Holme Moss Transmitting Station,

Ecological Assessment Report

Prepared for Arqiva Services Ltd Kevin Honour MSc MIEEM, Claire Gilchrist MSc January 2011

CONTENTS

Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Methods 2 2.1 Consultation and data collection 2 2.2 Field survey 2 3 Description of the site 3 3.1 Ecological context 3 3.2 Habitats in the study area 5 3.3 Protected species 7 3.4 Other fauna 8 4 Assessment of ecological impacts 8 4.1 Site access and storage requirements 8 4.2 Impacts on habitats 8 4.3 Impacts on protected species 9 5 Conclusions and recommendations 10 5.1 Conclusions 10 5.2 Recommendations 10 6 References 11 Appendix 1 Plant species list 12 Drawing 1 Habitat survey plan

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 1 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 1 INTRODUCTION

Argus Ecology Ltd was commissioned by Arqiva Services Ltd to undertake an ecological assessment of the broadcast transmitting station at Holme Moss, Holme, , , HD9 2QH. The purpose of the survey is to identify potential ecological constraints associated with erection of two vertical wind energy micro generation wind turbines. The turbines are to be erected within the transmitter compound adjacent to existing buildings.

The site is located in West Yorkshire. The compound is approximately 130m x 100m (1.1ha area) and is centred on grid reference SE 095 040.

The scope of the investigation was as follows:

• Desktop study of site;

• Extended phase 1 habitat survey; and

• Risk assessment of structures and habitats for protected species.

2 METHODS

2.1 Consultation and data collation

A web-based data search was carried out for statutory designated sites using the government Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) database, and for species records using the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway site.

Overhead aerial photography was viewed to look at the ecological context of the site. West Yorkshire Ecology and Wildlife Trust were consulted for species and non-statutory site records and Derbyshire Bat Group for records of bats within 2km of the site.

These records are collated in the report, in order to set the site in its ecological context and identify any ecological constraints in the vicinity of the site.

2.2 Field survey

The field survey work was carried out to identify the habitats present on site and evaluate the site’s potential to support protected species and other ecological features that may constrain the development. This survey allows the identification of subsequent specialist work that may need to be carried out at an appropriate time of year. The field survey comprised a habitat survey and a protected species walkover survey to assess the potential of the site and immediate surrounds to support protected species.

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 2 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 The habitat survey was carried out on 13th January 2011, this is outside of the recommended period for phase 1 habitat surveys, constraints associated with the time of year are discussed in section 3.2. A phase 1 habitat survey was carried out using the standard method (Parkins 1990). The site was walked, habitats mapped on a base plan and species of interest noted. Signs of use of the area by protected species were searched for during the habitat survey. Photographs were taken to illustrate habitats and ecological interest features.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE

3.1 Ecological context

Local ecological context

The survey area lies at approximately 520 - 530 m AOD, and is located to the south west of Holmfirth. The wider area is upland moor within The National Park and is located within the Dark Peak Natural Area. The Natural England description of this area is reproduced below.

25 Dark Peak

The Dark Peak is an area of peat-covered, high hills dissected by deep, narrow valleys or 'cloughs'. The summits form relatively level plateaux which exceed 610 m on Kinder Scout and neighbouring . The underlying geology is dominated by Upper Carboniferous shales and sandstones, laid down around 330-320 million years ago, which have the fossil remains of both marine and freshwater invertebrates.

Upland heathland and blanket bog cover extensive areas of the Dark Peak and these support nationally important breeding populations of golden plover, dunlin, merlin and short-eared owl. Rough grassland, hay meadow and pasture create feeding and breeding areas for lapwing, curlew and twite. Characteristic steep-sided valleys or cloughs have fast-flowing streams and are home to ring ouzel and dipper. Woodland is largely confined to the cloughs and moorland fringes. Reservoirs are a characteristic feature of the Dark Peak.

Designated Wildlife Sites

Information regarding statutory nature conservation sites within 5km of the site was obtained by means of site checks on the government’s Multi Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) website.

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 3 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 The site is a fenced compound immediately surrounded by an area of extensive moorland which has several designations; these are Dark Peak Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Peak District Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) and South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Dark Peak SSSI is the main moorland area of The Peak District comprising plateau blanket mires, wet and dry heaths and acid grasslands, with associated flushes and mires on moorland slopes. The area is an extensive tract of semi-natural upland vegetation including plants and animals at either the southern or northern limits of their range. The moorland breeding bird assemblage is of regional and national importance.

Peak District Moors SPA is designated for several upland breeding species of European importance, including birds of prey and waders;

• Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria , 752 pairs representing at least 3.3% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count as at 1990),

• Merlin Falco columbarius , 77 pairs representing at least 5.9% of the breeding population in Great Britain,

• Peregrine Falco peregrinus , 16 pairs representing at least 1.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain,

• Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus, 25 pairs representing at least 2.5% of the breeding population in Great Britain.

The site also supports dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii , a migratory species of European importance, during the breeding season with 140 pairs representing at least 1.3% of the breeding Baltic/UK/Ireland population.

The Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of South Pennine Moors as a SAC are: European dry heaths, Blanket bogs and sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles.

There is also one additional statutory site within 5km of the site; this is Rake Dike, a geological SSSI. Rake Dike valley contains rock exposures from the Carboniferous period with shale layers containing important fossil remains; it runs from 0.7 km to the north to 2.3km to the north east of the site (SSSI notations).

West Yorkshire Ecology and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were consulted for data regarding non-statutory sites within 2km of the site. The records indicate that there is one nature conservation site (Site of Scientific Interest) within 2km of the site. This site is in West Yorkshire and is Yateholme Reservoir and Plantation SSSI, which is 0.36km to the north east. The SSSI has a good range of upland habitats including

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 4 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 woodlands, grassland, heath, open water, mires and flushes which help support a regionally important bird assemblage and provides a buffer to the internationally important bird breeding grounds within the adjacent SSSI/SPA.

An additional non-statutory site is Peak District Moors Important Bird Area (IBA) this is designated for important populations of breeding waders and raptors as described for the SPA.

Protected species

West Yorkshire Ecology and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were also consulted for data regarding protected species in the local area. Species records are within the 2km of the site and include water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ), common lizard (Zootoca vivipara ) and brown hare ( Lepus europaeus ).

Water vole are present within the two water systems in the area around the site, there are numerous records for these watercourses the closest being 0.6km to the west 1.1km to the north east. Common lizard is recorded 0.5km to the west of the site.

West Yorkshire Ecology also provided records of two Notable:B invertebrates; a dung beetle Aphodius distinctus and a weevil Barypeithes sulcifrons 1.6km to the north east of the site in Yateholme Reservoir and Plantation SSI.

There were no records of bats relevant to the site, the only record supplied by West Yorkshire Bat Group was for a bat of an unidentified species in a building approximately 3km to the north east in Holmfirth.

A search of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway also revealed a record of common lizard in the OS square immediately to the south and there are numerous water vole records but none closer than those supplied by the data centres.

NBN also hold records for the following additional protected species more than 2km but within 10km of the site: badger ( Meles meles ) brown long-eared bat ( Plecotus auritus ), Daubenton’s bat ( Myotis daubentoni ), and mountain hare ( Lepus timidus ).

3.2 Habitats in the study area

The Habitat Survey Plan (Drawing 1) shows the distribution of habitats across the site. Although the survey was carried out outside of the recommended season for phase 1 habitat surveys, habitat types were readily identifiable and any omissions of plant species are unlikely to have affected the habitat evaluation and assessment of ecological impact. Appendix 1 provides a plant species list for the site, although this should not be regarded as indicative rather than definitive.

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 5 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 Habitats on site include acid grassland, acid dry dwarf shrub heath, running water, ephemeral – short perennial vegetation, and bare ground.

The compound is secure and surrounded by a 2.8m wire mesh fence. This prevents any access by grazing stock, although there is heavy rabbit grazing pressure within the compound.

Much of the site is occupied by the transmitter base and building, together with ancillary structures such as stay blocks. There is a surfaced access road, paths and parking areas, as well as open storage areas on bare hardstanding. Some of the storage areas are becoming colonised by sparse ephemeral – short perennial vegetation.

Most of the vegetated areas of the site consist of acid grassland, maintained by rabbit grazing at a few cm tall. Most of this area was dominated by the moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus , with a fine-leaved grass sward mostly comprising common bent ( Agrostis capillaris ) and fine-leaved sheep’s fescue ( Festuca filiformis ). Rosettes of heath rush ( Juncus squarrosus ) were abundant in places, and the acidic character of the grassland was reinforced by the presence of mat- grass ( Nardus stricta ) and small amounts of crowberry ( Empetrum nigrum ) and heather ( Calluna vulgaris ). Other species characteristic of acid grassland included the mosses Polytrichum commune and Dicranum scoparium .

In contrast, species characteristic of more disturbed and nutrient-enriched grassland are also widespread, particularly in areas closer to the buildings. Ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea ) and creeping buttercup ( Ranunculus repens ) are both abundant.

A small triangular area in the eastern part of the site supported dry dwarf shrub- heath habitat, with more abundant and better established heather than in other areas.

There is a canalised drainage channel surrounding the building which had a limited water flow at the time of the survey despite recent snow melt and rain. The channel walls varied in height from 0.5m to more than 1m and had a width of approximately 0.5m. The walls were stone built and in good condition. The channel was partly vegetated, with abundant New Zealand willowherb ( Epilobium brunnescens ) in places, indicative of regular drying. The damper parts of the stone walls supported the thallose liverwort Pellia epiphylla .

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 6 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 3.3 Protected species

Bats

The building is assessed as low risk for suitability to support roosting bats. The stonework and brickwork was well pointed and the felting on the flat roof was well sealed. There were no roof voids or features such as weatherboarding which could support roosting bats. There were gaps between the brickwork and concrete slab ceiling within the loading bay but no signs of previous use by bats were identified. The site is exposed and likely to provide poor foraging habitat for bats, risk of use of the site by bats is assessed as low at any time of year.

Bats may exploit midge populations on upland watercourses but this will be limited to summer nights when weather conditions are suitable and would not provide a reliable food source throughout the activity season.

Birds

The site does provide opportunities for ground nesting birds. Lapwings ( Vanellus vanellus ) have used the grassland to the south east of the compound in previous years; this species favours relatively shorter vegetation than many upland waders. A red grouse ( Lagopus lagopus scotica ) was seen within the compound during the survey, but are unlikely to breed.

The surrounding area of upland heath, heath – grassland mosaics and blanket mire provides suitable breeding habitat for golden plover, and possibly dunlin and merlin. There is possibly insufficient cover for breeding short-eared owl, but both owls and merlin are likely to forage over the area.

Great Crested Newts

There are bog pools within 500m of the site however there are no waterbodies and terrestrial habitat on site is poor. No records of great crested newts were obtained for the area during the data search or desktop study.

Reptiles

There is a record of common lizard in the grid square to the south of the site but suitable habitat on the site is poor, stonework is well pointed and vegetation is grazed short providing little cover for reptiles.

Water voles

Although there are records of water voles within 2km, the water systems for which the records exist are not linked to the site. There are no areas of suitable habitat for

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 7 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 water vole on the site; the drainage channel is too steep sided and lacking depth and vegetation, and there is no soft rush ( Juncus effusus) on site which provides favoured habitat in upland situations.

3.4 Other fauna

Evidence of fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and evidence of a high rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) population were recorded during the survey.

4 ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS

4.1 Site access and storage requirements

No disturbance impacts on any habitats or protected species as a result of transport of materials to the site, or storage on the site, is expected. Access will be gained by existing infrastructure and there is hardstanding on the site suitable for storage of materials. Disturbance effects during the construction period are discussed with the relevant features.

4.2 Impacts on habitats

Upland heath is a Priority Habitat listed under Section 41 of the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act, and is also listed as an SAC interest feature. However, the area within the compound is very small and isolated, in contrast to the large areas of upland heath and blanket mire to the north, east and south of the compound.

The acid grassland habitat is of variable quality, with species indicative of disturbance and nutrient enrichment present in places. Upland acid grassland is not a priority habitat in England under current legislation, and can be regarded as a lower value habitat than dwarf shrub-heath or grass – heath mosaic habitats. Nevertheless, it is the favoured habitat of some upland birds, notably lapwing (see below).

The footprints of the wind turbines are located on the boundary between the hard surfaced area surrounding the main building, and areas of disturbed acid grassland. Even allowing for some wider disturbance during construction, impacts will be confined to low value habitats.

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 8 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 4.3 Impacts on protected species

Bats

The site has low risk of supporting roosting bats although in suitable weather conditions there may be bats foraging along watercourses in the surrounding area.

The proposed turbines are relatively small and have vertical blades, although there is little research to assess response of bats to this type of turbine it is speculated that the design is more likely to appear as a solid object and less likely to cause the vortices which are known to cause fatal injuries to bats.

Birds

Ground nesting birds have used the compound for breeding in the past. All wild birds, their nests and eggs, are protected by law under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) as amended. Breeding birds may be an ecological constraint for this development where nesting occurs within close proximity to the turbine sites. There may also be a risk of human disturbance of species nesting in close proximity to the site.

Lapwing is a Priority Species, listed under Section 41 of the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act. The small area of the site is unlikely to support more than one or two pairs, which is not significant in terms of the much larger areas of acid grassland outside of the perimeter fence. There is no suitable habitat on site to support breeding of the SPA interest features, although as noted above there is suitable habitat in the surrounding area which may be utilised by species such as golden plover.

Tall structures such as cable stayed transmitters and wind turbines can pose a hazard to birds in flight, especially when migrating at night and in conditions of poor visibility (although most evidence of the avian impacts of transmitter towers is from research in USA). As the wind turbines are to be located close to the 225m Holme Moss transmitter, no significant additional hazard to birds is expected from the construction of two 10m microturbines. The vertical design of the turbines has a much lower rotor-swept area than a conventional turbine, further reducing collision risk.

Water voles

There is no habitat on site suitable for use by water voles and no impact on water voles is expected as a result of the development. There are records of water voles within water systems on adjacent moorland however access to the site will be by

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 9 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 existing roads and there will be no disturbance to individuals or destruction of water vole habitat.

5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusions

The location of the turbines close to the existing buildings and transmitter tower is very unlikely to introduce a significant additional impact to SPA, SAC or SSSI interest features. The design of the vertical microturbines is likely to have a lower risk of affecting wildlife relative to that of a conventional rotor design. The scale of the turbines relative to the adjacent structures is very small, representing an incremental cumulative impact in terms of bird collision risk which is not significant.

The risk of impacting on bats is assessed as very low, due to the low risk that the site could support a bat roost, and the exposed nature of the site limiting its likely utilisation by foraging bats.

There is a risk that construction works could directly impact on ground-nesting birds within the site, and cause disturbance to birds nesting in close proximity.

5.2 Recommendations

In order to avoid disturbance of breeding birds on the site and neighbouring SPA, it is recommended that construction of the turbines be carried out outside of the bird breeding season (March – July for most species in upland areas).

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 10 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 6 REFERENCES

Parkins, H. (1990). Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey: A technique for environmental audit . Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Web sites / documents

Multi agency geographic information for the countryside (MAGIC) http://www.magic.gov.uk

Natural Area description – 25 The Dark Peak http://www.naturalareas.naturalengland.org.uk/science/natural/na_details.asp?na_id=25&s=&r=5

NBN Gateway (accessed 06/01/11) http://data.nbn.org.uk/

SSSI notations

Dark Peak - http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003028.pdf

Rake Dike - http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003777.pdf

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 11 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 APPENDIX 1 PLANT SPECIES LIST

Note that this does not constitute a definitive species list for the site. Scientific name English name Grasses and rushes Agrostis capillaris common bent Anthoxanthum odoratum sweet vernal-grass Festuca filiformis fine-leaved sheep's fescue Juncus squarrosus heath rush Nardus stricta mat-grass Herbs and dwarf shrubs Calluna vulgaris heather Cirsium palustre marsh thistle Empetrum nigrum crowberry Epilobium brunnescens New Zealand willowherb Ranunculus repens creeping buttercup Senecio jacobaea ragwort Mosses and liverworts Brachythecium albicans whitish feather-moss Bryum pseudotriquetrum marsh bryum Campylopus introflexus heath star-moss Dicranella heteromalla silky forklet-moss Dicranum scoparium broom fork-moss Lophocolea bidentata bifid crestwort Pellia epiphylla overleaf pellia Pohlia sp. thread-moss Polytrichum commune common haircap Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus springy turf-moss Lichens Cladonia chlorophaea lichen Cladonia furcata lichen Cladonia rangiformis lichen Peltigera lactucifolia dog-lichen

Holme Moss Transmitting Station 12 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011