN5 with numbers recorded indicating a good population of slow worms and low population of grass snake. The presence of juvenile reptiles shows there is a successful breeding population within the area. Both areas reference WYG 1 and WYG 2 recorded grass snake and slow worm respectively, with numbers indicating a low population of each species. Additional Survey The requirement for further reptile population estimate surveys should Recommendations be discussed with the LPA ecologist for areas where reptiles have been recorded if they are to be impacted by the development. Mitigation and Current master planning shows the areas where reptiles have been Enhancement recorded are located within the proposed outdoor training areas and Recommendations impacts are unlikely; however if areas where reptiles have been recorded are to be impacted by the development further mitigation will be necessary prior to any works. Dependant on level of impact mitigation could be through: • Habitat manipulation (small scale impacts only); • Reptile translocation. Recommendations for enhancement of the site are provided including: • Reduction in cutting regime; • Suitable reptile hibernacula design. 1 Lend Lease A076050 30/07/2012 RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Reptile Survey 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background WYG was commissioned by Lend Lease in March 2012 to undertake a reptile presence/ likely absence survey of land at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lyneham (‘the site’) in Lyneham, near Chippenham, Wiltshire (see Figure 1; Appendix A). The detailed design and extent of future land use are not known at present, however, it is understood that the base may be converted from an airbase to training facilities. The previous AMEC Ecological Development Constraints Report (2012, ‘the constraints report’) identified the potential for reptiles to occur on site, based on the presence of suitable habitat. The aims of the WYG survey work and the subsequent report presented herein were to: • Determine the presence or likely absence of reptiles at the site; • Provide an appraisal of the implications created by the potential presence of reptiles at the site; • Establish if any potential effects on reptiles resulting from the development are permissible; • Ensure that the required level of survey work and information is present to inform a method statement, should one be necessary; and • Provide preliminary advice on mitigation strategies against any adverse affects on local reptile population(s) which may arise as a result of the proposed development. 1.2 Site location RAF Lyneham covers approximately 460 ha and is located 9 km north-east of Chippenham. The central OS grid reference of the site is SU 005 786. As per the original constraints report by AMEC (2012), the habitat is mainly grassland (approximately half the area), and buildings and hard standing (over one-quarter of the area). The rest of the area consists of landscaping, woodland, bare ground, water bodies and hedgerows (over 7 km in length). At present the buildings are used as a mix of offices, accommodation, and catering, and many are currently unoccupied. The airfield area (i.e. the runways, airport terminal, hangers etc) is not presently in regular 2 Lend Lease A076050 30/07/2012 RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Reptile Survey use as the base is no longer used by aircraft however regular cutting occurs of the majority of airfield grassland. 1.3 Proposed development No plans for construction or refurbishment have been finalised, but the development principles are taken from the masterplan (AMEC ref 20120223 POCA Final -Ecology Masterplan Sections). It is proposed that the RAF will maintain the site, switching the role from an airbase, to a training area. The training will require a mix of outdoor areas (mainly the airfield) and indoor (the main area of building in the north-east of the site). This will also require accommodation, catering buildings, security, etc. Many of these facilities are in place within the buildings currently on site, but some refurbishment may be required. 1.4 Legislation Applying to Reptiles All six species of reptiles native to the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and benefit from various levels of protection. Common species of reptile, namely the adder Vipera berus , grass snake Natrix natrix , slow-worm Anguis fragilis and common lizard Zootoca vivipara receive partial or full protection under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This legislation makes it an offence to: • Intentionally or recklessly kill or injure these animals; and • Sell, offer for sale, possess or transport for the purpose of sale or publish advertisement to buy or sell individual reptiles. The smooth snake Coronella austriaca and sand lizard Lacerta agilis are listed in Annex IVa of the EC Habitat and Species Directive and in Annex II of the Bern Convention. They are also listed in Schedule 5 of Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and in Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations 2010. As a result it is an offence to: • Intentionally or recklessly kill or injure these animals; • Deliberately