Cowdale Quarry Ecology Chapter Report

June 2010

Final

Client Express Park Buxton Ltd.

Job Name Cowdale Quarry, Buxton

Report title Ecology Chapter

File reference 4500.02_003_ES_ph_gba.doc

Signed Name Position Date

Originated Philippa Harvey Principal Ecologist 08/07/10

Reviewed James Gillespie Partner 25/06/10

ISSUING OFFICE: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT

TEL: 01629 815544

FAX: 01629 815577

Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: [email protected] Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Registered in: Cardiff No. OC328772 Registered address: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT Members: A list of members is available at each office.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 This chapter of the environmental statement has been prepared by Baker Shepherd Gillespie and examines the likely significant ecological effects of the proposed development within the site at Cowdale Quarry near Buxton. The ecological impact assessment has been carried out with reference to the guidance produced by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM, 2006) which is recognised as current best practice.

1.2 The baseline ecology of the proposed development area is reviewed. Species and habitats are evaluated on a national and regional basis. Potential sources of ecological impact are outlined and predicted effects of the proposed development are described. The significance of these effects is evaluated and mitigation measures discussed. Any residual effects following mitigation are identified.

1.3 This chapter of the environmental statement is structured to follow the ecological impact assessment process from baseline data gathering to the assessment of residual impacts. It starts by describing the desk study and field survey carried out to gather data on flora and fauna, the habitats present on and around the site and any designated nature conservation sites in the area in order to establish the baseline conditions. This information is then evaluated to identify which receptors (i.e. sites, habitats and species) are of importance for nature conservation, placing that importance on a geographical scale from site to international level. The potential impacts on these receptors are then outlined and an assessment is made as to whether the effects of the impacts are likely to be ecologically significant. In the final stages, the potential for mitigation measures to reduce the level of any significant adverse impacts is investigated and the likely post-mitigation residual impacts are discussed.

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PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT

1.4 This section sets out the policy and legislation context for the ecological assessment. A summary of the relevant policy and legislation is set out below at the international, national, regional and local levels:

National policy

Planning Policy Statement 9: biodiversity and geological conservation

1.5 Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9) [6.12] sets out the Government’s national policies on the protection of biodiversity and needs to be taken into account by regional and local planning bodies.

1.6 PPS9 states that:

“Planning decisions should aim to maintain, and enhance, restore or add to biodiversity interests. In taking decisions local planning authorities should ensure that appropriate weight is attached to designated sites of international, national and local importance; protected species; and to biodiversity interests within the wider environment. “

“The aim of planning decisions should be to prevent harm to biodiversity and geological conservation interests. Where granting planning permission would result in significant harm to those interests, local planning authorities will need to be satisfied that the development cannot reasonably be located on any alternative sites that would result in less or no harm. In the absence of any such alternatives, local planning authorities should ensure that, before planning permission is granted, adequate mitigation measures are put in place. Where a planning decision would result in significant harm to biodiversity and geological interests which cannot be prevented or adequately mitigated against, appropriate compensation measures should be sought. If that significant harm cannot be prevented, adequately mitigated against, or compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.”

Designated Sites

1.7 PPS9 states that designated sites are a material consideration in any planning decision related to the proposed development. Local Plans should develop criteria based policies within local plans against which development proposals affecting local sites can be judged. Guidance has subsequently been produced by Defra on the identification, selection and management of local sites.

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Habitats

1.8 In Paragraph 12 of PPS9, the government indicates that local authorities should take steps to maintain networks of habitats by avoiding or repairing the fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats through policies in plans. Such networks should be protected from development, and where possible strengthened or integrated within it.

1.9 A range of habitat types are listed as a Habitats of Principal Importance under the provisions of Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006. Paragraph 11 of PPS9 states that local authorities, through policies in plans, should conserve important natural habitat types that are identified as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England and identify opportunities to enhance and add to them.

Protected Species

1.10 A range of species are listed as Species of Principal Importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England in response to Section 41 of the NERC Act. These species are a material consideration in planning terms according to Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (PPS9).

1.11 In paragraph 16 of PPS9, the government indicates

” that local authorities should take steps to further the conservation of Species of Principal Importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England and should ensure that that the habitats of these species are protected from further decline and from adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations. Planning authorities should refuse permission where harm to the species or their habitats would result unless the need for, and benefits of, the development clearly outweigh the harm.

1.12 Key Principle ii of PPS9 and Paragraph 116 of Government Circular 06/2005, which accompanies PPS 9, also advise that planning authorities should give due weight to the presence of a European Protected Species on a development site to meet their statutory requirements in exercising their functions in relation to the Habitats Directive.

Regional policy

1.13 The regional spatial strategy for the East Midlands is published in the East Midlands Regional Plan and provides the strategic land use planning context for Derbyshire. The following policies are relevant to the proposed development at Cowdale.

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1.14 Policy 28: Regional Priorities for Environmental and Green Infrastructure, states that Local Authorities, statutory environmental bodies and developers should work with the voluntary sector, landowners and local communities to ensure the delivery, protection and enhancement of Environmental Infrastructure across the Region. Such infrastructure should contribute to a high quality natural and built environment and to the delivery of sustainable communities.

1.15 Local Authorities and those responsible for the planning and delivery of growth and environmental management across the Region should work together to:

• assess the capacity of existing Environment Infrastructure to accommodate change in order to inform decisions on the scale, location and phasing of new development. Account should be taken of current deficits and likely future demands, including those likely to result from climate change, to identify any further needs or constraints;

• select appropriate indicators and targets to monitor the condition of Environmental Infrastructure and to ensure that its capacity to accommodate change is not breached;

• ensure that the provision and design of new Environmental Infrastructure is considered and its delivery planned through environmental capacity analysis at the same time as other infrastructure requirements;

• within Local Development Frameworks develop ‘green infrastructure plans’ based on character assessments of existing natural, cultural and landscape assets and the identification of new assets required to meet the needs of existing and expanding communities;

• increase access to green space that can be used for formal and informal recreation, educational purposes and to promote healthy lifestyles, without increasing pressures on sensitive sites, especially those designated under the European Habitats Directive; and

• identify delivery and funding mechanisms for the creation and future management of Green Infrastructure, including from the planning system and other funding sources such as EU funded Environmental Stewardship Schemes.

1.16 Policy 29: Priorities for Enhancing the Region’s Biodiversity, states that: Local Authorities, statutory environmental bodies and developers should work with the voluntary sector, landowners and local communities to implement the Regional Biodiversity Strategy and to deliver a major step change increase in the level of biodiversity across the East Midlands. Measures should include the:

• Achievement of the East Midlands regional contribution towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets;

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• Establishment of large scale habitat creation projects in the biodiversity conservation and enhancement areas;

• Establishment of a regional project to promote the recreation of key wildlife habitats in each Natural Area in East Midlands;

• Creating, protecting and enhancing networks of semi-natural green spaces in urban areas;

• Creating, protecting and enhancing features of the landscape which act as corridors and ‘stepping stones’, essential for the migration and dispersal of wildlife;

• Development and implementation of mechanisms to ensure that development results in no net loss of BAP habitats and species, particularly for restricted habitats with special environmental requirements and that net gain is achieved; and

• Development and maintenance of appropriate data to monitor and report on regional targets, BAPs and BCAs/BEAs.

1.17 Policy 30: Regional Priorities for Managing and Increasing Woodland Cover states that: Local Authorities, statutory environmental bodies and developers should work with the voluntary sector; landowners and local communities to deliver a significant increase in woodland cover in the East Midlands in ways that respect local landscape character and support the implementation of the Regional Plan.

1.18 New woodland should optimise social, environmental and economic value whilst recognising the biodiversity and character of existing woodland and the sensitivity of existing nature conservation interest. Woodland unavoidably lost to development should be replaced with new woodland of equivalent value, preferably in the same landscape unit. Preference should be given to creating new native woodlands as defined in Forestry Commission Bulletin 112.

1.19 Opportunities should be taken to increase woodland cover as part of new development and by using other mechanisms, focusing on:

• Priority areas identified through Space4Trees;

• The Northamptonshire Growth Areas;

• Principal transport corridors and Strategic River Corridors;

• Delivering Local Biodiversity Action Plan targets.

1.20 Ancient semi-natural woodland, veteran trees and other woodlands of acknowledged national and regional importance should be protected by Local Development Frameworks. There should be a general presumption against the conversion of any woodland to other land uses unless there are overriding public benefits.

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1.21 Opportunities should be taken to secure sustainable management of all woodland, and to increase public access to high quality multi-functional woodland close to communities as part of the development of Green Infrastructure.

Local policy

Local Development Framework: High Peak Saved Local Plan Policies

Conservation and Enhancement of the Open Environment

The Derbyshire Wildlife Sites Register, prepared by Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Wildlife trust, identifies natural history sites of more local significance. English Nature has produced an inventory of Ancient Woodlands in Derbyshire and concluded that high priority should be given to preventing further reductions in the area or nature conservation value of ancient woodland. These woodlands, which have existed under woodland management from before 1600AD afford excellent habitats for wildlife because of their unrivalled structure and shelter, as well as having a significant landscape presence. The best of the ancient woodlands have been incorporated in the Wildlife Sites Register. These sites and the Regionally Important Geological Sites reflect the High Peak's rich and diverse heritage of moorland, meadowland, woodland, bog and wetland. The Council will give protection from significant loss or adverse impact from development to such sites. However, if other material factors are sufficient to override nature conservation considerations, measures will be taken to minimise and mitigate impact on identified sites.

Policy 15

OC8 - SITES OF IMPORTANCE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION

Development which individually or cumulatively with other development may affect a proposed or designated Site of European Importance will be subject to rigorous examination and will only be permitted where:

• there are no imperative reasons of over-riding public interest for the development such as human health or public safety or for beneficial consequences of primary importance for nature conservation.

• there is no alternative solution; and

Development in or likely to affect Sites of Special Scientific Interest will be subject to special scrutiny and will only be permitted where:

• measures are put in place to ensure the protection and enhancement of the site’s nature conservation interest.

• the reasons for development clearly outweigh the nature conservation value of the site itself; and

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Development likely to have an adverse effect on Local Nature Reserves, a Derbyshire Wildlife Register site or a Regionally Important Geological Site will only be permitted where:

• measures are in place to ensure appropriate mitigation and compensatory measures including the management of such provision

• it can be clearly demonstrated that there are reasons for the proposal that outweigh the need to safeguard the substantive nature conservation value of the site;

Trees and Woodlands

The Council has published a leaflet entitled "Protection of Trees on Development Sites", the advice in which applicants will be encouraged to follow.

Policy 16

OC10 - TREES AND WOODLANDS

Planning Permission will be granted for development, provided that:

• it will not result in the loss of, or materially injure the health of, a woodland (in whole or in part) or other significant individual, group or area of trees, unless required in the interests of safety, good tree management or a wider scheme of conservation and enhancement;

or

• exceptionally, where loss or injury is accepted, adequate replacement planting, in terms of numbers, species, planting density and location, will be provided as part of the development

Conditions will be imposed, and/or planning obligations sought, to ensure adequate protection and management of individual, groups and areas of trees and woodlands which are important for landscape, amenity, recreation or nature conservation reasons.

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Biodiversity Action Plans

1.22 The Government has drawn up a national strategy to conserve our threatened native species and habitats - the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) includes a large number of detailed action plans for priority habitats and species.

1.23 The UK BAP is supported by a series of local Biodiversity Action Plans, usually set up on a county basis; each of which identifies those priority habitats and species considered to be most important in that area. The Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan (2001) identifies a number of habitats for which action plans have been prepared, such as semi- natural grasslands and broad leaved woodland. The Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan also identifies a number of Priority Species.

Habitats and Species of Principal Importance

1.24 Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 states that “every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.” Conserving biodiversity is identified to include restoring or enhancing a population or habitat.

1.25 Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 requires a list to be prepared of those habitats and species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity in England. Under PPS9, local authorities should take measures to protect the habitats and species referred to by Section 41 from further decline through policies in local development documents. Planning authorities should ensure that these species are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations. They should also refuse permission where harm to the species or their habitats would result unless the need for, and benefits of, the development clearly outweigh that harm.

Wildlife Legislation

1.26 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 are the most recent pieces of legislation providing protection to certain sites and species in the UK. There are several pieces of legislation that pre-date this Act which also provide varying degrees of protection to species and special sites in the UK: the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) (as amended), the Protection of Badgers Act (1992), the Abandonment of Animals Act (1960) and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act (1996).

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ESTABLISHING THE BASELINE

Desk Study

1.27 A desktop study was carried out to determine the presence of any protected or notable species records for a 2km radius around OS grid reference SK 079 723 and for statutory or non-statutory designated sites of nature conservation value (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), within a 5km radius of the site.

1.28 The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust was contacted to supply some of this information and Natural England’s nature-on-the-map website1 was consulted to determine the locality of statutory protected sites within 2km of the study site.

Consultation

1.29 A scoping report was sent to the High Peak Borough Council in January 2010 outlining the issues that would be considered within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This included Ecology.

1.30 Derbyshire Wildlife Trust responded to the Planning Application with a series of comments. Subsequently a meeting on site was arranged to discuss the approach to further survey work required to inform the Ecology Chapter of the EIA. Following the site meeting a letter was sent to Trevor Taylor of DWT setting out the proposed approach to the further survey work considered necessary to determine the likely impacts of the proposed development. A copy of the correspondence can be found in Appendix 4.

Field Survey

1.31 The survey methodology is summarised below.

Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey

1.32 Principal Ecologist Philippa Harvey MIEEM and Senior Ecologist Mark Woods MIEEM visited the site on the 7th October 2009 between 0900 and 1530 hours. The weather was sunny with light winds and an average temperature of 160C.

1.33 The site was walked over and the habitats were described using an adapted version of the Phase 1 Habitat survey methodology2, extended to check for signs of protected and other notable species.

1.34 Checks for signs of protected species were made across the site and, where access allowed, immediately adjacent to the site, and habitats were assessed for their potential to

1 www.natureonthemap.org.uk/ 2 JNCC, 1993. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Peterborough.

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support important/protected species. The trees and buildings/structures on site were assessed for their potential to support roosting bats, such as cracks, splits, woodpecker holes and dense ivy. Searches were also made for evidence of badgers Meles meles (such as setts, dung pits, hairs and tracks). Habitats were assessed for their potential to support reptiles. Potential nesting habitats for breeding birds were identified and the site was also searched for the presence of invasive species such as Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica.

Botanical Survey

1.35 A further walkover survey of the site by Mark Woods and Philippa Harvey was undertaken in late March 2010 of the spoil heap vegetation to identify any early flowering plants that may be present.

1.36 Detailed botanical surveys of the Cowdale Local Wildlife Site and the northern edge of the quarry top (which is to be lost as part of the development) were carried out by Mark Woods and Philippa Harvey on the 5th June 2010.

Badger Survey 1.37 The badger surveys involved walking the site, recording any signs of badger activity such as snuffle holes, well-worn tracks or dung pits. The majority of the woodland on the north and east of the site is inaccessible by foot due to the steepness of the terrain. It was however possible to check the woodland edges for badger setts and signs of activity. However, the most westerly spoil heap to be removed could not be comprehensively surveyed and the presence of badger setts cannot be totally ruled particularly as there are well-worn badger paths along the top of the bank.

1.38 Surveys were undertaken by Principal Ecologist Philippa Harvey on the 25th March 2010. Additional notes on signs of badger activity were made during site visits for other survey work in April, May and June 2010.

Breeding Bird Survey

1.39 The survey methodology broadly followed the ‘Common Bird Census’ (CBC) devised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). This technique records the location and movements of every bird present within a defined survey area, recording each individual only once.

1.40 Three visits were undertaken during the bird breeding season in suitable weather conditions between the hours of 8.00 am and 11.30 am, when birds are most active. Philippa Harvey carried out the surveys. The dates and weather conditions during these surveys are detailed in Table 1 below. There were no constraints to the survey.

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1.41 A transect route was walked around the survey area. Records were made of birds singing or calling, repeated territorial calls, territorial aggression, displaying, adults carrying food or nesting material, juvenile birds and family groups.

Table 1: Breeding bird survey dates and weather conditions

Date Weather conditions 4th April 2010 Cold, overcast slight breeze 30C 14th May 2010 Cold, overcast 70C 18th June 2010 Clear, sunny, 24 0C

Bats

Roosting potential

1.42 The trees within the survey site were assessed during the Phase 1 Habitat Survey for their potential to support bat roosts. The built structures were assessed as part of the further survey work for their potential to support roosting bats. Trees and buildings were inspected from the ground, using binoculars where necessary, to assess their potential to support roosting bats and to make searches for evidence of the presence of bats, such as bat droppings, feeding remains and characteristic staining associated with any features such as gaps in stonework or rot holes within trees. The trees to be lost in association with the new access road were checked again during the botanical surveys of the woodland for their potential to support roosting bats.

Bat Transect Surveys

1.43 Philippa Harvey and Field Assistants Grant Brammall and Michelle Sullivan carried out three bat transect surveys in late May and June 2010. A Duet frequency division and an Eridol MP3 recording device were used during the transect survey. The heterodyne detector was used for immediate analysis of calls in the field and the Duet and Edirol recorder were used to record and confirm these calls following the survey. This type of survey involves a pre-determined route being walked with regular five minute station stops on route. Table 2 details the dates, time and weather conditions.

1.44 During the first evening activity survey it was not possible to walk around the foot of the quarry because of the presence of cows and newly born calves on the quarry floor. However, subsequent surveys were carried out along the quarry floor and bat activity recorded.

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Table 2: Bat transect survey dates, times and weather conditions

Date Time of survey Weather conditions

25th May 2010 9.15 pm to 10.30 pm Overcast with a breeze. 11°C.

23rd June 2010 9.30 pm to 23.05 pm Dry and warm with partial cloud cover. 15°C.

28th June 2010 9.30 pm to 22.45 pm Overcast, breezy, occasional light rain.

Reptile Survey

1.45 Twelve reptile mats were set out across the site in suitable habitat considered likely to be used by reptiles. Ideally more refugia would have been used; however this was not possible due to the steepness of the spoil mounds and quarry face and the high level of grazing stock present in the quarry. This is not considered to be a constraint to the surveys as it was possible to walk the site looking for basking reptiles.

1.46 Surveys were then carried out in April, May and June 2010. This survey work involved walking the site and using binoculars to search for reptiles in areas of suitable habitat. During the survey the mats were also checked to see if any reptiles were located underneath or basking on top of the mats. The dates and weather conditions of this survey work are detailed in Table 3 below.

Table 3: Reptile survey dates and weather conditions

Date Weather conditions Results 14th April 2010 N/A (Putting out reptile mats) 26th April 2010 Intermittent sun, partial No reptiles. cloud, still. 15°C. 14th May 2010 Cloudy, still, 7°C No reptiles 19th May 2010 Cloudy, still, 7°C No reptiles 26th May 2010 Overcast, 12°C No reptiles 4th June 2010 Clear, sunny, 26°C No reptiles 16th June 2010 Clear sunny, 23°C No reptiles 18th June 2010 Clear sunny, 24°C No reptiles

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Invertebrate Survey

1.47 The south-facing slopes of the old spoil-heaps were considered to be a potentially valuable micro-habitat for invertebrates, in particular nesting bees and wasps. An entomological survey was undertaken in 2010 to assess the value of the site for invertebrates, focusing on the spoil-heaps.

1.48 The survey aimed:

• to assess the potential of the site for invertebrates by visual assessment of the habitats, taking digital photographs to support these observations, and

• to assess the quality of the site by sampling invertebrates.

1.49 The survey was conducted with regard to the guidance contained in Anon. (2005) and Drake et al. (2007). Entomological Consultant Dr Mark G. Telfer visited the site on the 26th and 27th May 2010. Invertebrates were recorded using a range of techniques (Table 4).

Table 4: Techniques employed on this survey to record invertebrates, and their target groups and target habitats.

Technique Target groups Target habitats Yellow pan Bees, wasps (aculeate Foci of bee and wasp activity such as trapping. Hymenoptera) and flies (Diptera). nesting sites or flower-rich foraging patches. Grubbing at A wide range of ground-living All habitats, especially bare and sparsely- ground level, invertebrates, particularly beetles vegetated ground. turning over (Coleoptera), bugs (Heteroptera), logs and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) stones, etc. woodlice (Isopoda) and molluscs. Suction As above but catching species which Grassland and ruderal vegetation. sampling (also are too small, too well-camouflaged known as or too quick-running to be vacuum successfully captured by hand. sampling). Sieving. A useful supplement to grubbing and Grassland and plant-litter especially. suction sampling in denser vegetation. Handfuls of vegetation are sieved over a tray to reveal a range of beetles, bugs and other ground-living invertebrates. Sweep-netting. Solitary bees and wasps; beetles All vegetated habitats, paying particular and bugs in grassland vegetation. attention to nectar and pollen sources. Beating. Beetles and bugs on the branches, Shrubs and trees. flowers and foliage of shrubs and trees. Direct Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, All habitats, paying particular attention to observation. grasshoppers and crickets nectar and pollen sources. (Orthoptera), etc.

1.50 Where practical, invertebrates were identified in the field but wherever any doubt existed, one or more specimens were collected for more detailed scrutiny. To achieve

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accurate identifications, specimens were identified using the surveyor’s own library and entomological collections. Selected specimens have been retained in the surveyor’s collection as vouchers.

1.51 The weather on 26th May was overcast with a Moderate Breeze (Force 4) and a predicted maximum temperature of 13 ºC. The day was dry except for a light shower at 16.30. The weather on 27th May was windier (Strong Breeze, Force 6) but warmer and with sunny intervals (7 eighths cloud cover). There were two brief light showers, at 10.00 and 11.15. Weather conditions were not ideal for survey of bees, wasps, butterflies and other sun- loving insects. However, the conditions were adequate for survey of other invertebrates.

Method of ecological evaluation

Assessment of effects

1.52 The assessment methodology for this chapter has been undertaken with regard to the “Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment” developed by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM February 2006). The objective of the Guidelines is to promote a scientifically rigorous and transparent approach to Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), as a key component of EIA. The Guidelines comprise advice on best practice in four key areas of EcIA:

• Identifying and evaluating ecological features.

• Characterising and quantifying impacts and assessing their significance.

• Minimising adverse effects and maximising benefits through the scheme design process.

1.53 The IEEM Guidelines recognise that ecological evaluation is a ‘complex and subjective process’ but describes key considerations that should be taken into account when ‘applying professional judgement to assign values to ecological features and resources’. These include consideration of: geographic frame of reference; site designations and features; biodiversity value; large populations or important assemblages of species; potential value, secondary or supporting value.

Evaluation methodology

1.54 In order to evaluate the importance of ecological features identified in the desk study and field surveys, a set of standard measures are outlined in the guidance produced by IEEM. For each site, habitat and species/assemblage, a summary grade is determined using the recommended levels of value in the guidance. This places the importance of each feature in a geographical context, using the following hierarchy:

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• international

• national (UK)

• regional (East Midlands)

• county (Derbyshire)

• district (High Peak Borough)

• local (or parish) (Buxton)

• site - within immediate zone of influence only (the development site and immediate surrounds).

1.55 Where possible, formal criteria are used to set features of conservation importance within this geographical context. For example, the Guidelines for the Selection of Biological SSSIs (Nature Conservancy Council, 1989) can be used to assess features at the national level. Similarly, published guidelines for the selection of SINCs are normally used to assess features at the county level.

1.56 However, this is not always possible and there are a number of other frameworks that can be used to help place designated sites, habitats or species into the geographical hierarchy. These include the following:

• International law – EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

• National law – Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

• UK Biodiversity Action Plan, Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan.

• Information on national population status, descriptions of “Natural Areas3”, and local information on rarity Derbyshire Red Data Books.

By considering these factors and by using professional knowledge of species, habitats and the proposed development site, each ecological feature’s importance in a geographical context has been determined.

Identification of impacts and ecological effects

1.57 In addition to evaluating the importance of the ecological features identified, this section determines the significance of predicted potential ecological impacts arising from the development proposals prior to any form of mitigation. It does so by assessing and characterising the anticipated impacts on each ecological feature in light of the available

3 English Nature (now part of Natural England) developed the ‘natural areas’ approach to describe the locally distinctive wildlife characteristic of 92 areas throughout England. The site is within the White Peak Natural Area. The natural area profiles list key habitats for each area including calcicolous and neutral grassland and woodland

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information. Professional judgement is used to determine whether the effects related to these are expected to be ecologically significant.

1.58 The predicted impacts may be direct or indirect in nature and may occur in one or more of the construction or operational phases of the scheme. The impacts identified in relation to each ecological feature are considered with reference to a number of factors as appropriate to each impact and each receptor:

• direction (positive, negative or neutral impact) • magnitude (the amount or level of impact) • extent (area in hectares, linear metres, etc) • duration (in time or related to species life-cycles) • reversibility (i.e. is the impact permanent or temporary) • timing and frequency (e.g. related to breeding seasons) • cumulative effects (between impacts from a number of sources)

1.59 These factors provide a means of characterising impacts on the features identified, thereby allowing significance to be assessed.

Determining Significance

1.60 IEEM guidance states that impacts should be determined as being significant when they have an adverse or positive effect “on the integrity of a defined site or ecosystem and/or the conservation status of habitats or species within a given geographical area”. Such impacts may either be significant at the same level of importance as defined in the Evaluation section, or at a lesser geographical scale. For example, limited impacts on a site of County importance might be assessed as being significant at a District level of importance.

1.61 The integrity of a site or ecosystem is defined in Governmental guidance as “the coherence of its ecological structure and function, across its whole area, that enables it to sustain the habitat, complex of habitats and/or the levels of populations of the species for which it was classified”. This definition applies easily to designated sites, which normally have well-defined reasons for classification and conservation objectives (normally set out in a site ‘citation’). However, for sites which have not been designated, the ecologically important characteristics of the area require ecological judgement and background information to provide the necessary context. In determining the significance of any potential impacts, a site can be regarded to have integrity (or ‘favourable condition’) when its ecological function remains whole, it continues to meet its conservation objectives and it retains the ability to recover from disturbance and to evolve in ways favourable to conservation with a minimum of external management support (European Commission, 2000).

1.62 The concept of ‘conservation status’ is also used to determine the significance of ecological impacts on a habitat or species. This is defined in IEEM guidance as below:

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1.63 For habitats, conservation status is determined by the sum of the influences acting on the habitat and its typical species that may affect its long-term distribution, structure and functions as well as the long-term survival of its typical species within a given geographical area.

1.64 For species, conservation status is determined by the sum of influences acting on the species concerned that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance of its populations within a given geographical area.

1.65 Conservation status can be evaluated at a range of scales from local to international, in line with the evaluation of the resource. For some habitats or species, conservation status may be explicitly stated in documents such as Biodiversity Action Plans, but for others conservation status may have to be determined using other background information or local expertise.

1.66 The conservation status of a habitat or species can be seen as favourable when the following criteria are met:

• The area of habitat is stable or increasing. • The structure and functions of the habitat necessary for its long-term maintenance continue to exist. • The population of a species is maintaining itself on a long-term basis. • The range of a species is stable. • There is sufficient habitat to maintain the population. 1.67 Using this information a judgement is made as to whether the effects on the integrity (of site/ecosystems) or conservation status (of habitats/species) of each ecological feature will be significant. The impact significance is determined at the appropriate geographical scale.

1.68 Neutral impacts have no level of significance applied to them.

Confidence in significance assessment

1.69 A level of certainty is given to indicate the confidence placed in the assessment of the residual impact significance. The four-point scale identified above is used for this step.

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BASELINE ECOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION 1.70 This section provides a summary of the ecological and nature conservation characteristics of the proposed development site. Full details of the results of the survey work and desk study are set out in the survey reports in Technical Appendices.

Desktop Study Results

Statutory and non-statutory sites of nature conservation value Statutory Designated Sites

1.71 A number of statutory sites of nature conservation interest were located within 5km of the site, including the Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Peak District Moors Specially Protected Area (SPA) and South Pennine Moors SAC. Wye Dales SSSI is located 0.4km to the north of the site at its nearest point (Cunning Dale), centred at OS grid reference SK 154 722. Other dales included within the Wye Dale SSSI such as Deep Dale and Woo Dale are located within 2km distance, to the west of the study site.

Non-statutory designated sites

1.72 Four Local Wildlife Sites: (LWS) and one “recorded site of interest” are located within 2km of the site. A LWS is identified as having county level importance for its nature conservation interest. A site of “recorded interest “ is not a designated site.

• Cow Dale, which forms the eastern edge of the survey area, is an unimproved calcareous grassland site and is designated as a LWS (HP 176), covering an area of 8.64 Ha. Approximately half of this LWS (3.79 Ha) is identified as a semi-natural grassland.

• Ashwood Dale LWS (HP 027) is located immediately to the north west of the survey site, and covers an area of 11.3Ha, supporting ancient semi-natural ash woodland.

• Cunningdale North LWS (HP 158) is located approximately 1km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 2.3Ha, supporting unimproved calcareous grassland.

• Cunningdale South LWS (HP 180) is located approximately 0.5km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 3.1Ha, and supports unimproved neutral grassland.

• Cowdale Quarry, including the quarry rock face, cliff tops and the quarry floor within the survey area is identified as an “Other recorded site of interest” (DD 135). This is not a formal designation but simply identifies that the site may be of ecological interest. The site was last surveyed in 2003.

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1.73 In addition, Ashwood Dale and Ashwood Dale Quarry Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS) are located approximately 0.2km to the north of the survey site on the northern side of the A6.

Species 1.74 The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust provided the following records of protected species within 2km of the site (see Table 5 below). For full details refer to Appendix 1.

Table 5: Protected Species records

Common Latin name Date OS grid Location Distance from site name reference Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 1993 SK080725 Ashford Dale 0.2km north Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 1998 and SK060722 White Knowle 1.9km west 2000 Rd, Buxton Soprano Pipistrellus 1999 SK071706 Harpur Hill, 1.8km southwest pipistrelle pygmaeus Buxton Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 2005 SK065719 Somerset 1.4km west Close, Buxton Common Pipistrellus 2004 SK063717 Somerset 1.4km west pipistrelle pipistrellus Close Water Arvicola 1998 SK0872 River Wye Within 1km vole terrestris Water Arvicola 1998 SK0872 River Wye Within 1km vole terrestris Great Triturus cristatus 1976 SK087746 Buxton, green crested Lane newt Badger Meles meles 1989 Confidential Cowdale Within the survey Quarry area Badger Meles meles 1994 Confidential Cowdale Within the survey Quarry area Badger Meles meles 2008 Confidential Cowdale Within the survey Quarry area Badger Meles meles 1994 Confidential Cowdale Within the survey Quarry Wood area 1.75 In summary, there is one record for great crested newts over 2km to the north east of Cowdale quarry and there are several records of bat activity in the local area. Water vole is recorded on the River Wye along the northern edge of the survey area. Twenty two records of badger setts have been provided with nine within 1km of the site. There are four records of setts within Cowdale Quarry dating back to 1989, with the most recent recording dating from 2008.

1.76 Three records for bird species of High Conservation Concern (Red List) were provided for the search area (See Table 6 below). None of the records are for the survey site, the nearest being from approximately 0.5km of the site.

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Table 6: Birds of conservation concern records –red list and Derbyshire LBAP species, UK BAP species.

Species Latin Name Date of OS grid Distance from site

record reference Skylark Alauda arvensis 1991 SK 077732 0.5 north Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1991 SK065723 1km west Song Turdus 2001-2008 SK048734 1-3 km west thrush philomelos SK067711 SK060722 SK064735 U SK065731

UKBAP Habitats/Species 1.77 The following records were provided for the local area. The reptile records relate to a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve located 2km to the east of the site.

Table 7: UK BAP Priority Species

Common Name Latin Name Date Grid Ref. Distance from site Brown hare Lepus europaeas 2002 SK077734 0.5 north Grass snake Natrix natrix 1996 SK0971 2km east Slow worm Anguila fragilis 1996 SK0971 2km east

Derbyshire LBAP Habitats/Species 1.78 Three Nationally Scarce plant species (Derbyshire Red Data Book) Mountain currant Ribes alpinum, Pale St. John’s-wort Hypericum montanum and Hutchinsia Hornungia petraea, are recorded within Cow Dale LWS (SK 0872). In addition, the Nationally Threatened plant species (Derbyshire Red Data Book) narrow-leaved bittercress Cardamine impatiens is recorded for Cow Dale. Clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and saw-wort Serratula tinctoria recorded for Cowdale in 1996, this is a Locally Scarce or Declining plant.

Habitats

1.79 The locations of the habitats described below can be found on Figure 1, the Phase 1 Habitat Map. The Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report and Plan is located in Appendix 1.

Grasslands

Improved grasslands

1.80 The quarry floor (Target Note 21) supports improved grassland which is intensively managed and of low intrinsic ecological value dominated by perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne. Other species include white clover Trifolium repens, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, broadleaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, common nettle Urtica dioica, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, creeping thistle Cirsium arvense and spear thistle Cirsium vulgare.

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1.81 The grasslands surrounding the quarry on the south and west sides (Target Note 17) are also agriculturally improved, and species-poor with a very short sward. Grass species include abundant perennial rye-grass, with frequent cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, common bent-grass Agrostis capillaris and red fescue Festuca rubra.

1.82 There are a number of both large and small spoil mounds along the north side of the quarry void (Target Notes 10, 20 and 23). They are flat-topped with steep-sided, actively eroding flanks. The plateaus of the spoil mounds support improved grassland which is grazed. Self-sown, immature shrubs and trees are also present on the spoil heaps.

Neutral Grassland

1.83 The fields to the east of the quarry are agriculturally semi-improved neutral grasslands (Target Note 1). The eastern edges of the fields sloping down to the woodland, and the grassland bordering the dry stone walls forming field boundaries where there is less agricultural improvement, support a wider variety of flowering herbs characteristic of unimproved neutral grasslands including meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulata, pignut Conopodium majus, yarrow Achillea millefolium, lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria, lady’s- smock Cardamine pratensis and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare.

1.84 At the northeast corner of the site there is a small, grazed neutral grassland (Target Note 16) that supports a variety of grasses including frequent perennial rye-grass, red fescue, common bent-grass and cock’s-foot. Herbs are sparse and include occasional creeping buttercup, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and creeping thistle. Common vetch Vicia sativa, common ragwort Senecio jacobaea, greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis and lady’s-smock are present but rare in the sward.

1.85 The northernmost edge of the quarry top supports a thin strip (4m x 50m) of unimproved neutral grassland which is rank and dominated by coarse grass species, hogweed Heracleum spondylium and raspberry Rubus idaeus sp.

1.86 Unimproved neutral grassland occupies a small triangle of land on the south boundary of the site (Target Note 14), above the quarry void. The grassland has a dense cover, near continuous thatch layer and is greater than 0.5m high. The stand consists of mesotrophic herbs and grasses such as common knapweed Centaura nigra, greater burnet, melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, creeping buttercup, cock’s-foot, false oat-grass and meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, but the presence of common nettle, hogweed and broadleaved dock suggests past disturbance and nutrient input.

Species-rich calcareous grassland

1.87 The quarry rock faces support a mixture of calcareous grassland, neutral grassland and tall-herb habitats on the ledges and less-steep slopes (Target Note 22). Trees and shrubs are more frequent at the foot of the rock faces and consist of immature native and

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non-native species including ash Fraxinus excelsior, goat willow Salix caprea and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Some areas of species-rich grassland are present on the rock faces. Species include red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, crested dog’s-tail Cynosaurus cristatus, cock’s-foot, rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium, male fern Triopteris felix-mas, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, a hawkweed Hieracium diaphanum, common knapweed Centurea nigra and quaking grass Brizia media.

1.88 Calcareous grassland and scattered broadleaved trees are located above the quarry void and occupies a thin strip along the southern boundary of the quarry (Target Note 13). At its widest the strip of grassland is approximately 10m, narrowing down to 1.5m in places. The grassland is grazed in places and supports typical calcicole species such as red fescue, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, fairy flax Linum catharticum, yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis agg., downy oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens, quaking grass Brizia media and glaucous sedge Carex flacca, but where soils are deeper the grassland supports more mesotrophic species such as white clover, cock’s-foot, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and hogweed. Shrubs and trees are occasional to locally frequent and consist of immature sycamore, ash, whitebeam Sorbus aria agg., rowan Sorbus aucuparia, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, common osier Salix viminalis and grey willow Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia.

1.89 The flanks of the spoil heaps support a sparse ephemeral calcareous grassland community. The grassland habitat on the flanks of the spoil tips is a rudimentary form of calcareous grassland, but unlike the typical limestone grasslands in the local area, it is relatively species-poor, with a very open structure. The basic components of Derbyshire limestone grasslands such as sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, glaucous sedge Carex flacca and common bent grass are present at fairly low density, but other typical indicator species such as wild thyme Thymus polytrichus, salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, common bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus and red clover Trifolium pratense, are absent. The improved grasslands on the tip plateaus are heavily grazed and botanically species-poor.

1.90 The east edge of the study site is defined by steep slopes with rocky outcrops that support a mix of unimproved neutral grassland, unimproved species-rich calcareous grassland with scattered and dense scrub (Target Note 5, 6 and 9). This area forms part of the Cow Dale Local Wildlife Site.

1.91 The calcareous grassland habitat on the slopes is dominated by greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa with Yorkshire fog, quaking grass, melancholy thistle, salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, ox-eye daisy, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, greater knapweed Centurea scabiosa, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, and common valerian Valeriana officinalis. Meadow oat-grass Helictotrichion pratense and hairy

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oat-grass Helictotrichion oliptotirchon, It is a typical example of a National Vegetation Community CG7 Festuca-ovina-Hieracium pilosella – Thymus praecox/pulegioides grassland which is characteristic of carboniferous limestone exposures of Derbyshire. A full species list for the Local Wildlife Site is presented in Appendix 2.

1.92 The calcareous grassland associated with the limestone outcrops supports a range of species including wall rue Asplenium ruta muraria, hawkweed Hieracium sp., quaking grass, maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes, common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, mouse-eared hawkweed Pilosella officinarum.

Woodland

1.93 Secondary mature broadleaved woodland is located on the cliffs and rocky outcrops to the north of the quarry void, as well as on the spoil tips and flanking the A6 road. The woodland occupies a thin strip on steeply sloping ground that terminates in near vertical cliffs and rocky outcrops. A dense canopy of beech Fagus sylvatica, sycamore, common lime Tilia x vulgaris and Scots pine Pinus sylvatica has suppressed the shrub and understorey layers and the field layer is fairly sparse with patches of tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas.

1.94 Because of the terrain much of the woodland is inaccessible and is, therefore, relatively undisturbed. The canopy supports sycamore and ash, with an understorey of wych elm Ulmus glabra, hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. The field layer supports species such as tufted hair-grass, dog’s mercury, common valerian Valeriana officinalis, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, bramble Rubus fruticosus, wood avens Geum urbanum and water avens Geum rivale.

1.95 The majority of the secondary broadleaved woodland in the northeast corner of the Application Area is dominated by sycamore with ash, rowan Sorbus acuparia and beech Fagus sylvatica being common. The woodland ground flora plants associated with well- established and ancient woodlands are generally poorly represented and are limited to dog’s mercury Mercuralis perennis together with a range of more common woodland plants (see Appendix 2 for species list).

1.96 There is a small area of ancient woodland in the northwest corner of the site adjacent to the A6 road. This forms part of the Ashwood Dale ancient woodland which extends in total to 11.33 hectares in total and extends north bordering the A6. This is dominated by ash with some wych elm and some beech regeneration. The ground flora supports a number of species associated with ancient woodlands including wood anemone, bluebell and dog’s mercury, particularly on the higher slopes.

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Other habitats- buildings

A number of disuses, collapsing buildings are located within the site associated with the quarrying and lime production.

Protected Species

Badgers

1.97 A main badger sett with seven active entrance holes with very well-worn paths leading between the entrances was located on the northern edge of the quarry spoil heap at OS grid reference SK 081 725 (see Figure 2, Appendix 2:Badger Activity Plan). Distinctive badger prints, bedding and badger hairs was located within the spoil mounds outside the entrances. A further three badger setts, each with a single entrance, were located at the top of the woodland edge on the northern edge of the development site (see Figure 2: Appendix 3: Badger Plan).

1.98 Signs of badger activity were located on the edge of the woodland bordering the most westerly spoil heap. Well-worn badger paths run along the dry stone wall forming the boundary of the woodland and within the woodland. A single entrance badger sett was located on the top of the north-western quarry edge bordering the woodland.

1.99 It is considered likely that there will be further badger setts within the woodland areas that were not subject to a comprehensive search given the difficulty of access due to the steep terrain.

1.100 No obvious badger tracks led into the open quarry area and there were no signs of foraging on the quarry floor. Evidence of digging was located on the spoil mound close to the sett which is likely to originate from feeding badgers. It is considered likely that badgers are mostly foraging in the extensive woodland areas fringing the north and east of the site.

Amphibians

1.101 No signs of amphibians were recorded on site during any of the surveys. No specific surveys to determine their presence or absence have been undertaken given the limited suitability of the site for amphibians. No ponds were identified.

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Breeding Bird Surveys

1.102 A total of 22 bird species were recorded during the breeding bird survey. The breeding status of birds within the site is classified in three categories: confirmed, probable and possible breeders4, and is shown in Table 8 below.

Confirmed breeding: • Distraction display or injury feigning • Used nests with eggshells found (occupied or laid within the survey period) • Recently fledged young (nidicolous species) or downy young (nidifugous species) • Adults entering or leaving nest site in circumstances indicating occupied nests or adults sitting on nest • Adults carrying food for young or faecal sacs • Nests containing eggs • Nests seen with young or heard.

Probable breeding: • Pairs observed in suitable nesting habitat in the breeding season • Permanent territory presumed through registration or territorial behaviour (song etc.) on at least two different days, a week apart, at the same place. • Display and courtship • Visiting probable nest site • Agitated behaviour or anxiety calls from adults • Building nest or excavating in nest hole.

Possible breeding: • Species observed in breeding season in possible nesting habitat • Single male(s) present or breeding calls heard in breeding season.

1.103 Please note that the bird species denoted by an asterisk are birds that were recorded during other surveys (so their breeding status is not known).

4 European Ornithology Atlas Committee, 1979. Categories of Breeding Bird Evidence.

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Table 8: Bird species and breeding status

Species Conservation UK Habitat No. of Breeding Status5 BAP/Species Association Breeding status of Principal territories Importance Kestrel Falco Amber list - 3 Quarry face 1 Po tinnunculus medium conservation concern - Chaffinch Woodland 3 Pr Fringilla coelebs Blackbird Woodland 3 Pr Turdus merula Starling Sturnus - Red list - high 3 Grassland – 1 B vulgaris conservation feeding, concern woodland nesting Pheasant - Woodland 1 Pr Phasianthus colchicus Green - Feeding on 1 Pr woodpecker grassland, Picus viridis woodland Great spotted - Woodland 1 Pr woodpecker Song thrush Red list - high 3 Feeding on 1-2 Pr Turdus conservation grassland, philomelos concern woodland Jackdaw - Nesting on 4-5 B Corvus quarry face monedula Wren - Woodland 3-4 Pr Troglodytes troglodytes Robin Erithacus - Woodland 3 Pr rubecula Goldfinch - Scattered 2 Pr Carduelis trees, carduelis woodland Dunnock Amber list - Woodland 1 Pr Prunella medium modularis conservation concern - Chiffchaff - Woodland 2 Pr Phylloscopus collybita Willow warbler Amber list - Woodland 2 Pr Phylloscopus medium trochilus conservation concern -

5 Eaton et al 2009 Birds of Conservation Concern 3:the population status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 102.

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Blackcap Sylvia - Woodland 3 Pr atricapilla Greenfinch - Garden 1 Pr Carduelis chloris Great tit Parus Woodland 4 Pr major *Blue tit Parus Woodland 5-10 Pr caeruleus Long-tailed tit Woodland 1 Pr Aegithalos caudatus Swallow Amber list - Feeding over - N Hirundo rustica medium grassland conservation concern - House martin Amber list - Feeding over - N Delichon urbica medium grassland conservation concern -

Site status: B= Confirmed breeding, Pr = Probable breeding, Po = Possible breeding, N = Not breeding 1.104 The majority of the birds recorded were present within the woodland fringing the eastern and northern edge of site. The quarry face supported several pairs of breeding jackdaw and possibly one pair of breeding kestrel.

Bats

Trees and quarry face 1.105 No signs of roosting bats were located during the walkover survey. The quarry face supports vertical rock faces with crevices and holes that may have potential to support roosting bats. No targeted surveys were undertaken of the quarry face (the quarry face is not to be affected by the development), although the bat activity surveys started at dusk and followed the base of quarry face in order to pick up any emerging bats.

1.106 Given their size and maturity, the woodland trees are largely unsuitable for roosting bats, although there are cliffs and rocky outcrops with crevices and holes set within the woodland also with some potential to support roosting bats.

Buildings/Structures 1.107 There are a range of structures on site associated with the former quarrying industry and lime production. These buildings have been assessed as having low potential to support roosting bats with no suitable features present (see Appendix 6 for details).

Habitats 1.108 The woodland edge along the northern edge of the site and the scattered trees around the spoil heaps and at the base of the quarry face provide a range of foraging and commuting opportunities for bats.

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Evening Activity Bat Surveys 1.109 During the May 2010 transect survey common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats were recorded. They were associated mainly with the woodland edge to the north of the quarry and with the semi-mature trees on the spoil heaps.

1.110 During the June transects common pipistrelle bats were recorded foraging along the quarry face, particularly where trees are present on the quarry top and at the foot of the cliff in the western end of the quarry. In addition, they were recorded feeding around the spoil heaps with scattered sycamore.

1.111 Figure 3 in Appendix 3 illustrates all the bat activity recorded. Tables 9a, b and c list the number of bat passes during the three activity surveys.

Table 9a: Bat passes recorded on25th May 2010. Date Time Species Number of bat passes 23/05/2010 21:50 Ppip 1 23/05/2010 21:55 Ppip 1 23/05/2010 22:00 Ppip 1 23/05/2010 22:05 Ppip 1 23/05/2010 22:10 Ppip 2

Table 9b: Bat passes recorded on 24th June 2010. Date Time Species Number of bat passes 24/06/10 22:10 Ppip 2 24/06/10 22.20 Ppip 2 24/06/10 22.25 Ppip 1 24/06/10 22:26 Ppip 1 24/06/10 22:28 Ppip 1 24/06/10 22:30 Ppip 1 24/06/10 22:55 Ppip 1

Table 9c: Bat passes recorded on 28th June 2010. Date Time Label Number of bat passes 28/06/10 22:02 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22:05 Ppip 2 28/06/10 22:07 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22:10 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22.11 Ppip 2 28/06/10 22.13 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22.15 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22.22 Ppip 1 28/06/10 22.25 Ppip 1

Key to Species in Tables 11a-c: Ppip = Common Pipistrelle

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Invertebrate Survey

A copy of the complete Invertebrate Report is presented in Appendix 5.

1.112 The survey identified 135 species of invertebrate including representatives of the following groups: woodlice, harvestmen, millipedes, earwigs, grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, ants, bees, flies, butterflies, moths, slugs and snails. Aside from effort dedicated to finding bees and wasps, there was a concentration of effort on beetles with 70 species recorded, 52% of the total species list.

1.113 A system of conservation statuses has been in use since the British Red Data Book for insects (Shirt, 1987), amended and supplemented by a series of JNCC Nature Conservation reviews. By this system, the rarest and most threatened species are given one of the Red Data Book (RDB) statuses. Species which do not qualify as RDB but are nonetheless uncommon are given one of the Nationally Scarce statuses. The status categories and criteria relevant to this report are defined in Appendix 1.

1.114 Amongst the 135 species recorded by this survey, three (2.2%) have a Nationally Scarce conservation status but no Red Data Book species were recorded (Table 10). These scarce species are discussed further below.

Table 10: The ‘Key Species’ recorded by this survey. The table is ordered by Conservation Status (most important first)

Scientific name English name Conservation Status Location on site Ceutorhynchus a weevil Nationally Scarce (Na) Semi-improved grassland pectoralis Glocianus punctiger a weevil Nationally Scarce (Nb) Semi-improved grassland Beris clavipes Scarce Orange Nationally Scarce Wanderer – usually Legionnaire associated with wetland habitats

1.115 Two of the three scarce insects found by this survey (Ceutorhynchus pectoralis and Glocianus punctiger) were collected from the semi-improved pasture at the eastern edge of the survey area which will not be adversely affected directly by the development.

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Ceutorhynchus pectoralis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Na)

1.116 This weevil feeds on Cardamine species, the larvae developing in stem-galls. In Britain the weevil has been mainly recorded from large bitter-cress Cardamine amara in marshy places, at stream-sides, and in lightly shaded woodland (Morris, 2008). It has been described as “an obscure and poorly understood species” by Morris (2008). It is widely but very patchily distributed in England and southern Scotland northwards to Edinburgh but not recorded from Wales.

1.117 On the current survey, a single male was recorded by suction sampling in the semi- improved pasture on 27th May where it was probably associated with cuckoo flower.

Glocianus punctiger (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Nb)

1.118 This weevil feeds on dandelions, mainly the Section Ruderalia which is by far the commonest Section of this large genus, and mostly includes micro-species which are weeds of lowland areas. Although the host plants are widespread and abundant, the weevil is much more restricted, typically being found in grasslands, waste places, at the sides of roads and tracks, in woods and in open and rough ground generally (Morris, 2008). It occurs very locally throughout England and Wales.

1.119 On the current survey, a single female was recorded by suction sampling in the semi- improved pasture on 27th May 2010.

Beris clavipes (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Scarce Orange Legionnaire, Nationally Scarce

1.120 A medium-sized (6 - 6.5 mm) soldier-fly with an orange abdomen and smoky wing membranes. This species is widely distributed across England and lowland Wales, though with few records from northern England, and with isolated records in Scotland in Dumfriesshire and around Glasgow (Stubbs and Drake, 2001). It is thought to prefer wetland habitat, especially lush fens, though it is an elusive species about which ecological information is scant.

1.121 On the current survey, a single male fly was beaten from tree foliage on the top of the spoil-heaps on 27th May, where many flies were sheltering in dull conditions. In view of the apparent association of this species with wetland habitat, it may be best to regard this specimen as a wanderer.

Reptile Surveys

1.122 No reptiles were recorded during the surveys.

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ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS

General

1.123 This section of the document presents an evaluation of each key receptor and then reviews the development proposals and discusses the likely impacts and effects which could arise from these. These are then related to the potential ecological receptors (designated sites, habitats and species) identified in the baseline surveys to determine the potential interactions between the two. A structured review of the significant ecological impacts arising from these activities is then provided. A comprehensive Masterplan for the whole of the Cowdale Quarry site has been produced alongside a development plan for Phase 1 Application Area. The Application Area comprises approximately 20 hectares of land within the former quarry, which is now used for grazing livestock. Much of the quarry floor is flat but the northern section is occupied by large spoil mounds.

Phase 1 of the development which forms the Application Area, will involve development of a new water bottling plant and associated storage areas in the western half of the quarry floor area, with a new access off the A6, entering the site from the north west, internal roads and a small Heritage Centre in the south east corner of the quarry floor.

1.124 To facilitate the creation of the new access road approximately a fifth of the spoil mounds will be removed and approximately 6200m2 of broadleaved woodland will be lost. The quarry floor will support the bottling plant, Heritage Centre and road infrastructure and this will result in the loss of the improved grassland habitat. The buildings will, however, be set back from the quarry face. The agricultural fields to the east and south of the quarry will be retained as will the Cow Dale Local Wildlife Site and the broadleaved woodland fringing the northern and eastern sides of the site.

1.125 The assessment of impacts is carried out in stages; the first in the absence of mitigation and then the residual impacts are set out, with the mitigation, compensation and enhancement taken into account.

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Effects during the construction phase

Designated sites

Statutory designated sites

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.126 A number of statutory sites of nature conservation interest were located within 5km of the site, including the Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Peak District Moors Specially Protected Area (SPA) and South Pennine Moors SAC.

1.127 The Peak District Dales SAC is located 0.4km to the north of the site at its nearest point (Cunning Dale). Other dales included within the SAC site include Deep Dale and Woo Dale which are located within 2km distance, to the west of the study site. This site is also designated as a SSSI (Wye Valley). The Peak District Dales SAC site is considered to be of International value for its ecological and interest.

Requirements of the Habitats Directive

1.128 The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 makes provision for implementing the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora in Great Britain. They detail measures relating to the conservation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). These sites are known as European sites and form a European network known as Natura 2000. The Natura 2000 series of sites contains habitats and species which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community (in this report, these are referred to as European features). ():

1.129 Under Regulation 61, a competent authority, before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project which

(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site in Great Britain (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects), and

(b) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site,

shall make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the site in view of that site's conservation objectives.

1.130 Regulation 61 (2) requires that ‘a person applying for any such consent, permission or other authorisation shall provide such information as the competent authority may reasonably require for the purposes of the assessment.’

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Ecological effects

1.131 There is no surface runoff from the site and all incident rainfall recharges the underlying limestone. Paragraphs 1.133-1.137 below are taken directly from the Hydrological Report prepared by Professor John Gunn.

1.132 The quarry is situated in the catchment for Rockhead Spring (see Section 3.2 below) which was recognised as a Natural Mineral Water in 2000. It is planned that water from Rockhead Spring will be bottled in the factory. Hence, protection of groundwater quality is of paramount importance to the developer as any contamination of the spring water, particularly by hydrocarbons, would have very serious consequences. The water from Rockhead Spring is currently piped to the Staden Industrial Estate for bottling. It is proposed to take a spur from this line into the new bottling plant in the quarry. No impacts on groundwater are foreseen.

1.133 As part of the present Abstraction Licence for Rockhead Spring it is necessary for the abstractor to provide compensation water to the River Wye when the discharge of the river (and that of rivers to which it is a downstream tributary) falls below certain threshold levels. Currently the compensation water is provided by a borehole some 1.6km from the river but subject to agreement from the Environment Agency it is proposed that some compensation water will be provided from the development area.

1.134 It is proposed that clean water from roofs will be channelled to storage lagoons on site and that 6000 cubic metres of water will be stored during the winter for use as compensation water if required later in the year.

1.135 Once the storage lagoons have reached 6000 cubic metres any additional clean water from roofs will be directed to a soakaway or soakaways. As part of the design process a water tracing experiment will be undertaken from each soakaway to establish the direction and speed of groundwater movement.

1.136 No water from roads and vehicle parking areas will be allowed to infiltrate or be sent to soakaways to avoid any possibility of groundwater pollution. All such water will be passed through interceptors and discharged directly to the River Wye at an agreed rate.

1.137 It is not anticipated that there will be any direct or indirect impact upon the aquatic or terrestrial habitats of the SAC site which is separated from the development site by the A6 and the River Wye. The development will not lead to an increase in polluted surface water run-off, any impacts on the groundwater or a lead to a significant rise in the level of air pollution, two of the key threats to the integrity of the SAC site.

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Impact significance

1.138 The proposed works will not adversely affect (directly or indirectly) any statutory designated nature conservation sites including the nearest, the Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which is also designated as the Wye Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The impact of the development on designated sites will therefore be neutral. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Non-statutory designated sites

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.139 There are four Local Wildlife Sites: (LWS) within 2km of the site. Cow Dale LWS forms the eastern edge of the survey area and is an unimproved calcareous grassland site covering an area of 8.64 hectares (see paragraph 1.91 for description). Ashwood Dale LWS is located immediately to the north west of the survey site, and covers an area of 11.33 hectares, supporting ancient semi-natural ash woodland.

1.140 Cunningdale North LWS is located approximately 1km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 2.3Ha, supporting unimproved calcareous grassland. Cunningdale South LWS is located approximately 0.5km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 3.1Ha, and supports unimproved neutral grassland.

1.141 A LWS is identified as having county level importance for its nature conservation interest.

Ecological effects

1.142 Approximately 1% (1200m2, 0.12 ha) of the Ashwood Dale Local Wildlife Site ancient woodland which is in total 11.33 ha in size, will be lost and a further 0.2% will require future management to maintain clear sight lines for the new access road.

Impact significance

1.143 The area of ancient woodland to be lost borders the A6 and is dominated by sycamore which is semi-mature. The survey of the woodland ground flora of this area of ancient woodland shows does not support many of the characteristic ancient woodland indicator species. The loss of this small area of ancient woodland is unlikely to affect the overall integrity of the LWS which is of county value and therefore it is unlikely to give rise to an impact of county significance. It will only be significant at a lower level of district level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

1.144 There will be no direct or indirect impacts on any other non-statutory site of nature conservation interest.

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Habitats

Ancient woodland

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.145 The proposed route of the new access route from the A6 crosses a small area of the Ashwood Dale ancient woodland located on the steep bank bordering the southern edge of the A6.

1.146 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland is a Priority Habitat within the UK and Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). In addition, lowland mixed deciduous woodland (which includes ancient woodland) is a Habitat of Principal Importance.

1.147 The UK BAP Priority Habitat description states that there is no precise data on the total extent of lowland mixed deciduous woodland in the UK, but in the late 1980s the Nature Conservancy Council estimated the total extent of this type to be about 250,000ha. There is however no doubt that the area of this priority type on ancient woodland sites has declined in area by clearance, overgrazing and replanting with non-native species, by about 30-40% over the last 50 years.

1.148 This secondary woodland is assessed to be of some district ecological importance.

Ecological effects

1200 m2 (0.12 ha) of ancient woodland within the proposed application site will be subject to a permanent loss where the new access road from the A6 is to be constructed. A further 695 m2 (0.0695 ha) will need to be managed to maintain the site lines for the access road. This would entail the coppicing of the trees to ensure the site lines are clear. However, the trees within 450 m2 of this area have recently been coppiced by Derbyshire County Council, thus reducing the area to 265 m2

1.149 The area of woodland to be lost borders the A6 and is dominated by sycamore which is semi-mature. The ground flora of this area of ancient woodland does not support many of the characteristic ancient woodland indicator species. Therefore, because the loss of this small area of ancient woodland is unlikely to affect the overall integrity of the ancient woodland LWS which is of county value, it will only be significant at a lower level of district level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

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Broadleaved Secondary Woodland

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.150 The proposed new access road from the A6 will involve the loss of secondary broadleaved woodland that has developed on the steep bank of fill spoil beneath the exposed cliff located in the north-eastern part of the site.

1.151 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland is a Priority Habitat within the UK and Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). In addition, lowland mixed deciduous woodland is a Habitat of Principal Importance.

1.152 The secondary woodland is dominated by sycamore with ash, rowan and beech being common. The woodland ground flora plants generally associated with well-established and ancient woodlands are poorly represented. This habitat is widespread across the UK with an estimated 250,000 hectares in 19806. This secondary woodland is assessed to be of some local ecological importance.

Ecological effects

1.153 Approximately 7.5% (5000m2, 0.5 ha) of the secondary broadleaved woodland (which is in total 66,140 m2 or 6.64 ha,) will be lost to allow for the new access road from the A6 to be constructed and a further 0.2% will require future management to maintain clear sight lines for the new access road.

Impact significance

1.154 The woodland area requiring removal is semi-mature and dominated by semi-mature sycamore with some ash, beech and willow. The ground flora is sparse. The impact arising from the loss of the area of secondary woodland is considered likely to be significant at a local level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Species-rich calcareous grassland

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.155 Calcareous grassland occurs on the quarry top and rock faces of the quarry and also within Cow Dale LWS to the east of the proposed development site. The grasslands are species-rich and support melancholy thistle, a Derbyshire Red Data Book plant7 and there are historical records of several locally scarce or declining plants. , It is a typical example of a National Vegetation Community CG7 Festuca-ovina-Hieracium pilosella – Thymus praecox/pulegioides grassland which is characteristic of carboniferous limestone exposures of Derbyshire.

6 BRIG (ed. Ant Maddock) 2008. UK BAP Priority Habitat Descriptions : Lowland Mixed deciduous Woodland 7 Flora of Derbyshire website. http://www.derby.gov.uk/dccwebdev/museum/flora/Flora.asp

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1.156 Lowland calcareous grasslands are UK BAP Priority Habitats and Section 41 Habitats of Principal Importance. In addition, lowland calcareous grasslands are a Lowland Derbyshire Priority Habitat which has a Habitat Action Plan prepared. The species-rich calcareous grasslands within the site are assessed as being of county ecological importance as they are considered to be good examples of calcareous grassland typical of lowland Derbyshire and support a Derbyshire Red data book species and other scarce plants.

Ecological effects

1.157 There will be a no loss of species-rich calcareous grassland or any indirect effects from the development. The Cow Dale LWS species-rich grassland area will not be adversely affected by the proposed development.

Impact significance

1.158 The impact of the development on lowland calcareous grassland will therefore be neutral. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Neutral grassland habitat

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.159 Lowland meadows (which include neutral grassland) grasslands are UK BAP Priority Habitats and Section 41 Habitats of Principal Importance.

1.160 The small area of rank neutral grassland (250 m2, 0.025ha) to be lost on the northernmost edge of the quarry top is considered to be of low ecological interest, dominated by tussocky grassland and tall herb vegetation. The survey work has not highlighted any nationally or locally rare species of particular interest and the species recorded are considered to be widespread and indicative of rank neutral grassland. These grasslands are common and widespread in the British Isles and locally and are therefore assessed to be of site interest only.

Ecological effects

1.161 The proposed development will involve the permanent loss of this small area of rank neutral grassland on the northern edge of the quarry top where it joins the most westerly spoil mound.

Impact significance

1.162 Overall, the impact arising from the small loss of this grassland habitat is considered likely to be having an adverse, but insignificant impact on the present botanical interest of Cowdale Quarry. There is high confidence in this assessment.

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Semi-improved neutral grassland

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.163 The fields to the east of the quarry are agriculturally improved, neutral grasslands. The eastern edges of the fields sloping down to the woodland and the grassland bordering the dry stone walls forming field boundaries where there is less agricultural improvement support a wider variety of flowering herbs characteristic of unimproved neutral grasslands including meadow saxifrage Saxifraga granulata, pignut Conopodium majus, yarrow Achillea millefolium, lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria, lady’s-smock Cardamine pratensis and ox- eye daisy.

1.164 Lowland meadows (which include neutral grassland) grasslands are UK BAP Priority Habitats and Section 41 Habitats of Principal Importance.

1.165 In addition, lowland meadows are a Lowland Derbyshire Priority Habitat which has a Habitat Action Plan prepared. Two of the three scarce invertebrate species recorded in 2010 were located within this pasture on the more herb-rich sward occupying the sloping easternmost part of the field. The semi-improved neutral grasslands are currently assessed as being of local ecological importance. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Ecological effects

1.166 There will be a no loss of the semi-improved neutral grassland fields to the east of the quarry. The fields will be retained and will not be adversely affected by the proposed development.

Impact significance

1.167 The impact of the development on lowland calcareous grassland will be neutral. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Ephemeral grassland on spoil mounds

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.168 The steeply sloping flanks of the spoil mounds support a sparse ephemeral calcareous grassland community. This grassland habitat is a rudimentary form of calcareous grassland, but unlike the typical limestone grasslands in the local area, it is relatively species- poor, with a very open structure within a mosaic with bare ground.

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1.169 Lowland Calcareous Grassland and Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land are both UK BAP8 (Biodiversity Action Plan) Priority Habitats and are listed as Habitats of Principal Importance under the provisions of Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 (updated 2008).

1.170 It is considered that the grassland habitats located on the sides and tops of the spoil tips are of relatively low botanical value. This is because the survey did not locate any county or nationally rare, or scarce plant species; all of the species located are common-place elsewhere within the study site and the surrounding countryside, and the botanical community is species-poor. The ephemeral grasslands are therefore assessed as being of local ecological importance.

Ecological effects

1.171 The spoil heaps within the quarry will be removed in phases. The most westerly two large spoil heaps will be removed as part of the Phase 1 development. The remaining two small and the two large spoil heap will be retained until further phases of development are progressed. The spoil heaps, in total, amount to approximately 50,000m2 and the ephemeral grassland occupies approximately 37% of this area. In relation to Phase 1 of the development, the two most westerly large spoil heaps will be lost, these amount to 11,500 m2 of which approximately 6500m2 supports ephemeral grassland. The remaining spoil mounds (37500 m2) support approximately 12000 m2 of ephemeral grassland/bare ground.

Impact significance

1.172 It is considered that, without mitigation or compensation, the removal of the spoil tip vegetation as a consequence of the proposed development will have an adverse impact, significant at the local level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Improved grassland habitat

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.173 The improved grassland dominating the quarry floor and the plateaus of the eastern and central spoil mound is considered to be of low ecological interest. The survey work has not highlighted any nationally or locally rare species of particular interest and the species recorded are considered to be widespread. These grasslands are common and widespread in the British Isles and locally, are not of significant conservation value and are therefore assessed to be of site interest only.

8 www.ukbap.org.uk/newprioritylist

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Ecological effects

1.174 The proposed development will involve the permanent loss of the improved grassland habitat of some 13 hectares, occupying the quarry floor and the improved grassland on the spoil heap plateaus.

Impact significance

1.175 Overall, the impact arising from the loss of this improved grassland habitat is considered likely have an adverse, significant at the site level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Protected Species

Birds

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.176 All nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or destroy its nest whilst in use or being built, or take or destroy its eggs. In addition to this, for some rarer species (listed on Schedule 1 of the Act), it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them while they are nest building or at or near a nest with eggs or young, or to disturb the dependent young of such a bird.

1.177 The Birds of Conservation Concern (BOCC) listing assesses bird species on the basis of their population status, reflecting changes in their abundance and range.

1.178 Of the species recorded on site, two are on the BOCC Red List and are species of high conservation concern (song thrush and starling) and are breeding within the woodland to the eastern side of the site. Five species (kestrel, house martin, swallow, dunnock and willow warbler) are listed as species of medium conservation concern on the Amber List. Of the amber list species dunnock and willow warbler has been identified as being probably breeding on site within the woodland areas. House martin and swallow were recorded feeding over the eastern semi-improved neutral grassland areas. A pair of kestrels was located in the quarry in the last survey and during the evening bat surveys indicating that they could be breeding or roosting in the quarry.

1.179 The red list species listed above are also UK BAP Priority Species and are listed as Species of Principal Importance under Section 41 of the NERC Act and are therefore a material consideration in planning terms.

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1.180 The majority of the birds recorded are common and widespread in the British Isles and locally, however the woodland habitats support a range of woodland birds including several species of high and medium conservation concern and the bird assemblage is considered to be of local interest.

Ecological effects

The principal habitats being used for breeding purposes are the woodlands around the eastern and northern edges of the site. The majority of the woodland is to be retained within the development. There will be a small loss of 6200 m2 of secondary woodland in association with the creation of access road. Several common woodland bird species were recorded within this woodland area (including blue tit, chaffinch, wren, robin, great tit) The grassland habitats providing a feeding resource for swallow and house martin will be unaffected by the development.

Impact significance

1.181 The development is likely to give rise to an impact on birds through a small loss in the overall potential nesting and foraging resource of the site. The principal habitats to be lost are the quarry floor grasslands, the northwest edge of the quarry top, the spoil heaps with semi- mature trees and an area of secondary broadleaved woodland and ancient woodland. Birds are using the woodland and trees for nesting purposes. However, no ground nesting birds were located on the open grassland areas within the site and no impact on nesting birds is anticipated in association with these habitats.

1.182 In addition, if work which affects habitats suitable for nesting birds is carried out during the nesting season (generally March to August) then an impact on nesting birds is possible. This would amount to an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

1.183 The impact on nesting birds arising from the loss of a small area of secondary broadleaved woodland is considered likely to be significant at a site level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

Badgers

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.184 Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 (the Badger Act). This makes it an offence to wilfully kill, injure, take, possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or to attempt to do so; or to intentionally or recklessly interfere with a sett. Sett interference includes disturbing badgers whilst they are occupying a sett, as well as damaging or destroying a sett or obstructing access to it”.

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1.185 The site supports an active main badger sett and several single-entrance outlier setts, all located along the northern part of the site within the steeply sloping woodland. In addition, there is a further outlier on top of the quarry ridge in the north east corner. It is considered likely that one social group of badgers is occupying these setts. There are a number of well- worn badger paths running through the woodland, connecting the sett entrances and there are signs of foraging within the woodland and the grasslands of Cow Dale LWS.

1.186 Badgers are widespread and common throughout most of Britain and are protected for reasons of welfare rather than conservation. The badger use of the site is therefore considered to be of ecological value in a Local context.

Ecological effects

1.187 The spoil heaps within the quarry will be removed in phases. The most westerly two large spoil heaps will be removed as part of the Phase 1 development. The easternmost spoil heap will be retained until further phases of development are progressed. The badger setts located during the survey are all located between 10 and 60 metres from the proposed works.

1.188 Impact significance

1.189 The Badgers Act 1992 defines a badger sett as “any structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger” and makes it an offence, amongst other things, to disturb a badger when it is occupying a sett. However, what constitutes “disturbance” to badgers occupying a sett have been the subject of debate and can be interpreted in different ways.

1.190 Natural England (NE), the Government statutory advisorary body on Nature Conservation, has issued new guidance on what constitutes disturbance to a badger occupying a sett.

1.191 The guidance states the following:

“badgers live in urban and rural settings, they are widespread and common, they create setts under roads and railways and in urban gardens well used by children and pets. They therefore appear to be able to withstand significant amounts of noise or activity near to their setts without apparently being disturbed”.

And that:

“badgers are relatively tolerant of moderate levels of noise and activity around their setts and that low or moderate levels of apparent disturbance around setts do not necessarily disturb the badgers occupying those setts”.

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1.192 The main badger sett is located on the edge of the woodland approximately 25/30 metres from the central large spoil heap. A further single entrance sett is located within the woodland to the north of the most easterly spoil heap, approximately 10 metres from the base of the spoil heap. The third single sett entrance is located close to the main sett within the woodland.

1.193 The main sett is approximately 25m from the development footprint and if the recent NE guidance on what is likely to constitute disturbance is applied to the situation then, no disturbance likely to constitute an offence would be expected to arise.

1.194 Depending on the method of removing the spoil mounds there may be a level of disturbance to the badgers within the setts and if the level of disturbance is considered to be significant then a Development Licence from Natural England would be required.

1.195 In terms of loss of foraging and commuting, at present, the badgers appear to be using the woodland for foraging and all the well-worn commuting paths occur along the woodland edges or within the woodlands and unimproved calcareous grasslands of Cow Dale LWS. There were no signs they were using the quarry floor for feeding purposes.

1.196 There are potentially significant impacts from the increased chance of injury to badgers from vehicles at night, as the animals cross the new road which is to be constructed through the northern section of secondary woodland. However, there are no predicted long- term impacts on the status of the badger social group in relation to the creation of the new road.

1.197 Overall, the impact in terms of disturbance and loss of foraging is considered likely to be adverse, and significant at the site level in terms of its effect on the Favourable Conservation Status of badgers currently utilising the overall site. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Bats

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.198 Bats and their habitats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000), and by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. In summary, these make it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct any place used by bats for breeding and shelter, disturb a bat, or kill, injure or take any bat.

1.199 Seven bat species are listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and are listed as Species of Principal Importance under the provisions of the NERC Act 2006.

1.200 Although no bat roosts have been located within the quarry face and the level and time of bat activity is low, the quarry face does have a wide range of features which bats

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could use for roosting purposes. However, the quarry face will not be affected directly by the development which will be located 30 metres from the foot of the base.

1.201 The quarry is very open with only a limited level of trees located on the top and foot of the quarry face. The site is relatively high being located at the top of the dale and is exposed to the wind. This could explain the lack of activity on the spoil heaps and open field to the east of the site. Where there was shelter, such as at the base of the quarry face where there is tree growth, common pipistrelle bats were located feeding around the trees.

1.202 Common pipistrelle bats use the quarry face (particularly the more sheltered western end), the woodland edge and scattered trees on the spoil mounds for feeding. Given the abundance of suitable foraging habitats within the surrounding area, the proposed development area is assessed to be of local level importance for foraging bats. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Ecological effects

1.203 The proposed development will involve the permanent loss of the improved grassland habitat and spoil heap habitats occupying the quarry floor. There will be a loss of a small proportion of the secondary broadleaved woodland in the northwest of the site where the new access road will be created. In addition, the power house structure will be demolished. None of the trees within the woodland or the semi-mature trees on the spoil heaps have any features suitable for roosting bats. The power house building is considered to have low potential to support roosting bats.

Impact significance

1.204 No impact on roosting bats is anticipated in relation to the removal of the built structures or semi-mature trees on the spoil heap or the secondary broadleaved woodland.

1.205 No bats were recorded emerging from or commuting/foraging along the quarry cliff face. However, features such as cracks and gaps, which offer potential roosting opportunities, are present within the quarry face, and such features can be used irregularly or unpredictably by roosting bats and can sometimes be hard to detect. The proposed buildings will be located no closer than 15 metres from the base of the quarry face and should therefore not directly impact upon any bats that may roost within the quarry face in the future.

1.206 An impact through the use of artificial lighting is possible where habitats used by bats could be affected. This could occur during the construction phase though, for example, the use of lighting in working areas during the period when bats are active (from dusk to dawn, between spring and autumn).

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1.207 Overall the impact on foraging bats from noise and light disturbance during construction is likely to be negligible but, should inappropriate lighting be used at sensitive times, could possibly be significant at site level. There is moderate to high confidence in this assessment.

Invertebrates

Evaluation and conservation objectives

1.208 Two days of survey at Cowdale quarry recorded 135 species: this is slightly below what would normally be expected for a site of this size in this location and supporting a range of habitats. This shortfall probably merely reflects the relatively northerly location of Cowdale quarry: No species of invertebrate which are afforded legal protection under UK or European law were recorded from the site.

1.209 For a general assessment, the percentage of Red Data Book or Nationally Scarce species is a useful guide to the overall quality of the site for invertebrates, in comparison to other sites surveyed using similar techniques. Of the 135 species found by this survey, three (2.2%) were Nationally Scarce. A figure of 2.2% is low in a national context. However, the site is possibly the only known Derbyshire site for Scopaeus sulcicollis (though this is a species which is likely to go undetected or unreported), on which basis it may have some importance for invertebrates at the local level.

Ecological effects

1.210 The proposed development will involve the permanent loss of the improved grassland habitat and spoil heaps occupying the quarry floor. The surveys results suggest the spoil heaps are not of high invertebrate value. No rare or scarce invertebrates were found associated with the scree-slopes on the southern faces of the old spoil-heaps. There were however, some noteworthy invertebrates: Scopaeus sulcicollis and Armadillidium pulchellum on the steep face of the spoil-heaps, and Hydrothassa glabra and Malthodes pumilus from the rubble-strewn grassland at the foot of the slopes. The microhabitat of Scopaeus sulcicollis is specialised and this species is unlikely to be able to persist at Cowdale quarry in the absence of scree-slopes. The other species are less dependent on bare, eroding ground and may be more widely distributed on open, calcareous grassland within and around the Cowdale quarry survey area.

Impact significance

1.211 Overall, the impact arising from the loss of improved grassland and spoil heap habitats within the quarry is considered likely to be will have an adverse impact which is

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considered likely to be significant at a local level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

Effects during the operation phase

Birds

1.212 Lighting within the car parks or around the bottling plant or security lighting and noise from the new development may have adverse effect on species such as birds, affecting normal diurnal rhythms and communication. This can affect bird breeding success.

1.213 The increased public presence from the workforce that could result from the creation of a new development could give rise to disturbance to birds reducing breeding success.

1.214 During the operational stage, the development could to give rise to an adverse impact on birds which could potentially be significant at a site level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Bats

1.215 An impact through the use of artificial lighting is possible where habitats used by bats could be affected (such as woodland edges or mature trees). This will occur during operation phase, for example, through the positioning of any new external lighting and security lighting close to foraging habitats. For example the sports centre, if built as part of phase 2, and in particular the football pitch may be floodlight during evening matches. Due to its proximity to the quarry edge light spill could deter bats from roosting or foraging in this area.

1.216 During the operational stage, impacts through lighting could to give rise to an adverse impact on bats which could potentially be significant at a site level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

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Badgers

1.217 No impact through the use of artificial lighting is considered likely as the main areas of badger activity is the woodland There will be no external lighting or security lighting close to setts or the woodland.

1.218 The development will lead to an increase the level of traffic entering the quarry bottom where the new bottling plant will be located. The number of traffic movements will be higher during the daytime with staff entering and leaving the various buildings. HGV movements in association with the bottling plant will vary during the year but on a typical day between 50 and 120 HGV movements would be expected (two way total). 70% of the daily movements are between 6am-3pm (i.e. 35-80 HGV movements). Low flows would be expected during the night.

1.219 During the spring, summer and early autumn, badgers would be unlikely to be active when the majority of traffic is using the road. Only in winter and late autumn would there be traffic after dusk and the predicted number of HGV movements is lower in the winter.

1.220 There are potentially significant operational impacts from the increased chance of injury to badgers from vehicles at night, as the animals are likely to cross the new road which is to be constructed through the northern section of secondary woodland. However, there are no predicted long-term impacts on the status of the badger social group in relation to the creation of the new road.

1.221 During the operational stage, impacts through an increase in traffic and road fatalities could to give rise to an adverse impact on badgers which could potentially be significant at a site level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

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PROPOSED MITIGATION AND COMPENSATION

1.222 A series of mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures have been included within the development design proposals. These have been developed through discussion between the consultant team ecologists, and the consultant team architects and engineers. This has resulted in a variety of mitigation measures being included in the design of the proposed development, aimed at avoiding or minimising identified impacts and where this has not been possible to provide compensation for any adverse effects. In addition, in line with Paragraph 14 and Key Principal iv of PPS9, measures have been included in the development proposals to enhance the biodiversity value of the site overall. These measures are described below:

• The preparation and implementation of a site-wide Ecology Management Plan to enhance the semi-improved grassland areas (68,000m2), species-rich calcareous grasslands (22,000m2) and secondary woodland habitats within the site;

• The creation of 265 m2 brown roof on the Heritage Building in Phase 1 to partially compensate for the loss of the ephemeral calcareous grassland and invertebrate habitat (approximately 6530 m2 as part of Phase 1). Further brown/green roofs will be created in further phases of the development, amounting to 9000 m2 overall;

• The planting of 9600 m2 woodland along the northern edge of the site and on the southern edge to compensate for the loss of ancient and secondary woodland;

• Translocation of ancient woodland ground flora and some of the soil to secondary woodland areas being retained within the development;

• The creation of a new pond habitats with native aquatic marginal planting to encourage biodiversity;

• Creation of 360m new species-rich hedgerow along the southern boundary of the agricultural land to the south of the quarry;

• Interpretation of the ecological interest of the site and the management being undertaken within the new Heritage Centre.

• The use of native plant species in formal areas that also provide foraging, nesting and over wintering habitat for wildlife;

• The footprint of the buildings will be set away from the quarry face, and the quarry face will continue be available for wildlife such as nesting birds and bats;

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• It is proposed to minimise the potential for badger road casualties the use of reflectors on both sides of the road. The reflectors will direct light from car headlights onto the sides of the road, where they would be visible to badgers. This simple measure should be sufficient to deter badgers from crossing the road as vehicles approach;

• The provision of new nest boxes for breeding bird species.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT WITH MITIGATION, COMPENSATION AND ENHANCEMENT MEASURES AND RESIDUAL IMPACTS

1.223 The section assesses the impacts of the proposed development on key ecological receptors taking into account the likely effect of the proposed mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures. The resulting residual impacts following are summarised in Table 11 below.

Designated sites

Construction phase

1.224 The loss of a small area of the Ashwood Dale LWS is unavoidable during the construction phase. In order to compensate for the loss of this ancient woodland, new woodland habitat of an equivalent area (1000 m2) will be planted along the northern side of the site bordering the existing broadleaved woodland.

1.225 The ancient woodland indicator ground flora species in the area to be lost (where accessible) will either be translocated, or seeds will be collected and propagated to be planted within the secondary, well-established secondary woodland on the site. A Method Statement will be developed to set out the proposed methodology.

Residual impacts

1.226 Pre-compensation impacts on the Local Wildlife Site are assessed as being adverse and significant at a district level. The proposed compensation will seek to provide new native woodland habitats for species and will reduce the level of habitat loss in the long-term. However, initially the woodland will not fully compensate for the loss of mature ancient woodland. Hence, the significance of the impact is considered to be only slightly reduced, to local for ancient woodland in the short-term. There is high confidence in this assessment.

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Ancient woodland and secondary woodland

Construction phase

1.227 The loss of a small area of ancient woodland and secondary woodland within the site is unavoidable during the construction phase. In order to compensate for the loss of all the woodland, new woodland habitat of an equivalent area (9600 m2) will be planted along the northern side of the existing broadleaved woodland and on the southern part of the site.

1.228 The ancient woodland indicator ground flora species in the area to be lost (where accessible) will either be translocated, or seeds will be collected and propagated to be planted within the secondary, well-established secondary woodland on the site. A Method Statement will be developed to set out the proposed methodology.

Operational phase

1.229 The new woodland habitats within the development will grade into the existing woodland habitats to the north of the spoil mounds. These will provide a buffer to the woodland and the wildlife it supports during the operational phase of the development.

Residual impacts

1.230 Pre-compensation impacts on ancient and secondary broadleaved woodland are assessed as being adverse and significant at a district and local level respectively. The proposed compensation will seek to provide new native woodland habitats (9600m2) for species and will reduce the level of habitat loss in the long term. In addition, the broadleaved woodland along the northern and eastern edges of the site (43,500 m2) will be managed to promote the ecological value through the implementation of the Conservation Management Plan. The woodlands will be entered into the Woodland Grant Scheme. However, initially the woodland will not fully compensate for the loss of mature woodland. Hence, the significance of the impact is considered to be only slightly reduced, to local for ancient woodland in the short-term. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Species-rich calcareous grassland

1.231 None of the species–rich calcareous grassland situated on the quarry top or face, or within the Cow Dale LWS (22,000m2) or the semi-improved neutral grassland (68,000m2) to the east of the development footprint is to be lost as part of the development. Currently the species-rich calcareous grasslands are unmanaged and the sward is becoming rank and scrub is encroaching. A Conservation Management Plan will be developed to set out detailed management prescriptions for these areas and the aim is to enter the whole site into the Environmental Stewardship Scheme. The long-term aim for these habitats will be to maintain and enhance their botanical and entomological interest.

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Residual impacts

1.232 Pre-compensation impacts on the calcareous grassland are assessed as being neutral. The proposed long-term management of the calcareous grassland through the implementation of the proposed Conservation Management Plan and through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme will enhance its botanical interest and the residual impact will be positive. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Semi-improved and rank neutral grassland

1.233 The semi-natural neutral grasslands (68,000 m2) on the eastern edge of the site are currently heavily grazed and are improved agriculturally. However, the less intensively grazed areas where the field slopes in a north easterly direction, support a number of species which indicate that historically these areas were of greater botanical interest. A change in the grazing regime to reduce the stocking density will help to restore the whole area to species- rich neutral grassland (excluding a small area behind the houses which will be planted with woodland as part of the woodland compensation).

1.234 The loss of a very small area (250m2) of rough species-poor neutral on the top of the northern edge of the quarry and the loss of the sparse, ephemeral calcareous grassland on the slopes of the spoil mounds is unavoidable during the construction phase of the road.

1.235 Residual impacts

1.236 The proposed changes to the management regime of the semi-improved neutral grassland fields will enhance the botanical interest of the fields and the residual impact will be positive. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Improved grassland habitat

1.237 Pre-compensation impacts on the improved grassland are assessed as being adverse and significant at site level. The proposed compensatory long-term management of the species-rich calcareous grasslands, which are considered to be of county importance and the restoration of the semi-natural neutral grassland, are considered to compensate for the loss of this species-poor habitat.

Residual impacts

1.238 The residual impact will therefore be positive. There is high confidence in this assessment.

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Ephemeral grassland on spoil mound flanks

1.239 The spoil heaps, in total, amount to approximately 50,000m2 and the ephemeral grassland occupies approximately 37% of this area. In relation to Phase 1 of the development, the two most westerly large spoil heaps will be lost, these amount to 11,500 m2 in area, of which approximately 6,500m2 supports ephemeral grassland. The remaining spoil mounds (37,500 m2) support approximately 12,000 m2 of ephemeral grassland/bare ground.

1.240 The loss of species-poor calcareous grassland communities present on the spoil heaps to be lost as part of Phase 1 of the development will be compensated in part in terms of ecological value, by the incorporation of a brown roof on the top of the Heritage Centre. This will support ephemeral/calcareous grassland habitats similar to those found on the flanks of the spoil mound and will provide an enhanced habitat for the fauna, such as invertebrates, associated with the spoil mounds. In addition, the species-rich calcareous grasslands within the site will be managed to promote their ecological interest through the re- introduction of low intensity grazing which will be guided by the Conservation Management Plan and Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Residual impacts

1.241 Pre-compensation impacts on the species-poor, ephemeral calcareous grassland are assessed as being adverse and significant at the local level. The creation of the brown roof on the Heritage Centre and in the long-term further green roofs on Phase 2 buildings will partially compensate for the loss of the spoil mounds and the residual impact will in the long- term be neutral. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Birds

Construction phase

1.242 Impacts on nesting birds will be avoided by carrying out work which affects suitable nesting habitats (for example, woodland or mature tree clearance) outside the bird nesting season which generally runs between early-March and late-August.

1.243 If this is not possible, and works must take place in the spring and summer, then surveys and supervision will be undertaken to ensure that nests are avoided.

1.244 In the long-term, the creation of 9600m2 woodland planting to replace the loss of the ancient and secondary woodland to be lost, and the provision of nest boxes and the new tree and shrub planting within the development, will provide replacement foraging and nesting habitat for birds.

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Operational phase

1.245 No further mitigation is proposed during the operational phase.

Residual impacts

1.246 Pre-mitigation impacts on birds are assessed as being adverse and significant at a site level. The proposed mitigation will seek to minimise the physical impacts on nesting birds, and the birds are not breeding within the habitats that will being lost. The creation of the new native woodland and the provision of nest boxes will compensate for the small loss of existing woodland and the residual impact will in the long-term be neutral. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Bats

Construction phase

1.247 The pre-mitigation impacts on foraging bats from noise and light disturbance during construction could be significant at site level but only if works are carried out at night.

1.248 During the construction phase mitigation will involve minimising the use of artificial light, particularly during summer months along the woodland edges, and the base of the quarry, when bats may susceptible to disturbance from light pollution.

1.249 A combination of built in bat bricks and externally mounted bat boxes will be fitted into the new school building on the north, south, east and west facing elevations of the school buildings

Operational phase

1.250 Mitigation within the operation phase will involve minimising unnecessary artificial lighting of the quarry face and woodland edges within the development site. However, it is not possible to mitigate for the floodlighting of the all-weather pitch on the south eastern corner of the quarry, which will be used in the evening potentially all year round and is likely to result in light spilling into the adjacent quarry area. However, no bats were recorded foraging in this areas of the quarry during the surveys and the habitat is very open with little tree cover, unlike the western end of the quarry floor.

Residual Impacts

1.251 Pre-mitigation impacts on bats are assessed as being adverse, and significant at a site level. The proposed mitigation will seek to avoid causing disturbance to bats through the use of artificial lighting along known foraging areas including the quarry edge. Some habitat loss will be unavoidable but this is not considered to be significant given the abundance of

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suitable foraging habitats within the local area. The significance of the residual impact is considered to be at the site level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Badgers

Construction phase

Impacts on badger setts will be avoided by carrying out work during the daytime and at a distance of at least 15 metres from the sett entrances. No trenches will be left open overnight without ramps being present. If any work is to be located closer to a sett entrance than anticipated, then it may be necessary to apply for a Development Licence form Natural England.

In addition, the construction of the new access road will potential cause disturbance to badgers and could act as a barrier to badgers movement along the northern woodland edge.

1.252 The pre-compensation impact in terms of disturbance and loss of foraging is considered likely to be adverse and significant at the site level in terms of its effect on the conservation status of badgers currently utilising the overall site. There is high confidence in this assessment.

Operational phase

1.253 There are potentially significant operational impacts from the increased chance of injury to badgers from vehicles at night, as the animals cross the new road which is to be constructed through the northern section of secondary woodland. However, there are no predicted long-term impacts on the status of the badger social group from the construction of the road.

1.254 During the operational stage, impacts through an increase in traffic and road fatalities could give rise to an adverse impact on badgers which could potentially be significant at a site level. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

1.255 It is proposed to minimise the potential for badger road casualties from vehicles entering or leaving the site during the hours of darkness, the use of reflectors on both sides of the road. The reflectors will direct light from car headlights onto the sides of the road, where they would be visible to badgers. In addition a site speed limit of 10mph will be set. These simple measures should be sufficient to deter badgers from crossing the road as vehicles approach.

Residual Impacts

1.256 The pre-mitigation impact in terms of increase in road fatalities could to give rise to an adverse impact on badgers which could potentially be significant at a site level. The proposed

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mitigation will reduce the level of impact slightly but there is still a potential for adverse impacts at the site level because it cannot be predicted in detail where or when badgers will move. There is moderate confidence in this assessment.

Invertebrates

Construction phase

1.257 Replacement compensation habitat will be created on the brown roof of the Heritage Centre building as part of Phase 1 of the development. The grassland species mixes that will be sown onto the brown roof will be based on the existing flowering grasses and herbs that occur on the spoil heaps and species-rich calcareous grassland habitats nearby.

1.258 In general, brown roofs are likely to be valuable to invertebrates and their value can be enhanced by incorporating a range of features such as a varied topography and structure, the incorporation of specific flowering plants to provide pollen and nectar source, areas of bare ground, partially buried ridge tiles and clay plant pots with gaps to provide nesting sites for bumble bees.

Operational phase

1.259 The brown roof and newly created grassland habitats will be managed to provide a suitable habitat for invertebrates in the long-term through the production of an Ecology Management Plan.

Residual impacts

1.260 The pre-compensation impact on invertebrates is assessed as being significant at a local level. The creation of the brown roof and the long-term management of species-rich calcareous grassland and the semi-improved neutral grassland habitats will reduce the significance of the impact to be adverse, but only at the site level. There is high confidence in this assessment.

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Table 11: Significance of residual impacts after implementation of proposed mitigation/compensation Feature Evaluation Impact and Residual Impact Confidence significance prior to mitigation/compensati on Peak District International Neutral Neutral High Dales SAC importance Cow Dale County Neutral Positive High LWS importance Ashwood County Adverse, district level Adverse, local level High Dale LWS importance Ancient District Adverse, district level Adverse, local level Moderate to woodland importance High Secondary Local Adverse, local level Adverse, local level Moderate to broadleaved importance High woodland Calcareous County Neutral Positive High grassland importance Neutral Site Adverse, site level Positive High grassland importance Semi- Local Neutral Positive High improved importance neutral grassland Improved Site Negligible at a site level Positive High grassland Importance Ephemeral Local Adverse, significant at Neutral High calcareous importance a local level grassland Birds Local Adverse, significant at Neutral High importance a site level Badgers Local Adverse, significant at Adverse, site High importance a site level level Bats Local Adverse, significant at Adverse, site High importance a site level level Reptiles Not Negligible Negligible High considered to be present Invertebrates Local Adverse, significant at Adverse, site High importance a local level level

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Summary of Residual Effects

1.261 Local level residual impacts remain for receptors Ashwood Dale LWS, ancient woodland and secondary woodland. The mitigation measures proposed will slightly reduce the significance of the majority of the impacts but they are still assessed to be significant at local level. Impacts on nesting birds, badgers and invertebrates will remain significant at a site level. A site level impact is the lowest level of impact significance, the impacts being significant only within the context of the site and insignificant in any wider context.

1.262 With the creation of the green roofs within the overall Masterplan area, the residual impacts will be neutral for the ephemeral grassland receptor and similarly with birds, with the new planting and other compensation measures the impact has been reduced to neutral.

1.263 The proposed management of the grassland habitats within the site will result in a positive residual impact for calcareous and neutral grassland receptors.

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References

Anon. (2005). Organising surveys to determine site quality for invertebrates: a framework guide for ecologists. Peterborough: English Nature.

Drake, C.M., Lott, D.A., Alexander, K.N.A. and Webb, J. (2007). Surveying terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates for conservation evaluation. Natural England Research Report NERR005. Sheffield: Natural England.

Hyman, P.S. (revised Parsons, M.S.) (1992). A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. U.K. Nature Conservation: 3. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Lott, D. and Anderson, R. (in prep.). The Staphylinidae (rove beetles) of Britain and Ireland, Parts 7 & 8: Oxyporinae, Steninae, Euaesthetinae, Pseudopsinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae. Handbooks for the identification of British insects. St Albans: Royal Entomological Society.

Morris, M.G. (2008). True weevils (part II) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae). Handbooks for the identification of British insects, vol. 5, part 17c. St Albans: Royal Entomological Society.

Shirt, D.B. (ed.) (1987). British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. Peterborough: Nature Conservancy Council.

Stubbs, A.E. and Drake, M. (2001). British soldierflies and their allies. Reading: British Entomological and Natural History Society.

ODPM 2005 Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and geological Conservation ODPM 2005 Government Circular: Biodiversity and geological Conservation-Statutory Obligations and their impact within the planning system.

High Peak Borough Council, Local Development Framework High Peak Saved Local Plan Policies http://www.highpeak.gov.uk/planning/localframework/

Government Office of the East Midlands, March 2009. East Midlands Regional Plan

Eaton et al, 2009. Birds of Conservation Concern 3: the population status of birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. British Birds 102.

Flora of Derbyshire website. http://www.derby.gov.uk/dccwebdev/museum/flora/Flora.asp

European Ornithology Atlas Committee, 1979. Categories of Breeding Bird Evidence.

JNCC, 1993. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Peterborough.

Gilbert G., Gibbons, D.W. and Evans, J., 1998, Bird Monitoring Methods. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sandy.

Gregory, R.D., Wilkinson, N.I., Noble, D.G., Robinson, J.A., Brown, A.F., Hughes, J., Procter, D.A., Gibbons, D.W. and Galbraith, C.A. (2002). The population status of birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Isle of Man: an analysis of conservation concern 2002-2007. British Birds 95:410-450.

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Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM) (2006) Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the United Kingdom (version 7 July 2006).

Institute of Environmental Assessment (1995), Guidelines for Baseline Ecological Assessment. E & F.N. Spon.

Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) (2004), Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (1993) Handbook for Phase 1 habitat survey. JNCC, Peterborough.

Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Partnership (2001) Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan.

ODPM (2005a) Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity & Geological Conservation. HMSO. ODPM (2005b) Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their impact within the planning system. HMSO.

UK Government (1994) Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan, HMSO. (www.ukbap.org.uk)

Bat Conservation Trust and Institute of Lighting Engineers (2009) Bats and Lighting in the UK.

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Appendix 1: Phase 1 Habitat Report and Plan

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Cowdale Quarry Ecology Survey

October 2009

Final

Client Express Parks Ltd.

Job Name Cowdale Development

Report title Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report

File reference 4500_002_rpt_mw_gt.doc

Signed Name Position Date

Mark Woods/Philippa Originated Principal Ecologist 26/10/09 Harvey

Reviewed Guy Miller Principal Ecologist 28/10/09

ISSUING OFFICE: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT

TEL: 01629 815544

FAX: 01629 815577

Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: [email protected] Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Registered in: Cardiff No. OC328772 Registered address: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT Members: A list of members is available at each office.

Express Parks Ltd Cowdale Development

Report Contents 1 Introduction...... 2 1.1 Site Description ...... 2 1.2 Proposed Works ...... 2 1.3 Aims of Study...... 2 2 Methodology...... 3 2.1 Desk Study...... 3 2.2 Field Survey ...... 3 3 Results ...... 3 3.1 Desk Study...... 3 3.2 Field Survey ...... 5 4 Assessment...... 11 4.1 Constraints on Study Information ...... 11 4.2 Nature Conservation Policy...... 12 4.3 Potential Impacts...... 13 5 Recommendations ...... 17 5.1 Further Survey ...... 17 5.2 Mitigation Measures...... 18 6 Appendix 1: Data Trawl Results...... 20 7 Appendix 2: Target Notes ...... 21 8 Appendix 3: Phase One Habitats Survey Map...... 25 9 Appendix 4: Species Lists ...... 27 9.1 Botanical Species List ...... 27 9.2 Fauna Species List ...... 30

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Express Parks Ltd Cowdale Development

1 Introduction

1.1 Site Description The study site is a former quarry and surrounding agricultural fields that is located to the north of the village of Cowdale, centred at OS grid reference SK 079 723. The site is approximately 20 hectares in size and contains a range of habitat types that are typically associated with disused quarries. The quarry floor supports agriculturally improved grassland surrounded by a mixture of vegetated and bare limestone cliffs. In addition, there are spoil mounds located within the quarry void that are characterised by steep, eroding sides, which support a sparse open vegetation community and a flat plateau of improved grassland. Above the quarry void, there is a thin strip of land to the south and west, which supports calcareous and neutral grassland with scattered trees and shrubs. Improved pasture adjoins the south, east and west boundaries. The north of the site supports vertical and very steep slopes that consist of semi-mature and mature broadleaved woodland. The edge of this woodland is defined by the A6 Buxton to Matlock road.

On the north side of the A6 is the River Wye which is bordered by broadleaved woodland. Towards Buxton lies the former Sewage Treatment Works site which, following restoration, is now planted with broadleaved trees.

Beyond the improved pasture grasslands on the east side of the site there is a small dale that supports a mixture of habitats including neutral and calcareous grassland, broadleaved woodland and tall herb stands that are located on steep slopes and rocky outcrops.

The study site is set in a typical landscape for this part of Derbyshire, which consists of improved grasslands and small woodlands on the plateaus and the less steep slopes of the dales. The numerous quarries and steep-sided valleys add topographical variation to the local landscape.

1.2 Proposed Works Express Parks Buxton Ltd is proposing to develop the quarry void for industrial, recreational and educational purposes. Works will include the removal of the spoil mounds along the northern edge of the site. The development will be located within the floor of the former quarry.

1.3 Aims of Study Baker Shepherd Gillespie was commissioned by Glentoal Associates on behalf of Express Parks Buxton Ltd to undertake an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey of the site, in order to identify habitats or species that may be affected by the proposed works, and provide a preliminary ecological assessment. The objectives of the survey were to:

• Identify the existing habitats within and adjoining the site; • Check for evidence of protected species within and adjoining the site; • Assess the potential for protected species to be present in the area; • Identify potential ecological impacts relating to the proposed works; • Identify requirements for further survey; • Propose mitigation measures to avoid and reduce ecological impacts, as far as these can be determined at this stage.

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Express Parks Ltd Cowdale Development

2 Methodology

2.1 Desk Study A desktop study was carried out to determine the presence of any protected or notable species records for a 2km radius around OS grid reference SK 079 723 and for statutory or non-statutory designated sites of nature conservation value (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) or Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), within a 5km radius of the site.

The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust was contacted to supply some of this information and Natural England’s nature-on-the-map website1 was consulted to determine the locality of statutory protected sites within 2km of the study site.

2.2 Field Survey Philippa Harvey MIEEM (Principal Ecologist) and Mark Woods MIEEM (Senior Ecologist) undertook a walk-over field survey on 7th October 2009 between 0900 and 1530 hours. The weather was sunny with light winds and an average temperature of 160C. The site was walked over and the habitats were described using the Phase 1 Habitat Survey methodology2.

Checks for signs of protected species were made throughout the site. Scattered and woodland trees were inspected to assess their potential to support roosting bats. Habitats were assessed for their suitability to support nesting birds. Searches were also made for evidence of badgers Meles meles (such as setts, dung pits, hairs and tracks) and water vole (such as burrows, feeding remains, droppings and tracks). The site was also searched for the presence of the invasive non- native plant Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica.

3 Results

3.1 Desk Study

3.1.1 Designated sites

3.1.1.1 Statutory Designated Sites A number of statutory sites of nature conservation interest were located within 5km of the site, including the Peak District Dales Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Peak District Moors Specially Protected Area (SPA) and South Pennine Moors SAC.

• Wye Dales SSSI is located 0.4km to the north of the site at its nearest point (Cunning Dale), centred at OS grid reference SK 154 722. Other dales included within the Wye Dale SSSI such as Deep Dale and Woo Dale are located within 2km distance, to the west of the study site.

3.1.1.2 Non-statutory designated sites Four Local Wildlife Sites: (LWS) and one “recorded site of interest” are located within 2km of the site. A LWS is identified as having county level importance for its nature conservation interest.

• Cow Dale, which forms the eastern edge of the survey area, is an unimproved calcareous grassland site and is designated as a LWS (HP 176), covering an area of 8.64 Ha. Approximately half of this LWS (3.79 Ha) is identified as a semi-natural grassland.

1 www.natureonthemap.org.uk/ 2 JNCC, 1993. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey, Peterborough.

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• Ashwood Dale LWS (HP 027) is located immediately to the north west of the survey site, and covers an area of 11.3Ha, supporting ancient semi-natural ash woodland.

• Cunningdale North LWS (HP 158) is located approximately 1km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 2.3Ha, supporting unimproved calcareous grassland.

• Cunningdale South LWS (HP 180) is located approximately 0.5km to the north of the survey site at its nearest point, covering an area of 3.1Ha, and supports unimproved neutral grassland.

• Cowdale Quarry, including the quarry rock face, cliff tops and the quarry floor within the survey area is identified as an “Other recorded site of interest” (HP 135). This is not a formal designation but simply identifies that the site may be of ecological interest.

In addition, Ashwood Dale and Ashwood Dale Quarry Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS) are located approximately 0.2km to the north of the survey site on the northern side of the A6.

3.1.2 Protected Species The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust provided the following records of protected species within 2km of the site (see Table 1 below). For full details refer to Appendix 1.

In summary, there is one record for great crested newts over 2km to the north east of Cowdale quarry and several records of bat activity in the local area. Water vole is recorded on the River Wye along the northern edge of the survey area. Twenty two records of badger setts have been provided with nine within 1km of the site. There are four records of setts within Cowdale Quarry dating back to 1989, with the most recent recording dating from 2008.

Table 1: Protected Species records Common name Latin name Date OS grid Location Distance from reference site Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 1993 SK080725 Ashford Dale 0.2km north Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 1998 and SK060722 White Knowle 1.9km west 2000 Rd, Buxton Soprano Pipistrellus 1999 SK071706 Harpur Hill, 1.8km pipistrelle pygmaeus Buxton southwest Pipistrelle Pipistrellus sp. 2005 SK065719 Somerset Close, 1.4km west Buxton Common Pipistrellus 2004 SK063717 Somerset Close 1.4km west pipistrelle pipistrellus Water vole Arvicola terrestris 1998 SK0872 River Wye Within 1km Water vole Arvicola terrestris 1998 SK0872 River Wye Within 1km Great crested Triturus cristatus 1976 SK087746 Buxton, green newt Lane Badger Meles meles 1989 Confidential Cowdale Quarry Within the survey area Badger Meles meles 1994 Confidential Cowdale Quarry Within the survey area Badger Meles meles 2008 Confidential Cowdale Quarry Within the survey area Badger Meles meles 1994 Confidential Cowdale Quarry Within the Wood survey area

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Three bird species records were provided for the search area (See table 2 below). None of the records are for the survey site, the nearest being from approximately 0.5km of the site.

Table 2: Birds of conservation concern records –red list and Derbyshire LBAP species Species Latin Name Date of record OS grid reference Distance from site Skylark Alauda arvensis 1991 SK 077732 0.5 north Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1991 SK065723 1km west Song thrush Turdus philomelos 2001-2008 SK048734 1-3 km west SK067711 SK060722 SK064735 SK065731

3.1.3 UKBAP Habitats/Species The following records were provided for the local area, The reptile records relate to a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserve located 2km to the east of the site.

Table 3: UK BAP Priority Species Common Name Latin Name Date Grid Ref. Distance from site Brown hare Lepus europaeas 2002 SK077734 0.5 north Grass snake Natrix natrix 1996 SK0971 2km east Slow worm Anguila fragilis 1996 SK0971 2km east

3.1.4 Derbyshire LBAP Habitats/Species Three Nationally Scarce plant species (Derbyshire Red Data Book) Mountain currant Ribes alpinum, Pale St. John’s-wort Hypericum montanum and Hutchinsia Hornungia petraea, are recorded within Cow Dale LWS (SK 0872). In addition, the Nationally Threatened plant species (Derbyshire Red Data Book) narrow-leaved bittercress Cardamine impatiens is recorded for Cow Dale. Clustered bellflower Campanula glomerata and saw-wort Serratula tinctoria recorded for Cowdale in 1996, this is a Locally Scarce or Declining plant.

3.2 Field Survey The Phase 1 Habitat Survey Plan is located in Appendix 3. See Appendix 2 for the Target Notes, which provides detailed accounts of all the habitats encountered within the study site.

The abundance of plant species located during the survey is recorded by use of the DAFOR system: D is dominant, A is abundant, F is frequent, O is occasional and R is rare, the prefix ‘L’ refers to a ‘Localised’ occurrence. A species list for the whole site is present in Appendix 4.

3.2.1 Habitat Description The study site consists of a disused limestone quarry and areas of unquarried land above and around the quarry void. The quarry floor (TN21) and the fields occupying the eastern half of the site (TN1) support improved grassland dominated by perennial rye-grass. Other species include white clover Trifolium repens, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, broadleaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, common nettle Urtica dioica, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, creeping thistle Cirsium arvense and spear thistle Cirsium vulgare.

The grasslands surrounding the quarry on the south and west sides (TN17) are also agriculturally improved, and species-poor with a very short sward. Grass species include abundant perennial rye-grass, with frequent cock’s-foot, common bent-grass and red fescue.

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At the northeast corner of the site there is a small, grazed semi-improved grassland (TN16) that supports a variety of grasses including frequent perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne, red fescue, common bent-grass Agrostis capillaris and cock’s-foot. Herbs are sparse and include occasional creeping buttercup, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and creeping thistle. Common vetch Vicia sativa, common ragwort Senecio jacobaea, greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis and Lady’s- smock Cardamine pratensis are present but rare in the sward.

The quarry rock faces (TN 22) support a mixture of calcareous grassland, neutral grassland and tall-herb habitats on the ledges and less-steep slopes. Trees and shrubs are more frequent at the foot of the rock faces and consist of immature native and non-native species including ash Fraxinus excelsior, goat willow Salix caprea and sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Some areas of species-rich grassland are present on the rock faces.

Calcareous grassland and scattered broadleaved trees are located above the quarry void and occupies a thin strip along the south boundary of the quarry (TN13, see Figures 2 and 3). At its widest the strip of grassland is approximately 10m, narrowing down to 1.5m in places. The grassland is grazed in places and supports typical calcicole species such as red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, fairy flax Linum catharticum, yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis agg., downy oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens, quaking grass Brizia media and glaucous sedge Carex flacca, but where soils are deeper the grassland supports more mesotrophic species such as white clover, cock’s-foot, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and hogweed. Shrubs and trees are occasional to locally frequent and consist of immature sycamore, ash, whitebeam Sorbus aria agg., rowan Sorbus aucuparia, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, common osier Salix viminalis and grey willow Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia.

Figure 2: Calcareous grassland (TN13) above Figure 3: Calcareous grassland / Scattered the south edge of the quarry void broadleaved woodland (TN13)

Unimproved neutral grassland (TN14) occupies a small triangle of land on the south boundary of the site, above the quarry void. The grassland has a dense cover, near continuous thatch layer and is greater than 0.5m high. The stand consists of mesotrophic herbs and grasses such as common knapweed Centaura nigra, greater burnet, melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, creeping buttercup, cock’s-foot, false oat-grass and meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, but the presence of common nettle, hogweed and broadleaved dock suggests past disturbance and nutrient input.

The steep slopes and ledges of the quarry rock faces support calcareous grassland and tall-herb habitats, with frequent shrubs and trees such as sycamore, ash and grey willow at the foot of the cliffs (TN 22, see Figures 4 and 5). Species include red fescue, sheep’s fescue, crested dog’s-tail,

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cock’s-foot, rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium, male fern, herb Robert, a hawkweed Hieracium diaphanum, common knapweed and quaking grass.

Figure 4: Rock faces in the quarry (TN22) Figure 5: Rock faces in the quarry and spoil heaps in foreground

There are a number of both large and small spoil mounds along the north side of the quarry void. They are flat-topped with steep-sided, actively eroding flanks (Target Notes 10, 20 and 23; see Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9). The plateaus of the spoil mounds support improved grassland which is grazed. Self-sown, immature shrubs and trees are also present on the spoil heaps. The eroded faces of the spoil mounds support an open, unimproved calcareous grassland habitat. The sparse clumps of vegetation include species such as fairy flax, sheep’s fescue and ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. There are a few scattered trees on the south side of the slopes, which consist of sycamore, silver birch Betula pendula and grey willow.

The base of the west side of the spoil mound TN23,where the ground is uneven, supports a more species-rich calcareous grassland vegetation that is very similar to other calcareous grassland habitat within the study site.

Figure 6: Spoil mound (TN20) Figure 7: Spoil mound (TN23)

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Figure 8: Small spoil mounds in centre of site Figure 9: View of the quarry spoil mound (TN10)

The most easterly spoil mound (TN10) supports improved grassland with scattered broadleaved trees on the plateau. An open calcareous grassland habitat with a few immature trees and shrubs are present on the steep-sided flanks of the spoil mound.

Figure 10: Broadleaved woodland on Figure 11: Broadleaved woodland on northern edge of TN10 spoil mound northern edge of site (TN9)

Mature broadleaved plantation woodland is located on the north edge of the quarry (TN18, see Figure 14). The woodland occupies a thin strip on steeply sloping ground that terminates in near vertical cliffs and rocky outcrops. Presumably, the woodland was planted as a screen when the quarry was active. A dense canopy of beech Fagus sylvatica, sycamore, common lime Tilia x vulgaris and Scots pine Pinus sylvatica has suppressed the shrub and understorey layers and the field layer is fairly sparse with patches of tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas.

To the north of the quarry void and the spoil tips, the cliffs and rocky outcrops that flank the A6 road are covered by mature semi-natural and plantation broadleaved woodlands (TN 9 and 11). The semi-natural woodland habitat extends alongside the A6 road and occupies parts of the slopes present on either side of the unclassified road that leads into Cowdale. Because of the terrain, much of the woodland is inaccessible, and is therefore, relatively undisturbed. The canopy supports sycamore and ash, with an understorey of wych elm Ulmus glabra, hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn. The field layer supports species such as tufted hair-grass, dog’s mercury,

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common valerian Valeriana officinalis, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, bramble Rubus fruticosus, wood avens Geum urbanum and water avens Geum rivale.

The study site also includes a small area on the north side of the A6 road, which contains a section of the River Wye and an immature broadleaved woodland plantation. The woodland supports tall-herb stands in the gaps between the young trees.

The east enge of the study site is defined by steep slopes with rocky outcrops that support a mix of semi-natural ash woodland (TN 9), neutral grassland, unimproved species-rich calcareous grassland with scattered and dense scrub (TN 5 and 6). This area forms part of the Cow Dale Local Wildlife Site.

The calcareous grassland habitat on the slopes (TN5, Figure 12) is dominated by common knapweed with Yorkshire fog, quaking grass, salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, ox-eye daisy, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, and common valerian Valeriana officinalis.

The calcareous grassland associated with the limestone outcrops supports a range of species including wall rue Asplenium ruta muraria, hawkweed Hieracium sp., quaking grass, maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes, common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, mouse-eared hawkweed Pilosella officinarum (see Figure 13).

Figure 12: View of calcareous grassland and Figure 13: View of the calcareous grassland scrub from the top of the site (TN5) bank on the eastern edge of the site (TN5)

3.2.2 Protected Species

3.2.2.1 Nesting birds No nesting birds were located, due to the timing of the survey visit. However, 14 species of birds were recorded by casual observation or song (see Table 2). The majority of species were associated with the woodland habitats within the study site, with fewer species recorded in the open habitats. However, linnet was flying within the open quarry area. Fieldfare was recorded in association with the fields in the east of the site. A pair of raven was present flying over the local area. It is considered likely that some of these species would breed within the overall site, in particular within the woodland and scattered broadleaved trees and potentially also on the quarry ledges voids within the quarry face.

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Table 2: Birds recorded during the survey Common name Latin name Raven Corvus corax Linnet Carduelis cannabina Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Robin Erithacus rubecula Dunnock Prunella modularis Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus Carrion crow Corvus corone Great tit Parus major Blue tit Parus caeruleus Great-spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major Jackdaw Corvus monedula Magpie Pica pica Wood pigeon Columba palumbus

3.2.2.2 Bats No signs of roosting bats were located during the survey, but targeted surveys were not carried out. The study site supports rock faces with crevices and holes that may have potential to support roosting bats. The scattered and woodland trees that were observed did not support any obvious features that could be used by roosting bats. Although, given the size and maturity, the woodland trees are largely unsuitable for roosting bats, there are cliffs and rocky outcrops with crevices and holes within the woodland with potential to support roosting bats.

The woodland and rocky habitats within the study site and the River Wye along the northern edge of the site provide a range of foraging and commuting opportunities for bats.

3.2.2.3 Badgers During the survey, a badger sett was located at OS grid reference SK 081 725 (see Figure 1, Appendix 3: Phase 1 Habitat Survey Map and Figure 7 below). A search revealed seven active entrance holes with very well-worn paths leading between the entrances, distinctive badger prints, bedding and badger hairs within the spoil mounds outside the entrances. It is considered likely that there will be further badger setts within the woodland areas which were not subject to a comprehensive search given the difficulty of access due to the steep terrain. No obvious badger tracks led into the open quarry area and there were no signs of foraging on the quarry floor. Evidence of digging was located on the spoil mound close to the sett which is likely to originate from feeding badgers. It is considered likely that badgers are mostly foraging in the woodlands.

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Figure 14: Main badger sett in the woodland edge

3.2.2.4 Great crested newt The study site does not contain any areas of standing water and, from an examination of the 1:25000 OS map; no ponds are present within 500 metres of the site. Therefore, the presence of great crested newts within the study site is not anticipated.

3.2.2.5 Reptiles Targeted surveys were not carried out during the site visit. The study site supports habitats including rock faces, rough grassland and woodland edge, with potential to support adder Viperus berus, grass snake Natrix natrix slow-worm Anguis fragilis and common lizard Lacerta vivipara.

3.2.3 Rare Species The calcareous grassland along the top of the quarry face supports several colonies of melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, which is a Derbyshire Red Data Book3 species.

3.2.4 Invasive species No Japanese knotweed was located during the site survey.

4 Assessment

4.1 Constraints on Study Information Although the timing of the survey visit was not optimal for botanical surveys, there was sufficient above ground material to be able to identify the majority of species. October is not a suitable month for locating nesting birds, but the habitats were assessed for their potential to support nesting birds. Some particularly steep parts of the site could not be thoroughly searched because of safety constraints, but these areas could be viewed and habitats present classified from adjacent areas.

3 Moyes, N.J. & Wilmott, A. (2002). A Checklist of the Plants of Derbyshire. Derby Museum.

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4.2 Nature Conservation Policy This section provides an overview of Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS 9)4. In addition, reference is made to the UK and the Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAP and LBAP respectively) in relation to habitats and species identified to be of nature conservation concern.

4.2.1 Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation

4.2.1.1 Biodiversity PPS 9 (Key Principle vi) states that the aim of planning decisions should be to prevent harm to biodiversity interests and where granting planning permission would significantly harm those interests, the local planning authority “will need to be satisfied that the development cannot be reasonably located on any alternative sites that would result in loss or no harm. In the absence of such alternatives, local planning authorities should ensure that before planning permission is granted, adequate mitigation measures are put in place. Where a planning decision would result in significant harm to biodiversity… which cannot be prevented or adequately mitigated against, appropriate compensation measures should be sought. If significant harm cannot be prevented, adequately mitigated against, or compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.”

4.2.1.2 Habitats of Principal Importance Paragraph 11 of PPS 9 advises that local authorities should take steps to further the conservation of important natural habitats which are considered to be of Principal Importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England and also identify opportunities to enhance and add to them.

Paragraph 12 states that “local authorities should take steps to maintain networks of habitats by avoiding or repairing the fragmentation and isolation of natural habitats through policies in plans. Such networks should be protected from development, and where possible strengthened or integrated within it.”

In paragraph 13 of PPS 9, the government indicates that “the re-use of previously developed land for new development makes a contribution to sustainable development… However, where such sites have significant biodiversity or geological interest of recognised local importance, local planning authorities, together with developers, should aim to retain this interest or incorporate it into any development of the site.”

4.2.1.3 Protected Species Paragraph 116 of Government Circular 06/2005 which accompanies PPS 9 also advises that planning authorities should give due weight to the presence of a European protected species on a development site to meet their statutory requirements in exercising its functions in relation to the Habitats Directive.

4.2.1.4 Species of Principal Importance In paragraph 16 of PPS 9, the government indicates that local authorities should take steps to further the conservation of species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England and should ensure that that the habitats of these species are protected from further decline and from adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations. Planning authorities should refuse permission where harm to the species or their habitats would result unless the need for, and benefits of, the development clearly outweigh the harm.

4 Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. August 2005. Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. HMSO.

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4.2.2 UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) 5

4.2.2.1 Habitats The UK BAP lists a series of Priority Habitats of conservation concern that are considered to be priorities for nature conservation. Upland Mixed Ash Woods, Running Water, Calcareous Grassland and Neutral Grassland are Priority Habitats that occur within the study site.

4.2.2.2 Species Within the UKBAP, Species Action Plans have been prepared for brown hare Lepus europaeus and linnet Carduelis cannabina, which were recorded during the survey. It is possible that other Priority Species could also use the site.

4.2.3 Peak District Local Biodiversity Action Plan6 The PDLBAP identifies local biodiversity priorities identifies local priorities within the National Park. Local Priority Species and Habitats are influenced by the UK BAP.

4.2.3.1 Habitats Local Habitat Action Plans have been prepared for river corridor habitats, upland ash woods and limestone dales.

4.3 Potential Impacts

4.3.1 Designated Sites The results of the data trawl indicate the presence of the Wye Dales SSSI, which is also part of the Peak District Dales SAC. In the local area, the Wye Dales SSSI consists of a series of Limestone Dales. At its closest point, Cunning Dale, the Wye Dales SSSI is approximately 0.4km to the north of the study site. The site is however isolated from the Wye Dales SSSI by the A6 road and a railway line.

No direct impacts are likely and, in addition, it is unlikely that the development will interfere with local hydrology or air quality and there will be no impact on the ecological interest of the SSSI or SAC sites within 5km of the study site.

It is anticipated that the proposed development will be largely contained within the quarry void and to some extent, isolated from the surrounding area. Cowdale Quarry, including the quarry rock face, cliff tops and the quarry floor within the survey area is identified as an “Other recorded site of interest” (HP 135). While this is not a formal designation it does highlight that the site may be of ecological interest. Often such sites have not been adequately surveyed to assess whether there is sufficient interest present. The proposed development will result in the loss of the quarry floor and spoil heaps but the quarry face will remain intact. The main area of ecological interest, the quarry faces and cliff top grassland areas, will be retained.

Cow Dale, which forms the eastern edge of the survey area, supports unimproved calcareous grassland and is designated as a LWS (HP 176), covering an area of 8.64 Ha. Approximately half of this LWS (3.79 Ha) is identified as a semi-natural grassland area.

Any impact on Cow Dale LWS will be informed by the final layout of the development and particularly the long-term access to the site. However, at this stage it is considered unlikely there will be an impact on this LWS.

5 Biodiversity: the UK Action Plan. 1994. HMSO 6 http://www.derbyshirebiodiversity.org.uk/lbaps/peak-district.php

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4.3.2 Habitats The study site supports habitats that are listed in the UK BAP and Peak District Local BAP including ash woodland, calcareous and neutral grassland, and limestone dales. Local and/or UK Action Plans have been prepared for these habitat types, with the general aims of conserving the existing resource and where possible to restore degraded areas through management. The UK BAP and LBAP habitats within the study site are located on the periphery of the quarry void and also to the east at Cow Dale. These habitats and the quarry rock faces are botanically species-rich and therefore, disturbance or damage has the potential to have an adverse impact on local biodiversity.

The proposed development within the quarry void will result in the loss of the existing spoil mounds and the improved grassland habitat on the quarry floor. The plateaus of the spoil mounds have been sown with a perennial rye-grass and white clover mix of low botanical interest, which has been intensively grazed by sheep to a tight sward of less than 5cm height. In places, however the flanks of the spoil mounds have developed a rudimentary calcareous grassland habitat on actively eroding substrates. The timing of the survey was not optimal for assessing the botanical diversity of the community, because unstable substrates are likely to support short-lived perennials and annual species, which die-back and disappear by late summer. Therefore, it is considered that the flanks of the spoil mound could support a reasonably diverse botanical community and therefore the loss of this habitat has potential to give rise to an adverse impact on the botanical diversity within the site.

The improved grassland habitat on the quarry floor and occasionally elsewhere within the study site (see Appendix 2: TN1, TN17 and TN21 for details) is botanically species-poor, intensively grazed by livestock, and of low ecological interest. As a consequence, it is considered that the loss or disturbance of the improved grassland habitat is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact on local biodiversity.

Although, the construction of the proposed access road from the A6, will use the line of the existing track, it will require the removal or trimming back of some of the trees along the route of the road to provide an improved and wider access route. Further studies will have to be conducted once the detailed plans of the new access have been issued to assess which trees and vegetation will be affected.

4.3.3 Protected Species

4.3.3.1 Birds All nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or destroy its nest whilst in use or being built, or take or destroy its eggs. In addition to this, for some rarer species (listed on Schedule 1 of the Act), it is an offence to disturb them while they are nest building or at or near a nest with eggs or young, or to disturb the dependent young of such a bird.

A number of bird species are also listed as Species of Principal Importance under the provisions of the NERC Act 2006. PPS9 gives guidance on the treatment of such species and states that local authorities should ensure that they are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations.

The data trawl provided three records of birds (skylark, starling and song thrush) which are UK BAP species and Species of Principal Importance; however none of these records relate directly to the study site. During the survey visit, 14 species were recorded including linnet, which is a red list BOCC7 species, a UK BAP Priority Species and a Species of Principal Importance. The study site supports a range of habitats, such as woodland, scrub, quarry rock faces, rough grassland

7 BOCC Reference

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and tall-herb stands, all with potential to support any bird nests particularly. In addition, the mix of habitats on the periphery of the quarry void and the rock faces has the potential to provide foraging habitat for a wide range of birds. Although the development of the quarry void is unlikely to directly affect birds nests particularly. There is however still potential for indirect disturbance such as noise and lighting to occur during both the construction and operational phases of the proposed development.

4.3.3.2 Bats Bats and their habitats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000), and by the Habitats Regulations 1994 (as amended 2009). In summary, these make it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct any place used by bats for breeding and shelter, disturb a bat, or kill, injure or take any bat.

Seven bat species are listed in the UK BAP and are listed as Species of Principal Importance under the provisions of the NERC Act 2006. PPS9 gives guidance on the treatment of Species of Principal Importance and states that local authorities should ensure that they are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations.

The data trawl identified five bat records within 2km of the study site. No obvious signs of roosting bats were located during the survey although, it should be noted that targeted surveys were not carried out. Habitats were assessed for their suitability to support roosting and foraging bats. Most of the trees within the study site did not contain features such as splits, dense climbing ivy and rot holes, which often have potential to support roosting bats. However, the quarry rock faces and the rocky outcrops in the woodlands overlooking the A6 road and Cowdale support numerous fissures and holes. Given the number of fissures and holes, the presence of roosting bats within the study site cannot be discounted. Disturbance of the rock faces could have the potential to harm roosting bats and cause an offence.

The study site supports a number of habitats, which provide a continuous linear edge around the periphery of the site such as the species-rich grassland and scrub at the top of the quarry cliffs and the woodland edge that flanks the north and east sides of the quarry. These linear features are likely to provide foraging habitats and commuting routes for bats.

The woodlands along the northern and eastern edge of the site will remain unaffected by the development and therefore bat activity along the edges of the woodland is unlikely to be directly affected by the development. Artificial lighting within the site may have the potential to affect foraging behaviour (see 4.4.2.1). However, the development will potentially extend to the foot of the scree along the base of the quarry face. If bats are roosting within the voids of the quarry face, the buildings could, depend on their design and height, obstruct access to roosts and flight lines/foraging activity. Depending on the location and design the new buildings could potentially offer additional roosting opportunities.

4.3.3.3 Badgers Badgers are protected under the Badgers Act 1992. This makes it an offence to wilfully kill, injure, take, possess or cruelly ill-treat a badger, or to attempt to do so; or to intentionally or recklessly interfere with a sett. Sett interference includes disturbing badgers whilst they are occupying a sett, as well as damaging or destroying a sett or obstructing access to it. A badger sett is defined in the legislation as “a structure or place, which displays signs indicating current use by a badger”.

The data trawl identified four records for active badger setts within the study site, three of these records date back to either to1989 or 1994.There was no evidence of any badger setts in these locations during the survey. During the survey visit an active main sett was located at the top of

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the woodland overlooking the A6 road, this is in a similar position to the sett previously recorded in 2008. The well-worn trails leading to and from the sett entrances suggest that the badgers are foraging in the woodland and it is likely that there are further setts within the wooded bank.

Although the quarry floor is easily accessible for badgers, no evidence of activity (e.g. snuffle holes, diggings, footprints or obvious trails) were found to suggest that badgers are using the quarry void for foraging purposes. Some limited signs of foraging were located on the improved grassland on top of the spoil mound nearest to the badger sett.

Given the location of the sett, the availability of foraging habitat in adjacent woodland habitats, and lack of field signs in the quarry void, it is considered that development of the quarry floor is unlikely to have an adverse direct impact on the badger sett.

Depending on the extent of the spoil mound removal and the development of the new access road from the A6 there could be potential for disturbance to the badger sett and badgers. As stated above it is likely that further badger setts could be present within the woodlands, however, the terrain is too steep to easily allow detailed survey.

4.3.3.4 Otter Otters and their habitats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000), and by the Habitats Regulations 1994 (as amended 2009). In summary, these make it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct any place used by otters for breeding and shelter, disturb an otter, or kill, injure or take any otter.

In addition, otter is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species and is listed as a Species of Principal Importance under the provisions of the NERC Act 2006. PPS9 gives guidance on the treatment of Species of Principal Importance and states that local authorities should ensure that they are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations.

The data trawl did not identify any otter records within 1km of the study site, although the River Wye could provide suitable corridor for otters to travel along. The area of the river bordering the site is canalised with stone walls in many places and there is little opportunity for otters to create holts. It is considered unlikely that the works will have a direct impact on the River Wye, but if the installation of the new access road should require any disturbance to the river, further assessment of any likely impacts on otters would be required.

4.3.3.5 Water vole Water voles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CROW Act 2000). This makes it an offence to kill, injure or take any water vole, damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place of shelter or protection that the animals are using, or disturb voles while they are using such a place.

In addition, water vole is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan species and is also listed as a Species of Principal Importance under the provisions of the NERC Act 2006. PPS9 gives guidance on the treatment of Species of Principal Importance and states that local authorities should ensure that they are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations.

The data trawl identified two water vole records within 1km of the study site. Although there were no records provided for the river during the data trawl, from previous experience it is known that water voles are present on the River Wye in the vicinity of the site.. If the installation of the new access road should require any disturbance to the river, further assessment of any likely impacts on water voles would be required.

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4.3.3.6 Reptiles All British reptiles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000). Grass snake, slow worm, common lizard and adder are protected against intentional killing or injury and against sale. In addition, all British reptiles are UKBAP priority species.

The data trawl identified the presence of grass snake and slow worm records for the Topley Pike and Deep Dale SSSI site located approximately 1.75km to the east of the study site. During the survey, no evidence of reptiles was recorded, but habitats were assessed for their potential to support reptiles. The woodland, undisturbed grasslands, spoil mounds, scrub and south facing quarry rock-face habitats have potential to support adder, grass snake, common lizard and slow- worm. Therefore, given the suitability of habitats within the study site to support reptiles their presence cannot be discounted. If suitable habitats are likely to be disturbed by the proposed development, then there is potential to harm or kill reptiles and thereby, commit an offence.

4.3.4 Rare Species Melancholy thistle is a rare plant in Derbyshire and is confined to only eight 10km squares in the Limestone Dales area of the county. Most of the populations within the study site are located above the south and west sides of the quarry void, in relatively undisturbed grassland and plantation woodland habitats and therefore unlikely to be affected.

If, as a consequence of the development, the populations of melancholy thistle are likely to be disturbed, then there is potential for an adverse and potentially significant impact on the ecological interest of the study site.

4.3.5 UKBAP / LBAP Species Brown hare was recorded at the northwest corner of the study site. A single individual was observed grazing in semi-improved pasture grassland (TN16), before running towards the west onto the farmland pastures adjacent to the study site. It is likely that brown hare uses unmanaged grassland areas on the south and west sides above the quarry void as cover during late summer when neighbouring grasslands are short. The habitats likely to be lost or disturbed by the proposed development including short grassland are not considered to offer a favoured habitat of brown hare. Therefore, it is considered that brown hare is unlikely to be affected by the proposed development.

A flock of linnets were observed foraging in rough grassland and woodland edge habitats during the survey visit. However, it is anticipated that the habitats favoured by linnet, such as those stated above, are unlikely to be disturbed as a consequence of the proposed development. Therefore, an adverse impact on linnet is considered to be unlikely.

5 Recommendations

5.1 Further Survey

5.1.1 Habitats It is recommended that a Phase 2 botanical survey is carried out of the areas of unimproved calcareous grassland on the spoil heap slopes, quarry face and cliff top vegetation, and in Cow Dale. This survey would record in detail the species found within these areas, and where possible determine the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) community. This data would then be used to firmly establish the ecological value of these habitats as well as providing advice on mitigation/compensation.

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5.1.2 Protected Species At this stage, the likely impact on nesting birds, roosting bats and reptiles as a consequence of the proposed development cannot be fully determined. Therefore, further survey work is recommended.

5.1.3 Birds It is recommended that a breeding bird survey is carried out to determine the breeding bird interest associated with the study site, this should entail three survey visits between April and June. During each visit a predetermined transect route will be walked over in order to view all areas of the site. All bird species will be recorded along with details of their activities using standard annotation.

5.1.4 Badgers Depending on the proximity of the proposed access road from the A6, and the extent of clearance of the spoil mounds in relation to the badger sett located, further survey work may be required to inform the need for a Natural England disturbance licence.

5.1.5 Bats In order to understand how bats are using the study site, it is recommended that three evening transect walks are carried out when bats are likely to be active (May- August), in order to comply with the current best practice guidance8. The size of the site means that multiple surveyors may be required for the evening transect walk, in order to ensure that all favourable habitats are visited during peak periods of activity for foraging and commuting bats.

5.1.6 Reptiles The study site has the potential to support adder, common lizard and slow-worm. If habitats with potential to support reptiles are likely to be disturbed or damaged, then targeted survey work is recommended. In order to detect reptiles suitable habitat can be searched along a transect route, supplemented by the inspection of pre-placed reptile refugia. The site should be visited five times during spring (April-June) or autumn (September), when weather conditions are suitable.

5.2 Mitigation Measures

5.2.1 Habitats The proposed development will result in the loss of the calcareous grassland habitat that has started to develop on the flanks of the spoil heaps. Although calcareous grassland is present elsewhere within the study site, most of the resource is unmanaged and characterised by the presence of tall coarse grasses and herbs. By contrast, the vegetation of the spoil mound flanks is sparse and at an early stage of development and has the potential to support a species-rich botanical community. In addition, sparsely vegetated, south facing slopes can also provide habitats for invertebrates. As a consequence, it is considered that the loss of this habitat will have an adverse impact on the ecological interest of the study site.

In order to mitigate the loss of this habitat, there are two options that could be considered: The use of “green/brown” roofs could be incorporated into the design of buildings within the proposed development. A calcareous surface layer derived from the substrate on the flanks of the spoil mounds could be used to form the roof substrate and managed to allow the development of a sparse calcareous grassland sward.

8 Bat Conservation Trust 2007. Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines

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Consideration could also be given to the translocation of material to an area on the southern side of the quarry face. There are two fields that support agriculturally improved grassland of low ecological interest. If the top soils were stripped from a proportion of the improved grassland, the substrate on the flanks of the spoil heaps could be spread over the exposed sub-soils. It is anticipated that with appropriate management, calcareous grassland habitat will develop, which could be managed by grazing.

The proposed development also provides an opportunity to manage selected habitats adjacent to the quarry void in order to promote local biodiversity. The calcareous and neutral grasslands on the south and west side of the quarry void and the west flank of Cowdale (at the east end of the study site) are currently in ‘poor’ condition and would benefit from intervention, in order to arrest the development of scrub and the abundance of bulky grasses and herbs.

It is recommended that the woodlands that occupy the north and part of the east of the study site should be left unmanaged and undisturbed, unless there are significant safety considerations that would be of sufficient importance to override the nature conservation interest.

5.2.2 Protected Species At this stage, there are no specific recommendations for protected species mitigation because further survey work needs to be carried out. The need for mitigation and/or compensation for nesting birds, roosting bats and reptiles will be assessed from the results of targeted survey work.

The need for a badger licence will be assessed according to the likelihood of disturbing or damaging the sett, as a consequence of the proposed development.

5.2.3 Rare Species Melancholy thistle is partially shade tolerant and has been recorded in open woodland, but too much shade from dense plantation woodland and scrub could result in the loss of populations located in the northwest corner of the study site. Management of woodland and scrub in this area would help to promote the long-term conservation of the species. Other populations located on the south side, above the quarry void, would benefit from an occasional autumn cut and routine scrub control.

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6 Appendix 1: Data Trawl Results

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7 Appendix 2: Target Notes TN1 Improved Grassland The fields occupying the eastern half of the site support improved grassland dominated by perennial rye-grass. Other species include white clover Trifolium repens, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, broadleaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, common nettle Urtica dioica, Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus, creeping thistle Cirsium arvense and spear thistle Cirsium vulgare.

TN2 Broadleaved Woodland A small area of broad-leaved woodland with horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, wych elm Ulmus glabra, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, rowan Sorbus aucuparia with an understorey of snowberry Symphoricarpos albus and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna.

TN3 Neutral Grassland / Tall Ruderal Vegetation / Scattered Scrub / Dense Scrub A steeply sloping bank leading down to Cow Dale supports unmanaged grassland, tall ruderal vegetation and scattered hawthorn and dense bramble scrub. The grassland at the top of the bank is dominated by competitive, tussock-forming grasses such as false-oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius, cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata, with tall-herbs such as hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, creeping thistle, tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa and common knapweed Centurea nigra.

TN4 Plantation Broadleaved Woodland The small belt of mixed woodland is bounded by dry stone walls. Species include wych elm, beech Fagus sylvatica, rowan, Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, sycamore, and ash Fraxinus excelsior, with an understorey of snowberry. The ground flora includes dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, red campion Silene dioica, wood avens Geum urbanum, tufted hair-grass and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.

TN5 Calcareous grassland / Dense Scrub Towards the top of a steeply sloping bank there is a stand of dense bramble scrub. Below this the slope supports calcareous grassland with limestone outcrops supporting a range of species including wall rue Asplenium ruta muraria, hawkweed Hieracium sp., quaking grass Briza media, maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes, common rock rose Helianthemum nummularium, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, mouse-eared hawkweed Pilosella officinarum (see Figure 5).

The calcareous grassland habitat is dominated by common knapweed with Yorkshire fog, quaking grass, salad burnet Sanguisorba minor, rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, harebell Campanula rotundifolia, greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa, small scabious Scabiosa columbaria, and common valerian Valeriana officinalis.

TN6 Broadleaved Woodland Scattered ash dominated woodland bordering the road through Cow Dale. Ground flora includes dog’s mercury and tall-herbs such as hogweed.

TN7 Broadleaved Woodland The stand of broadleaved woodland that steeply slopes to the east is dominated by sycamore, beech, wych elm with dog’s mercury, lady fern Athyrium filix-femina within the ground layer.

TN8 Tall-Ruderal vegetation The habitat consists of a small triangle of land that is dominated by dominated by butterbur Petasites hybridus.

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TN9 Broadleaved Woodland The eastern and northern boundary of the site is characterised by steeply sloping banks leading down to the A6 below. The canopy supports a mixture of sycamore, wych elm, beech, ash and rowan with an understorey of hawthorn. Ground flora includes dog’s mercury, wood avens, herb Robert Geranium robertianum, strawberry Fragaria vesca and red campion.

TN10 Improved Grassland / Calcareous Grassland / Scattered Broadleaved Woodland The spoil mound supports improved grassland with scattered broadleaved trees on the plateau. An open calcareous grassland habitat with a few immature trees and shrubs are present on the steep-sided flanks of the spoil mound.

TN11 Broadleaved Woodland The north boundary of the quarry is characterised by steep cliffs and rocky outcrops that support semi-natural broadleaved woodland. The canopy supports sycamore and ash, with an understorey of wych elm, hazel Corylus avellana and hawthorn. The field layer supports species such as tufted hair-grass, dog’s mercury, common valerian Valeriana officinalis, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, bramble, wood avens and water avens Geum rivale.

TN12 Plantation Broadleaved Woodland This is a small area of immature woodland located on the top of the slopes above the A6 road. The habitat has a ‘grassy’ field layer and the canopy is defined by tree species such as ash, sycamore and rowan. On the edge of the woodland stand there is an active badger sett.

TN13 Calcareous Grassland / Scattered Broadleaved Woodland The habitat is located above the quarry void and occupies a thin strip along the south boundary of the quarry (see Figures 10 and 11). At its widest point the strip of grassland is approximately 10m, narrowing down to 1.5m in places. The grassland is grazed in places and supports typical calcicole species such as red fescue Festuca rubra, sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, rough hawkbit, fairy flax Linum catharticum, yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens, carline thistle Carlina vulgaris, eyebright Euphrasia officinalis agg., downy oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens, quaking grass and glaucous sedge Carex flacca, but where soils are deeper the grassland supports more mesotrophic species such as white clover, cock’s-foot, meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and hogweed. Shrubs and trees are occasional to locally frequent and consist of immature sycamore, ash, whitebeam Sorbus aria agg., rowan, hawthorn, common osier Salix viminalis and grey willow Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia.

TN14 Neutral Grassland The habitat occupies a small triangle of land on the south boundary of the site, above the quarry void. The grassland has a dense cover, near continuous thatch layer and is greater than 0.5m high. The stand consists of mesotrophic herbs and grasses such as black knapweed, greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum, creeping buttercup, cock’s-foot, false oat-grass and meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, but the presence of common nettle, hogweed and broadleaved dock suggests past disturbance and nutrient input.

TN15 Plantation Broadleaved Woodland The plantation is relatively small, immature and is of a fairly uniform structure (see Figure 12). Apart from a few naturally regenerating ash and silver birch, the remaining trees are all planted and consist of species such as whitebeam, horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum and wild cherry Prunus avium. Shrub and understory layers are absent, because of the near-continuous canopy, which casts a heavy shade. The field layer is dominated by grasses including tufted hair- grass and cock’s-foot, but melancholy thistle and hogweed are also frequent. Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. is locally frequent.

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TN16 Semi-improved Neutral Grassland At the northeast corner of the site there is a small grazed-grassland that supports a variety of grasses including frequent perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne, red fescue, common bent-grass Agrostis capillaris and cock’s-foot. Herbs are sparse and include occasional creeping buttercup, common sorrel Rumex acetosa and creeping thistle. Common vetch Vicia sativa, common ragwort Senecio jacobaea, greater burnet and Lady’s-smock Cardamine pratensis are rare.

TN17 Improved Grassland The grasslands surrounding the quarry on the south and west sides are agriculturally improved, and species-poor with a very short sward. Grass species include abundant perennial rye-grass, with frequent cock’s-foot, common bent-grass and red fescue (see Figure 16).

TN18 Plantation Broadleaved Woodland Mature broadleaved plantation woodland is located on the north edge of the quarry (see Figure 15). The woodland occupies a thin strip on steeply sloping ground that terminates in near vertical cliffs and rocky outcrops. Presumably, the woodland was planted as a screen when the quarry was active. A dense canopy of beech, sycamore, common lime Tilia x vulgaris and Scots pine has suppressed the shrub and understorey layers, and the field layer is fairly sparse with patches of tufted hair-grass, dog’s mercury and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas.

Figure 15: Plantation broadleaved woodland Figure 16: Improved grassland (TN17) (TN15)

TN19 Neutral Grassland A strip of grassland is located between plantation broadleaved woodland stands (TN11 and TN15) on sloping ground (see Figure 18). The habitat is characterised by the abundance of tufted hair-grass, but there is also a range of herbs such as melancholy thistle, a lady’s-mantle Alchemilla xanthachlora, greater burnet, meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis, wild angelica, common valerian, lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, water avens, raspberry Rubus idaeus, field scabious Knautia arvensis, quaking grass, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata and black knapweed.

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Figure17: Plantation broadleaved woodland Figure 18: Neutral grassland (TN19) (TN18)

TN20 Improved Grassland / Calcareous Grassland / Scattered Broadleaved Woodland (Spoil Heap) The spoil heap is approximately 10m in height, with slopes greater than 450. The plateau of the spoil heap appears to have been sown with perennial rye grass and white clover Trifolium repens, but the cover is patchy (see Figure 19). Bare spoil and sparse clumps of vegetation are frequent on the plateau and many areas of the slopes are devoid of vegetation. The sparse clumps of vegetation include species such as fairy flax, sheep’s fescue and ox-eye daisy. There are a few scattered trees on the south side of the slopes, which consist of sycamore, silver birch and grey willow.

TN21 Improved Grassland The floor of the quarry supports agriculturally improved, species-poor grassland (see Figure 18). The grassland is heavily grazed by sheep and is less than 5cm high. Species include abundant perennial rye-grass, frequent creeping thistle and spear thistle; welted thistle Carduus crispus is rare.

TN22 Inland Rock - Quarry The steep slopes and ledges of the rock faces support calcareous grassland and tall-herb habitats, with frequent shrubs and trees such as sycamore, ash and grey willow at the foot of the cliffs (see Figures 17 and 18). Species include red fescue, sheep’s fescue, crested dog’s-tail, cock’s-foot, rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium, male fern, herb Robert, a hawkweed Hieracium diaphanum, black knapweed and quaking grass.

TN23 Improved Grassland / Calcareous Grassland / Scattered Broadleaved Woodland (Spoil Heap) The spoil heap has very steep, eroding flanks and a flat top that is heavily grazed by sheep and cattle (see Figure 20). The spoil heap has a track on the west side that forms a shallow valley to the plateau. The field layer vegetation and the scattered, self-set trees have a similar species assemblage to the other spoil tips (TN10 and TN20). However, at the base of the west side of the spoil tip, the ground is uneven and the small rocky outcrops support a more species-rich calcareous grassland vegetation that is very similar to other calcareous grassland habitat within the study site.

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8 Appendix 3: Phase One Habitats Survey Map

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Page 3 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Nationally Scarce (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Dale Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass SK098717 1985 & Back Dale) Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass Deepdale SK0971 1989 Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Dale Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass SK0971 1991 & Back Dale) Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass Pig Tor SK0872 1992 Draba muralis Wall WhitlowgrassKing Sterndale/Deepdale SK0971 1996 Draba muralis Wall Whitlowgrass Topley Pike and Deep Dale SSSISK0971 0 Dark-red Topley Pike and Deep Dale Epipactis atrorubens SK0971 0 Helleborine SSSI Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Near Buxton SK097724 1973 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Ashwood Dale SK0972 1980 robertianum Gymnocarpium Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Dale Limestone Fern SK0971 1983 robertianum & Back Dale) Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Wye Dale. On rly bridge SK0972 1988 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Deep Dale SK0971 1989 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Ashwood Dale SK094724 1990 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Deep Dale, W SK0971 1991 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Deep Dale, Chelmorton SK0971 1993 robertianum Gymnocarpium Limestone Fern Deep Dale SK0971 1995 robertianum Gymnocarpium King Sterndale/Woo Dale Limestone Fern SK0972 1996 robertianum (monad) Gymnocarpium King Sterndale/Deepdale Limestone Fern SK0971 1996 robertianum (monad) Gymnocarpium Topley Pike and Deep Dale Limestone Fern SK0971 0 robertianum SSSI Hornungia petraea Hutchinsia Pigtor Rocks, above tunnel SK087722 1992 Hornungia petraea Hutchinsia Cow Dale (monad) SK0872 1996 Hornungia petraea HutchinsiaKing Sterndale/Deepdale SK0971 1996 Hornungia petraea HutchinsiaTopley Pike and Deep Dale SK0971 0 Polygonatum Angular Solomon's- Deepdale, Chelmorton SK0971 1981 odoratum seal Polygonatum Angular Solomon's- Deep Dale SK097717 1995 odoratum seal Polygonatum Angular Solomon's-Topley Pike and Deep Dale SK0971 0 odoratum seal SSSI Potentilla Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Dale Spring Cinquefoil SK097715 1985 neumanniana & Back Dale)

Nationally scarce DRDB plants Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 4 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Nationally Scarce (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil CUNNING DALE area SK0773 1989 neumanniana Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil CUNNING DALE area SK0873 1989 neumanniana Potentilla Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Dale Spring Cinquefoil SK0971 1989 neumanniana & Back Dale) Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Deep Dale SK097715 1989 neumanniana Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Deepdale SK0971 1991 neumanniana Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Pig Tor, Ashwood Dale SK087722 1992 neumanniana Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Pic Tor SK088723 1993 neumanniana Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Deep Dale SK096714 1994 neumanniana Potentilla King Sterndale/Woo Dale Spring Cinquefoil SK0972 1996 neumanniana (monad) Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil unspecified SK0774 1996 neumanniana Potentilla King Sterndale/Deepdale Spring Cinquefoil SK0971 1996 neumanniana (monad) Potentilla Spring Cinquefoil Unspecified SK0773 1997 neumanniana Potentilla Topley Pike and Deep Dale Spring Cinquefoil SK0971 0 neumanniana SSSI Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant Ashwood Dale SK0772 1979 Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant Cowdale SK0872 1986 Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant Aswood Dale SK0772 1992 Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant Lovers Leap SK071726 1992 Ribes alpinum Mountain Currant Ashwood Dale SK0772 1992 Sorbus rupicola a whitebeam Ashwood Dale SK0772 1979 Sorbus rupicola a whitebeam Cunning Dale SSSI SK0872 1986 Sorbus rupicola a whitebeamTopley Pike and Deep Dale SK0971 0

Nationally scarce DRDB plants Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 5 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

NationallyThreatened (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Allium oleraceum Field Garlic Topley Pike and Deep Dale SSK0971 0 Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens Deep Dale SK0971 1971 Bitter-cress Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens Deep Dale, Chelmorton SK0971 1989 Bitter-cress Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens Deepdale SK0971 1991 Bitter-cress Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens Deep Dale, Chelmorton SK0971 1993 Bitter-cress Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens Cow Dale (monad) SK0872 1996 Bitter-cress Narrow-leaved Cunning dale, jnc of dale Cardamine impatiens SK084726 1996 Bitter-cress and road. Narrow-leaved Cardamine impatiens SK0971 0 Bitter-cress Topley Pike and Deep Dale Coeloglossum viride Frog Orchid SK0971 0 SSSI King Sterndale/Woo Dale Daphne mezereum Mezereon SK0972 1996 (monad) Daphne mezereum Mezereon W.of track SK09837238 1996 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Rocks N side above railway. SK0772 1970 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunningdale SK0972 1975 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort CUNNING DALE area SK080730 1975 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunningdale SK0872 1980 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunningdale SK0773 1980 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunning Dale SSSI SK0773 1985 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunning Dale SSSI SK0872 1985 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunning Dale SSSI SK0872 1986 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort CUNNING DALE area SK0773 1986 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunningdale SK0972 1990 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunningdale SK083727 1992 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cunning Dale (monad) SK0773 1996 Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort Cow Dale (monad) SK0872 1996 King Sterndale/Deepdale Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort SK0971 1996 (monad)

Nationally threatened DRDB plan Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 6 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

NationallyThreatened (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Topley Pike and Deep Dale Hypericum montanum Pale St. John's-wort SK0971 0 SSSI Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Minuartia verna Spring Sandwort SK0971 1990 Dale & Back Dale) Topley Pike and Deep Dale Minuartia verna Spring Sandwort SK0971 0 SSSI Polemonium Jacob's-ladder Lovers Leap SK0772 1999 caeruleum Polemonium Topley Pike and Deep Dale Jacob's-ladder SK0971 0 caeruleum SSSI Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage Deep Dale SK0971 1991 King Sterndale/Deepdale Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage SK0971 1996 (monad) Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage Deepdale SK0971 2002 Saxifraga hypnoides Mossy Saxifrage Deep Dale SK0971 0 Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly SK0971 1987 Dale & Back Dale) Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly Deep Dale SK096713 1994 Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly Deep Dale SK0971 1995 Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly SK0773 1996 King Sterndale/Deepdale Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly SK0971 1996 (monad) Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly Deepdale SK0971 2002 Topley Pike and Deep Dale Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly SK0971 0 SSSI Deep Dale(incl Horseshoe Viola canina Heath Dog-violet SK0971 1989 Dale & Back Dale) Viola canina Heath Dog-violet Woo Dale,nr Buxton SK0973 1989

Nationally threatened DRDB plan Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 7 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Locally Scarce or Declining (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Deep Dale SK0971 1971 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Deep Dale SK094717 1972 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort S.side of A6 SK098724 1980 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Ashwood Dale SK0972 1980 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Woo Dale SK0972 1988 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Deep Dale. In abundance SK0971 1989 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Ashwood Dale SK097724 1990 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Ashwood Dale SK098724 1990 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort Woo Dale SK096726 1990 Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort unspecified SK0972 1996 Topley Pike and Deep Dale Asplenium viride Green Spleenwort SK0971 0 SSSI Campanula Clustered Bellflower Duke's Drive SK0772 1975 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunning Dale SK0872 1975 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunning Dale SK080730 1975 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunningdale SK0872 1980 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunningdale SK0773 1980 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunning Dale SK0872 1982 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cunningdale SK0773 1985 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower unspecified SK0971 1990 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Tim Lodge, nr. SK0872 1990 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Green Fairfield SK0874 1991 glomerata Campanula Clustered Bellflower Deep Dale area SK0971 1995 glomerata Campanula Staden Grange/Ashwood Clustered Bellflower SK0772 1996 glomerata Dale (monad) Campanula Clustered Bellflower Cow Dale (monad) SK0872 1996 glomerata Campanula King Sterndale/Deepdale Clustered Bellflower SK0971 1996 glomerata (monad) Epilobium roseum Pale Willowherb South Buxton SK0672 1996 Fumaria muralis ssp. Few-flowered south edge of track. (Locality SK066733 1996 boraei Fumitory unspecified) Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore Pictor Hall SK091725 1974 Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore Cunningdale SK084726 1979

Locally scarce or declining pla Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 8 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Locally Scarce or Declining (Derbyshire Red Data Book) plant species Latin Common Location OS Grid Ref Date Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore Cunningdale SK0773 1980 Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore Cunningdale SK0773 1980 Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore Cunningdale SK083727 1992 Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Deep Dale SK0971 1971 Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Ashwood Dale SK0972 1980 Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Woo Dale SK095728 1991 Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Woo Dale,nr Buxton SK0972 1991 Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort Woo Dale area SK0972 1995 King Sterndale/Woo Dale Pinguicula vulgaris Common Butterwort SK0972 1996 (monad) Topley Pike and Deep Dale Rubus saxatilis Stone Bramble SK0971 0 SSSI Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort CUNNING DALE area SK080730 1975 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Ashwood Dale SK0772 1979 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunningdale SK0773 1980 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunning Dale SSSI SK082727 1986 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunning Dale SK0773 1986 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunning Dale SK087724 1990 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Buxton, E of. SK0873 1990 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Woo Dale,nr Buxton SK0972 1990 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Ashwood Dale SK072728 1991 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunning Dale SSSI SK083727 1991 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Ashwood Dale SK083727 1992 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Ashwood Dale SK084726 1992 Staden Grange/Ashwood Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort SK0772 1996 Dale (monad) Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cunning Dale (monad) SK0773 1996 Serratula tinctoria Saw-wort Cow Dale (monad) SK0872 1996 Common Meadow- Thalictrum flavum nr Topley Pike SK0972 1979 rue Trollius europaeus Globe-flower CUNNING DALE area SK0773 1982 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Cunning Dale SSSI SK082727 1990 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Dale Road, Buxton SK0672 1990 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Cunningdale SK07847306 1994 Staden Grange/Ashwood Trollius europaeus Globe-flower SK0772 1996 Dale (monad) Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Cunning Dale (monad) SK0773 1996 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Dale Side SK063730 2001 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Buxton SK062729 2005 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Cunningdale SK079729 2005 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Buxton SK062729 2005 Trollius europaeus Globe-flower Cunningdale SK079729 2005 Topley Pike and Deep Dale Trollius europaeus Globe-flower SK0971 0 SSSI Valeriana dioica Marsh Valerian Deep Dale/Back Dale SK092713 1985

Locally scarce or declining pla Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 9 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

UK BAP habitats historic wood pasture and parkland - King Sterndale Hall ponds lowland swamp and tall herb fen

Ponds (not necessarily UK BAP habitat)

SSSI Duchy Quarry Poole's Cavern & Grin Low Wood Wye Valley Goyt Valley Waterswallows Quarry Leek Moors Topley Pike & Deep Dale Calton Hill

SPA Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1)

SAC South Pennine Moors Peak District Dales South Pennine Moors

DWT Nature Reserve Cheedale Deep Dale and Topley Pike

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 10 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

RIGS (Regionally Important Geological Sites) Name Interest Petrology: Limestones, dark grey, fine to medium grained calcarenites, mainly biosparites. Anthony Hill RIGS Palaeontology: Scattered crinoid debris and some comminuted brachiopod and coral fragments Petrology: Thickly bedded, pale grey to grey calcarenitic limestones with beds separated by stylolites or clay partings, Ashwood Dale RIGS with rare calacitites at the base, vesicular Lower Millers Dale lava. Palaeontology: Davidsonina septosa band. Buxton Bridge RIGS Lower Millers Dale Lava Petrology: Modern calcareous tufa with a variously laminated Ferny Bottom RIGS and rippled texture. Rare, comples and little understood Hydrology. Powerful Otter Hole Farm RIGS Stream Resurgence. Dye tested connections with Stanley Moor Swallets, Shay Lodge Sinks? etc shows part of an loivine-pyric dolerite sill intruded into Waterswallows Quarry (SSSI) RIGS Dinantian limestone. The sill, which is tholeiitic in composition shows internal variations in both minerology and texture etc. Ashwood Dale Quarry RIGS Normal fault. Slickensides. Mineralisation. Deep Dale RIGS Dry valley. Chee Tor Limestones. Fault. Mineralisation Petrology: Concentrically Bedded limestone of light grey micrite and calcutite, and well bedded micrite. Millers Dale Limestones with cherty limestones, and basaltic Millers Dale Blackwell (Sandy) Dale RIGS Lava. Palaentology: Productids, corals and crinoid ossicles. A varied coral fauna with Gigantoproductus sp. and Limoprotonia hemisphaerica, Dibunophyllum bourtonense. Thirkelow RIGS Petrology: Limestones, typical of the Bee Low Limestones High Edge RIGS Petrology: Calcarenitic limestones, predominantly pale grey

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 11 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Local Wildlife Sites Ref No Name Area (ha) Ecological feature Brierlow Quarry Grassland and Unimproved calcareous HP006 2.1608 Verges grassland Hindlow Grassland and Road Unimproved calcareous HP007 5.0679 Verge grassland Unimproved calcareous HP009 Brierlow Grange Meadow Site 0.0854 grassland HP010 Morland Complex 0.735 Habitat mosaic HP021 Lightwood Reservoirs 2.0716 Standing open water HP023 Combs Moss 245.9076 Heather moorland Secondary broad-leaved HP024 Light Wood 14.6805 plantation Railway Land Hogshaw (former HP026 7.8644 Habitat mosaic sidings) Ancient semi-natural ash HP027 Ashwood Dale 11.3308 woodland Ancient woodland - HP056 Wye Dale 1.0093 plantation broad-leaved Unimproved calcareous HP057 Tunstead Quarry 44.7879 grassland Unimproved calcareous HP062 Buxton Youth Hostel Grassland. 2.5784 grassland Unimproved calcareous HP067 Peak Dale Grassland 16.6967 grassland HP068 Victory Quarry 7.5957 Habitat mosaic Unimproved calcareous HP069 Peak Dale/Smalldale Quarries 9.1908 grassland Unimproved calcareous HP070 Longsidings Quarry 24.5269 grassland Harpur Hill Disused Railway #1 Unimproved calcareous HP071 0.7085 West grassland Harpur Hill Disused Railway Unimproved neutral HP073 1.1431 Line #2 East grassland HP074 Stanley Moor Complex 41.7625 Upland mire

HP076 Stanley Moor Reservoir 9.4228 Unimproved acid grassland

Unimproved calcareous HP099 Grin Low Grassland 22.5937 grassland

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 12 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Local Wildlife Sites - continued Ref No Name Area (ha) Ecological feature HP119 Countess Cliff Grassland 10.8339 Unimproved calcareous Unimproved calcareous HP120 Diamond Hill 9.2579 grassland

HP121 Longridge Lane Pond 0.0224 Standing open water

Unimproved calcareous HP158 Cunningdale North 2.3313 grassland HP170 Beet Wood and The Beet 4.182 Secondary broad-leaved HP176 Cow Dale 8.6382 Unimproved calcareous Unimproved neutral HP177 Ferney Bottom Meadows 7.756 grassland HP180 Cunningdale South 3.0988 Unimproved neutral HP183 Ferneydale Grassland 5.0627 Unimproved calcareous Unimproved neutral HP187 Otterhole Farm Meadows 0.3198 grassland HP188 Dale Road Grassland 0.7663 Unimproved neutral HP189 The Embankment 2.1769 Unimproved calcareous HP190 The Canal and Surrounds 2.8997 Unimproved acid grassland HP191 Turncliff Common 32.6326 Habitat mosaic HP192 Leap Edge Flush 2.9155 Lowland mire HP193 Turncliff Dale B 3.5195 Unimproved calcareous HP194 Cutting Area H 3.6105 DRDB species - fungi

Potential Local Wildlife Sites (Potential Local Wildlife Sites are sites that have been identified as having nature conservation interest, but where that interest has not been fully assessed against the Wildlife Site Selection Guidelines.) Ref No Name Area (ha) Ecological feature HP CWS Grin Low South 13.3549 Unimproved neutral HP CWS Countess Cliff (East) 7.8755 Unimproved neutral HP CWSFerneydale south 4.5653 Unimproved neutral

HP CWS Turncliff Common 33.0567 Rush-pasture

HP CWS New High Edge Rocks 10.7012 Unimproved grassland HP CWSBatham Gate Road Sandpit 9.7933 Birds HPCWSHoffman Quarry 23.152 Unimproved calcareous HP R6506 land adj Waterswallows Quarry 6.5981 HP182Anncroft Meadows and Stream 1.6502 Rush-pasture

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 13 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Semi natural grassland sites (regarded as Potential LWSs) Ref No Name Area (ha) Ecological feature HP CWS Grin Low South 16.287 Lowland HP119COUNTESS CLIFF 10.8339 Lowland calcareous HP CWS Countess Cliff (East) 5.6584 Unimproved neutral

HP177 Ferney Bottom Meadows 7.709 Lowland meadow

Unimproved neutral HP CWS The Embankment 1.749 grassland Lowland calcareous HP183 Ferneydale Grassland 1.3531 grassland HP CWS Extension to Ferneydale 6.4506 Lowland calcareous HP062BUXTON YOUTH HOSTEL 1.6525 Lowland calcareous

HP CWS Dale Road Grassland 0.7663 Lowland meadow

Unimproved neutral HP182 Anncroft Meadows and Stream 1.6567 grassland Lowland calcareous HP176 Cow Dale 3.7871 grassland HP007HINDLOW GRASSLAND AND 5.0679 Lowland calcareous HP006BRIERLOW QUARRY 2.1608 Lowland calcareous

HP CWS Otterhole Farm Fields 0.2489 Lowland meadow

Unimproved neutral HP158 CUNNINGDALE NORTH 2.3313 grassland HP067PEAK DALE GRASSLAND 16.6967 Semi-improved neutral Lowland calcareous HP Grassland Grin Low Grassland 9.6799 grassland

HP074 Stanley Moor 20.9672

Lowland calcareous HP120 DIAMOND HILL 9.0431 grassland HARPUR HILL DISUSED Lowland calcareous HP071 0.7085 RAILWAY #1 WEST grassland HARPUR HILL DISUSED Unimproved calcareous HP073 1.1431 RAILWAY #2 EAST grassland Lowland calcareous HP Grassland Hoffman Quarry 1.3639 grassland Lowland calcareous HP Grassland Cunningdale SSSI 9.7445 grassland Lowland calcareous Turncliff Dale 4.6069 grassland Cunningdale South 2.6045 Lowland calcareous

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 Page 14 of 14 Results of ecological data search for SK079723 Cowdale

Other recorded sites of interest Name Ref No Area (ha) Fern Wood HP059/3 1.7 Brookfield Reservoir HP030/3 0.09ha Brown Edge Plantation HP022/3 3.97ha Corbar Woods HP019/3 8.09 Burlington Road Garden Pond HP097/3 0.30ha London Road Factory Site HP083/3 1.70ha Buxton Youth Hostel Grounds HP063/3 1.67ha Grin Quarry Tip HP136/3 1064ha Pells Dam HP028/3 0.06 Cowdale Quarry HP135 19.28 Track nr Hindlow Quarry HP008/3 1.87 A515 Shelter Belt HP011/3 5.59 Sherbrook Plantation HP058/3 3.29 Hillhead Plantation HP061/3 2.92 Burbage Edge Plantation HP077/3 32.37 Grin Low Pond HP098/3 0.08 Waterswallows Lane Pond HP131/3 0.029 Upper End, Buxton HP132/4

Ancient Woodland Site from the Ancient Woodland Inventory Ancient Replanted Woodland Ancient & Semi-Natural Woodland

5km search area - sites Produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie 14 October 2009 COWDALE QUARRY

Phase 1 Habitat Survey Map

Key

Broadleaved woodland

Plantation broadleaved woodland

Improved grassland I

Tall ruderal vegetation

Calcareous grassland ��

�� Neutral grassland �� � �� �� Semi-improved grassland �� �� SI

� �� Quarry face �� �� Q � �� Scattered broadleaved woodland � �� � �� � �� Scattered scrub � X �� X � Wall � �� � � � � � � � �� �� � � �� �� Survey site boundary � � � � � � � � Fence � � � � Building �� �� � � � � � �� � Badger sett � � � � � Target note �� � 1 � � Running water � Hard standing

Office: Bakewell Tel: 01629 815544 Limited Liability Partnership

Date OCT'09 Checked MW Scale NTS N Drawn SM Approved PH Job Ref 4500 W E Status FINAL S Dwg No. APPENDIX 2 Crown copyright reserved OS Licence No:

Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Tel: 01629 815544 Fax: 01629 815577 Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: [email protected] Express Parks Ltd Cowdale Development

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9 Appendix 4: Species Lists

9.1 Botanical Species List Vernacular Latin DAFOR A Cladonia lichen Cladonia sp. R A Hawkweed Hieracium diaphanum LF A Hawkweed Hieracium sp. R A lady's-mantle Alchemilla xanthachlora R An Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis agg. R Ash Fraxinus excelsior A Beaked hawk's-beard Crepis vesicaria R Betony Stachys officinalis R BIrd's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus O Black knapweed Centaurea nigra O Black medick Medicago lupulina R Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. O Bristly ox-tongue Picris echioides R Broad buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata R Broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius R Butter-bur Petasites hybridus LA Carline thistle Carlina vulgaris R Cleavers Galium aparine R Climbing ivy Hedera helix F Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata F Colt's-foot Tussilago farfara R Common beech Fagus sylvatica LA Common bent-grass Agrostis capillaris F Common lady's-mantle Alchemilla filicaulis ssp. vestita R Common lime Tilia x vulgaris LA Common mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum R Common nettle Urtica dioica LF Common ragwort Senecio jacobaea O Common rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium R Common sorrel Rumex acetosa R Common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii (unconfirmed) R Common valerian Valeriana officinalis R Common vetch Vicia sativa R Cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris R Creeping bent-grass Agrostis stolonifera LA Creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens O Creeping thistle Cirsium arvense O-LF Crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus F Dandelion Taraxacum officinalis agg. R Dog rose Rosa canina agg. R Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis F Downy oat-grass Helictotrichon pubescens R Elder Sambucus nigra R Fairy flax Linum catharticum LF False oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius O

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Botanical Species List (continued) Vernacular Latin DAFOR Field scabious Knautia arvensis R Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata R Germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys R Glaucous sedge Carex flacca LF Goat willow Salix caprea R Greater burnet Sanguisorba officinalis LF Greater burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella major R Greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa R Greater plantain Plantago major LF Grey willow Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia LF Hairy brome Bromopsis ramosa R Harebell Campanula rotundifolia O Hart's-tongue fern Phyllitis scolopendrium R Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna O Hazel Corylus avellana LF Hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica R Hemlock Conium maculatum LF Herb Robert Geranium robertianum O Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium F Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum LA Knotweed Polygonum aviculare R Lady fern Athyrium filix-femina R Lady's-bedstraw Galium verum R Lady's-smock Cardamine pratensis R Lawn moss Rhytiadelphus squarrosus O Lesser trefoil Trifolium dubium O Maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes R Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas O-LF Meadow buttercup Ranunculua acris O Meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis R Meadow vetchling Lathyrus pratensis R Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria R Melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum LF Mouse-ear hawkweed Pilosella officinarum LA Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare LF Perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne A Perennial sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis R Pineapple-weed Matricaria discoidea R Prickly sow-thistle Sonchus asper R Quaking grass Briza media O Raspberry Rubus idaeus R Red clover Trifolium pratense O Red fescue Festuca rubra F Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata O Rosebay willowherb Chamerion angustifolium O Rough hawkbit Leontodon hispidus LF Rowan Sorbus aucuparia R Salad burnet Sanguisorba minor LF Sand spurrey Spergularia rubra R

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Botanical Species List (continued) Vernacular Latin DAFOR Scots pine Pinus sylvestris R Self-heal Prunella vulgaris O Sheep's fescue Festuca ovina LF Silver birch Betula pendula O Small scabious Scabiosa columbaria R Spear thistle Cirsium vulgare O-LF Spreading meadow-grass Poa humilis R Squirrel-tailed fescue Vulpia bromoides R Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus F - LA Thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia R Tormentil Potentilla erecta R Tufted hair-grass Deschampsia cespitosa O-LA Tufted vetch Vicia cracca R Wall rue Asplenium ruta-muraria R Water avens Geum rivale R Welted thistle Carduus crispus R White clover Trifolium repens O-LF Whitebeam Sorbus aria agg. R-LA Wild angelica Angelica sylvestris R Wild cherry Prunus avium LD Wood avens Geum urbanum R Wych elm Ulmus glabra R Yarrow Achillea millefolium R Yellow oat-grass Trisetum flavescens R Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus O

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9.2 Fauna Species List Vernacular Latin Birds Raven Corvus corax Linnet Carduelis cannabina Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Robin Erithacus rubecula Dunnock Prunella modularis Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus Carrion crow Corvus corone Great tit Parus major Blue tit Parus caeruleus Great-spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus major Jackdaw Corvus monedula Magpie Pica pica Wood pigeon Columba palumbus

Mammals Badger Meles meles Brown hare Lepus europaeus Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculatus

Butterflies Red admiral Vanessa atalanta Small tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

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Appendix 2: Species Lists

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Broadleaved woodland Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus D Ash Fraxinus excelsior F Goat willow Salix caprea O Rowan Sorbus acuparia C Beech Fagus sylvatica C Wych elm Ulmus glabra R Male Fern Dryopteris filix-mas F Tufted Hair grass Deschampsia caespitosa C Wood avens Geum urbanum LA Butterbur Petasites hybridus C, locally Broad leaved willowherb Epilobium montanum R Common valerian Valeriana officinalis O common nettle Urtica dioica O Dog's mercury Mercurialis perennis A Hairy Brome Bromopsis ramosa C Glaucous sedge Carex flacca O Hard shield fern Polystichum aculeatum O Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum C Lady fern Athyrium filix-femina C Rasberry Rubus idaeus LC Harts tongue fern Phyllitis scolopendrium O Red campion Silene dioica LC Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria O Rough meadow grass Poa trivialis O Wild angelica Angelic sylvestris R Great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum R Enchanters nightshade Cicaea lutetiana R Hairy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta R Hairy St. John's-wort Hypericum hirsutum R Opposite-leaved golden saxifrage R Brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis

W8 Ancient woodland -Indicator species

Ash Fraxinus excelsior D Wych elm Ulmus glabra A bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta LC Dog's mercury Mercuralis perrenis LC Wood anemone Anemone nerorosa LC Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas C

Cowdale Outcrop (NW edge of the quarry) Gridref SK077725 Date 04-Jun-10 Taxon Vernacular DAFOR Comment Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore LF Achillea millefolium Yarrow R Agrostis capillaris Common Bent-grass R Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent-grass R Alchemilla filicaulis subsp. vestita Common Lady's mantle LA Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail F Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone R Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica O Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley F Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-Grass O Bellis perennis Daisy R Brachypodium sylvaticum False-brome LF Briza media Quaking-grass LF Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower R Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge LF Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed O Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear O Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb O Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle R *Derbys Cirsium heterophyllum Melancholy Thistle LF RDB Conopodium majus Pignut O Corylus avellana Hazel F Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn F Cruciata laevipes Crosswort O Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail O Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot LA Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass O Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern O Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern O Epilobium montanum Broadleaved Willowherb R Fagus sylvatica Beech LA Planted Festuca ovina Sheep's-fescue LA Festuca rubra Red Fescue F Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet R Fraxinus excelsior Ash LA Galium aparine Cleavers O Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw O Geum rivale Water Avens R Geum x intermedium G. rivale x urbanum R Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy R Helictotrichon pubescens Downy Oat-grass R Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed O Hieracium Section Vulgata A Hawkweed O Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell LF Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling R Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy R Persicaria bistorta Common Bistort LA Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear-hawkweed LA Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage R Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain R Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass R Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass R Prunus avium Wild cherry LA Planted Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup R Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup R Rosa canina Dog-rose R Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble LF Rubus idaeus Raspberry R Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel O Salix caprea Goat Willow R Sanguisorba minor subsp. minor Salad Burnet LF Saxifraga granulata Meadow Saxifrage R Silene dioica Red Campion O Taraxacum agg. Dandelion O Trifolium pratense Red Clover R Urtica dioica Common Nettle R Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian R Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell O Vicia sepium Bush Vetch R

69 taxa *Moyes, N.J. & Willmot, A. (2002). A Checklist of the Plants of Derbyshire. Derby Museum.

Cowdale Calcareous Grassland LWS (Part of the West Side of the Dale) Gridref SK086723 Date 04-Jun-10 Taxon Vernacular DAFOR Comment Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore LF Achillea millefolium Yarrow R Aegopodium podograria Ground Elder LD Agrostis capillaris Common Bent O Aira caryophyllea Silver Hair-grass R Alchemilla glabra Smooth Lady's-mantle R Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard LF Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail LF Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica R Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass O Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley O Arabis hirsuta Hairy Rock-cress R Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-grass LF Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies R Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort R Bellis perennis Daisy R Brachypodium sylvaticum False-brome LF Briza media Quaking-grass O Campanula rotundifolia Harebell R Carex caryophyllea Spring-sedge O Carex flacca Glaucous Sedge F Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed R Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed O Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear O Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle O Cirsium heterophyllum Melancholy Thistle LA *Derbys RDB Conopodium majus Pignut F Corylus avellana Hazel F Crataegus laevigata Cult. 'Paul's Scarlet' Paul's Scarlet R Self-sown Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn F Cruciata laevipes Crosswort R Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail F Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot LA Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass LF Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern R Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern R Erophila verna Common Whitlowgrass R Fagus sylvatica Common Beech R Festuca ovina Sheep's-fescue LA Festuca rubra Red Fescue F Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry R Fraxinus excelsior Ash LA Galium aparine Cleavers R Galium sterneri Limestone Bedstraw LF Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw O Geranium pyrenaicum Hedgerow Crane's-bill R Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert O Geum urbanum Wood Avens R Helianthemum nummularium Common Rock-rose LF Helictotrichon pratense Meadow Oat-grass O Helictotrichon pubescens Downy Oat-grass F Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed LF Hieracium Section Vulgata A Hawkweed O Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog LF Knautia arvensis Field Scabious O Koeleria macrantha Crested Hair-grass R Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling R Leontodon hispidus Rough Hawkbit R Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy O Common Bird's-foot- Lotus corniculatus trefoil O Luzula campestris Field Wood-rush O Mercurialis perennis Dog's Mercury LF Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not R Petasites hybridus Butterbur LD Phyllitis scolopendrium Hart's-tongue R Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear-hawkweed LF Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage O Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine R Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain R Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass R Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass O Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass R Potentilla erecta Tormentil R Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry R Prunus spinosa Blackthorn R Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup O Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup O Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine LF Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup R Needs to be Rosa stylosa Short-styled Field-rose R confirmed Rubus caesius Dewberry LA Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble LA Rubus idaeus Raspberry R Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel O Sanguisorba minor subsp. minor Salad Burnet O Saxifraga granulata Meadow Saxifrage R Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious LF Sedum acre Biting Stonecrop R Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort R Silene dioica Red Campion O Sorbus aria Common Whitebeam R Sorbus aucuparia Rowan R Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort R Taraxacum agg. Dandelion R Thymus polytrichus Wild Thyme LF Tilia x europaea Lime R Ulmus glabra Wych Elm R Urtica dioica Common Nettle O Valeriana officinalis Common Valerian R Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell O Viola hirta Hairy Violet R Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet R Needs to be confirmed

101 taxa *Moyes, N.J. & Willmot, A. (2002). A Checklist of the Plants of Derbyshire. Derby Museum.

Other species: Chimney Sweeper Moth Great Spotted Woodpecker Small Heath

COWDALE SPOIL TIPS - BOTANICAL SURVEYS 25/03/10 Spoil Tips Species Vernacular 1 2 3 4 5 6 Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore (seedling) R R Achillea millefolium Yarrow R Agrostis capillaris Common bent grass O O O O Bellis perennis Daisy R R R R Brachythecium rutabulum F A Carex flacca Glaucous sedge LF LF LF Cerastium fontanum Common mouse-ear R Cirsium vulgare Spear thistle R R R O R R Crataegus monogyna Common hawthorn (seedling) R Cynosurus cristatus Crested dog's-tail O Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot O O O O O F Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted hair-grass R Epilobium sp. Willowherb R R Festuca ovina Sheep's fescue LF LA LA LA F LF Fraxinus excelsior Ash (seedling) R R Geranium robertianum Herb-robert R Leontodon hispidus Rough hawkbit R R Leucanthemum vulgare Ox-eye daisy LF O O O F O Linum catharticum Fairy flax LF R R Lolium perenne Perennial rye-grass LD LA LD LD LD Lotus corniculatus Common bird's-foot trefoil R Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear hawkweed O O LF LF LF Plantago lanceolata Ribwort plantain O O O R Plantago media Hoary plantain R Plantago major Greater plantain R Prunella vulgaris Self-heal R R Ranunculus repens Creeping buttercup O R R R Rumex acetosa Common sorrel R R Salix cinerea Grey willow (seedling) LF Senecio jacobaea Common ragwort O R R R R R Sonchus sp. Sow-thistle R R Taraxacum agg. Dandelion O O O O O R Trifolium repens White clover O Tussilago farfara Colt's-foot R Urtica dioica Common nettle LF Veronica chamaedrys Germander speedwell R Rhytiadelphus squarrosus LA

Appendix 3: Figures Figure 2: Badger Activity Plan Figure 3: Bat Activity Plan

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COWDALE QUARRY

Figure 2 Badger Activity Plan

Key

Badger Sett

Snuffle Hole

Badger Path

Office: Bakewell Tel: 01629 815544 Limited Liability Partnership

Date JUN '10 Checked Scale NTS N Drawn RSC Approved Job Ref 4500.02 W E Status DRAFT S Dwg No. FIGURE 2 Crown copyright reserved OS Licence No:

Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Tel: 01629 815544 Fax: 01629 815577 Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: [email protected] COWDALE QUARRY

Bat Activity Plan

Key

Transect Route and Direction 25th May 2010

Transect Route and Direction 28th June 2010

Transect Route and Direction 23rd June 2010

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Office: Bakewell Tel: 01629 815544 Limited Liability Partnership

Date JUN'10 Checked PH Scale NTS N Drawn RSC Approved PH Job Ref 4500.02 W E Status FINAL S Dwg No. FIGURE 3 Crown copyright reserved OS Licence No:

Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Tel: 01629 815544 Fax: 01629 815577 Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: [email protected]

Appendix 5: Consultation with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

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Our ref: 4500.01_001_let_ph_dwt.doc

Your ref:

12th February 2010

Trevor Taylor Derbyshire Wildlife Trust East Mill, Bridge Foot, Arden House Belper, Deepdale Business Park DE56 1XH Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT Tel: 01629 815544 Fax: 01629 815577

Dear Trevor,

Re: Proposed further ecological survey work for Cowdale, Derbyshire

Following our site meeting on the 5th February 2010, I am writing as agreed to provide you with details on the further survey work that we consider necessary to allow us to determine the likely impacts of the proposed development and to inform the production of the Environmental Impact Assessment.

These are as follows: • Breeding birds; • Bats; • Badgers; • Reptiles; • Phase 2 botanical surveys.

Breeding birds A breeding bird survey will be carried out to determine the breeding bird interest associated with the study site, this will entail three survey visits between April and June 2010. During each visit a predetermined transect route will be walked over in order to view all areas of the site. All bird species will be recorded along with details of their activities using standard annotation.

Bats In order to understand how bats are using the study site, three evening transect walks will be carried out when bats are likely to be active, in order to comply with the current best practice guidance1. Two surveyors will be required for the evening transect walk.

By starting these transect surveys adjacent to the quarry face which has potential to support roosting bats, it may be possible to determine if the rock crevices support roosting bats.

In addition, we will inspect any trees that may be affected by the development of the proposed access road for signs of bat roosts.

1 Bat Conservation Trust 2007. Bat Surveys Good Practice Guidelines

Page 2 Trevor Taylor 12th February 2010

Reptiles The recommended method2 for establishing the presence or absence of reptiles is to undertake at least five separate surveys during appropriate weather conditions during April and May 2010. Pieces of lightweight corrugated sheeting or roofing felt will be utilised as temporary reptile refuges, to assist in surveying.

The refugia will be put out in March 2010 to ensure that they have had sufficient time to “bed in” prior to carrying out the reptile survey work in April and May 2010. The surveys will then involve walking a transect around the site and checking refugia for reptiles and, using binoculars, checking for reptiles along the base of the quarry rock face and spoil mounds.

Phase 2 Botanical Survey A Phase 2 botanical survey will be carried out of the areas of unimproved calcareous grassland on the spoil heap slopes, quarry face (where access is possible) and cliff top vegetation, and in Cow Dale. This survey would record in detail the species found within these areas, and where possible determine the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) community. This data would then be used to firmly establish the ecological value of these habitats as well as providing advice on mitigation/compensation. This survey would be carried out over two days in mid-May and early June 2010.

Badgers Further survey work will be undertaken to determine the location of badger setts in relation to the proposed works. This will be undertaken during March 2010 before vegetation develops but when signs of badger activity will be evident.

I hope that our approach is acceptable. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Philippa Harvey MIEEM Principal Ecologist

c.c. Roger Peters, Geoffrey Barnett Associates c.c. Ben Dean, Hallams Commercial

2 Gent and Gibson 2003. Herpetofauna Workers Manual

4500.01_001_let_ph_dwt.doc

Appendix 5: Invertebrate Report

4500.02_003_ES_ph_gba.doc Page 64

AN INVERTEBRATE SURVEY OF COWDALE QUARRY

Dr. Mark G. Telfer

June 2010

This report was produced for Baker Shepherd Gillespie Ecological Consultants LLP.

Dr. Mark G. Telfer 10, Northall Road Eaton Bray DUNSTABLE Bedfordshire LU6 2DQ [email protected]

Cover illustration: a yellow pan-trap (used to attract and capture bees, wasps and flies) placed on top of the cliffs on the southern edge of the old quarry.

2 Contents

0. Summary...... 5 1. Introduction and Methods...... 5 2. Results...... 6 2.1 Key species...... 7 Ceutorhynchus pectoralis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Na)...... 7 Glocianus punctiger (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Nb)...... 7 Beris clavipes (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Scarce Orange Legionnaire, Nationally Scarce...... 8 2.2. Other species...... 8 3. Site Evaluation...... 8 3.1. Key features of the survey area...... 9 3.1.1. Semi-improved grassland...... 9 3.1.2. Scree-slopes ...... 9 3.1.3. Trees...... 9 4. Recommendations and Mitigation ...... 10 5. Acknowledgements...... 10 6. References...... 10 Appendix 1: British conservation status categories – definitions...... 12 Appendix 2: List of invertebrates recorded at Cowdale in 2010 by Mark G. Telfer...13

3

4 0. Summary

• A general invertebrate assessment of the disused quarry at Cowdale, Derbyshire, was carried out based on two days’ survey. • Of the 135 species recorded by this survey, three (2.2%) are Nationally Scarce; no Red Data Book species were recorded. • In a national context, Cowdale quarry is of low conservation importance for invertebrates over all but has some importance at the county level. • Recommendations are made to mitigate the impacts of the proposed development on invertebrates.

1. Introduction and Methods

Cowdale quarry, Derbyshire (SK0772 and SK0872, VC57) is a former limestone quarry. The sheer rock-face on the southern side of the quarry (see cover photograph) is to be retained within the proposed development. Most of the northern side of the quarry consists of spoil-heaps of clay/sand and limestone chippings, forming steep, south-facing, eroding slopes with patches of scree and some vertical clifflets. The more level ground on the tops of the spoil-heaps and in the base of the quarry has been agriculturally improved with chicken manure and is heavily poached and grazed by cattle. To the east of the old quarry, is a semi-improved pasture, notable for a range of plants including Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata and Alchemilla filicaulis (a Lady’s-mantle).

The south-facing slopes of the old spoil-heaps were considered to be a potentially valuable micro-habitat for invertebrates, including for nesting bees and wasps. An entomological survey was commissioned in 2010 to assess the value of the site for invertebrates, focusing on the spoil-heaps.

The survey aimed: • to assess the potential of the site for invertebrates by visual assessment of the habitats, taking digital photographs to support these observations, and • to assess the actual quality of the site by sampling invertebrates.

The survey has been conducted with regard to the guidance contained in Anon. (2005) and Drake et al. (2007). This report is based on a two-day visit on 26th and 27th May 2010. Invertebrates were recorded using a range of techniques (Table 1).

Table 1: Techniques employed on this survey to record invertebrates, and their target groups and target habitats. Technique Target groups Target habitats Yellow pan trapping. Bees, wasps (aculeate Foci of bee and wasp Hymenoptera) and flies (Diptera). activity such as nesting sites or flower-rich foraging patches.

5 Technique Target groups Target habitats Grubbing at ground A wide range of ground-living All habitats, especially level, turning over logs invertebrates, particularly beetles bare and sparsely- and stones, etc. (Coleoptera), bugs (Heteroptera), vegetated ground. ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) woodlice (Isopoda) and molluscs. Suction sampling (also As above but catching species Grassland and ruderal known as vacuum which are too small, too well- vegetation. sampling). camouflaged or too quick-running to be successfully captured by hand. Sieving. A useful supplement to grubbing Grassland and plant- and suction sampling in denser litter especially. vegetation. Handfuls of vegetation are sieved over a tray to reveal a range of beetles, bugs and other ground-living invertebrates. Sweep-netting. Solitary bees and wasps; beetles All vegetated habitats, and bugs in grassland vegetation. paying particular attention to nectar and pollen sources. Beating. Beetles and bugs on the branches, Shrubs and trees. flowers and foliage of shrubs and trees. Direct observation. Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, All habitats, paying grasshoppers and crickets particular attention to (Orthoptera), etc. nectar and pollen sources.

Where practical, invertebrates were identified in the field but wherever the slightest doubt existed, one or more specimens were collected for more detailed scrutiny. To achieve rigorously accurate identifications, specimens were identified using the author’s own library and entomological collections. Selected specimens have been retained in the author’s personal collection as vouchers.

The weather on 26th May was overcast with a Moderate Breeze (Force 4) and a predicted maximum temperature of 13 ºC. The day was dry except for a light shower at 16.30. The weather on 27th May was windier (Strong Breeze, Force 6) but warmer and with sunny intervals (7 eighths cloud cover). There were two brief light showers at 10.00 and 11.15. Weather conditions were not ideal for invertebrate survey, particularly of bees, wasps, butterflies and other sun-loving insects. However, the conditions were perfectly adequate for survey of other invertebrates.

2. Results

The survey identified 135 species of invertebrate (Appendix 2), including representatives of the following groups: woodlice, harvestmen, millipedes, earwigs, grasshoppers, bugs, beetles, ants, bees, flies, butterflies, moths, slugs and snails. Aside

6 from effort dedicated to finding bees and wasps, there was a concentration of effort on beetles with 70 species recorded, 52% of the total species list.

A system of conservation statuses has been in use since the British Red Data Book for insects (Shirt, 1987), amended and supplemented by a series of JNCC Nature Conservation reviews. By this system, the rarest and most threatened species are given one of the Red Data Book (RDB) statuses. Species which do not qualify as RDB but are nonetheless uncommon are given one of the Nationally Scarce statuses. The status categories and criteria relevant to this report are defined in Appendix 1.

Amongst the 135 species recorded by this survey, three (2.2%) have a Nationally Scarce conservation status but no Red Data Book species were recorded (Table 2). These scarce species are discussed further below under the heading ‘Key Species’.

Table 2: The ‘Key Species’ recorded by this survey. The table is ordered by Conservation Status (most important first). Order Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status Coleoptera Curculionidae Ceutorhynchus pectoralis a weevil Nationally Scarce (Na) Coleoptera Curculionidae Glocianus punctiger a weevil Nationally Scarce (Nb) Diptera Stratiomyidae Beris clavipes Scarce Orange Nationally Scarce Legionnaire

2.1 KEY SPECIES

For the key species found by this survey, short accounts are provided, which describe the ecology and distribution of the species in Britain, followed by details of their occurrence during the current survey.

Ceutorhynchus pectoralis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Na) This weevil feeds on Cardamine species, the larvae developing in stem-galls. In Britain the weevil has been mainly recorded from Large Bitter-cress C. amara in marshy places, at stream-sides, and in lightly shaded woodland (Morris, 2008). It has been described as “an obscure and poorly understood species” by Morris (2008). It is widely but very patchily distributed in England and southern Scotland northwards to Edinburgh but not recorded from Wales. On the current survey, a single male was recorded by suction sampling in the semi- improved pasture on 27th May where it was probably associated with Cuckooflower C. pratensis.

Glocianus punctiger (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Nb) This weevil feeds on dandelions Taraxacum, mainly the Section Ruderalia which is by far the commonest Section of this large genus, and mostly includes micro-species which are weeds of lowland areas. Although the host plants are widespread and abundant, the weevil is much more restricted, typically being found in grasslands, waste places, at the sides of roads and tracks, in woods and in open and rough ground generally (Morris, 2008). It occurs very locally throughout England and Wales.

7 On the current survey, a single female was recorded by suction sampling in the semi- improved pasture on 27th May.

Beris clavipes (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Scarce Orange Legionnaire, Nationally Scarce A medium-sized (6 - 6.5 mm) soldier-fly with an orange abdomen and smoky wing membranes. This species is widely distributed across England and lowland Wales, though with few records from northern England, and with isolated records in Scotland in Dumfriesshire and around Glasgow (Stubbs and Drake, 2001). It is thought to prefer wetland habitat, especially lush fens, though it is an elusive species about which ecological information is scant. On the current survey, a single male was beaten from tree foliage on the top of the spoil-heaps on 27th May, where many flies were sheltering in dull conditions. In view of the apparent association of this species with wetland habitat, it may be best to regard this specimen as a wanderer.

2.2. OTHER SPECIES

Of the remaining species recorded by this survey which have no national conservation status, a few are of note for their restricted distribution and/or habitat specialisation. These include: • Armadillidium pulchellum, an attractively-patterned woodlouse. A local species of calcareous grassland in northern and western England, Wales and southern Scotland. It is locally common on the Derbyshire limestone grasslands. • Scopaeus sulcicollis, a small rove-beetle. Usually found on bare or sparsely vegetated sandy riverbanks and seepages on soft-rock cliffs. Also recorded from gardens and allotments but probably mostly (as in my own garden) as an ephemeral introduction with building sand. Possibly deserving of Nationally Scarce status. Distributed in southern England northwards to Leicestershire and Norfolk, with records also from Cumbria and southern Scotland (Lott and Anderson, in prep.; NBN Gateway). On the current survey, found in numbers in crumb-like damp soil beneath scree on the steep faces of the spoil-heaps. This appears to be the first record for Derbyshire. • Malthodes pumilus, a tiny soldier-beetle. Very sparsely and patchily distributed throughout England and Wales and northwards to the East Highlands of Scotland. Associated both with ancient wood-pastures and other well-wooded sites, and with calcareous grasslands and dunes. • Podabrus alpinus, a large soldier-beetle. Most widespread in the well-wooded areas of the hill country of northern and western Britain, particularly in north Derbyshire and South-west Yorkshire. • Hydrothassa glabra, a blue and yellow leaf-beetle. Feeds on buttercups but of much more local distribution than the foodplants, in a range of open habitats. Occurs patchily throughout Britain.

3. Site Evaluation

Two days of survey at Cowdale quarry recorded 135 species: this is slightly below my average for a survey of this scale on a site of this size. This shortfall probably merely reflects the more northerly location of Cowdale quarry: invertebrate species richness

8 declines with increasing latitude. A survey such as this cannot hope to find all the species occurring at a site but rather aims to do enough sampling to be able to produce a robust assessment of the site’s importance for invertebrates.

For a general site assessment, the percentage of Red Data Book or Nationally Scarce species is a useful guide to the overall quality of the site for invertebrates, in comparison to other sites surveyed using similar techniques. Of the 135 species found by this survey, three (2.2%) were Nationally Scarce. A figure of 2.2% is low in a national context, below average for a site proposed for development, and indicative of a site of low conservation importance for invertebrates over all.

Without further information, it is difficult to make a precise assessment of the importance of Cowdale quarry in a county or regional context, except that it appears to be the only known Derbyshire site for Scopaeus sulcicollis (though this is a species which is likely to go undetected or unreported), on which basis it has some importance for invertebrates at the county scale.

3.1. KEY FEATURES OF THE SURVEY AREA

This section details the key features of the survey area which support species or assemblages of particular importance, and for which mitigation could be carried out.

3.1.1. Semi-improved grassland Two of the three scarce insects found by this survey (Ceutorhynchus pectoralis and Glocianus punctiger) were collected from the semi-improved pasture at the eastern edge of the survey area. This area was not a primary focus of survey effort but nevertheless yielded more scarcities than the rest of the survey area. Both the scarce weevils were found on the more herb-rich sward occupying the sloping easternmost part of the field. This pasture field will not be directly affected by the proposed development but there is scope for enhancement of the habitat.

3.1.2. Scree-slopes Despite being the primary focus of survey effort, no rare or scarce invertebrates were found associated with the scree-slopes on the southern faces of the old spoil-heaps. There were however, some noteworthy invertebrates: Scopaeus sulcicollis and Armadillidium pulchellum on the steep face of the spoil-heaps, and Hydrothassa glabra and Malthodes pumilus from the rubble-strewn grassland at the foot of the slopes. The microhabitat of Scopaeus sulcicollis is specialised and this species is unlikely to be able to persist at Cowdale quarry in the absence of scree-slopes. The other species are less dependent on bare, eroding ground and may be more widely distributed on open, calcareous grassland within and around the Cowdale quarry survey area.

3.1.3. Trees The scarce soldier-fly Beris clavipes and the noteworthy soldier-beetle Podabrus alpinus were both found as adults by beating tree foliage, within and around which they forage and mate. However, it is unlikely that the loss of trees at Cowdale quarry would have a significant detrimental impact on this fauna amidst the well-wooded surrounding landscape.

9 4. Recommendations and Mitigation

The key invertebrate interest of the survey area is in the semi-improved pasture at the eastern end. To maintain the invertebrate interest of this site, grazing by cattle should be continued, and the existing practice of not applying any fertiliser should also be continued. To enhance the invertebrate interest of this pasture, a reduction in stocking density is recommended.

The major impact of the proposed development on invertebrates will be to the invertebrates associated with the steep scree-slopes of the spoil-heaps. Despite the potential for this feature to support specialist invertebrates of conservation importance, this survey has found the invertebrates to be of no more than county importance; no mitigation is proposed.

5. Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Philippa Harvey and Mark Woods for arranging this survey, and David Gibbs for assistance with the identification of some Hymenoptera and Diptera.

6. References

Anon. (2005). Organising surveys to determine site quality for invertebrates: a framework guide for ecologists. Peterborough: English Nature. Drake, C.M., Lott, D.A., Alexander, K.N.A. and Webb, J. (2007). Surveying terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates for conservation evaluation. Natural England Research Report NERR005. Sheffield: Natural England. Hyman, P.S. (revised Parsons, M.S.) (1992). A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 1. U.K. Nature Conservation: 3. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Lott, D. and Anderson, R. (in prep.). The Staphylinidae (rove beetles) of Britain and Ireland, Parts 7 & 8: Oxyporinae, Steninae, Euaesthetinae, Pseudopsinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae. Handbooks for the identification of British insects. St Albans: Royal Entomological Society. Morris, M.G. (2008). True weevils (part II) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Ceutorhynchinae). Handbooks for the identification of British insects, vol. 5, part 17c. St Albans: Royal Entomological Society. Shirt, D.B. (ed.) (1987). British Red Data Books: 2. Insects. Peterborough: Nature Conservancy Council. Stubbs, A.E. and Drake, M. (2001). British soldierflies and their allies. Reading: British Entomological and Natural History Society.

10 Appendix 1: British conservation status categories – definitions.

These status categories and criteria were introduced for British insects by Shirt (1987) and received some modifications by later authors (e.g. Hyman and Parsons (1992)).

Nationally Scarce Category A, Na.

Definition Species which do not fall within Red Data Book categories but which are nonetheless uncommon in Great Britain and thought to occur in 30 or fewer (typically between 16 and 30) 10-km squares of the National Grid, or for less well-recorded groups, in seven or fewer vice-counties.

Nationally Scarce Category B, Nb.

Definition Species which do not fall within Red Data Book categories but which are nonetheless uncommon in Great Britain and thought to occur in between 31 and 100 10-km squares of the National Grid, or for less well-recorded groups, between eight and twenty vice-counties.

Nationally Scarce, N.

Definition Species which do not fall within Red Data Book categories but which are nonetheless uncommon in Great Britain. This status category has been used where information has not been sufficient to allocate a species to either Na or Nb. These species are thought to occur in between 16 and 100 10-km squares of the National Grid.

11 Appendix 2: List of invertebrates recorded at Cowdale in 2010 by Mark G. Telfer.

Key species and the other species mentioned in Results section 2.2 are listed in red text. Full details of all records generated by this project are held in a computer database by the author which may be consulted if required to provide further information such as localities, grid references, dates, recorders, determiners, sampling methods, quantity, sex and life-stage. number Order Class Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status 1 Malacostraca Isopoda Armadillidiidae Armadillidium pulchellum a woodlouse None 2 Malacostraca Isopoda Oniscidae Oniscus asellus Common shiny woodlouse None 3 Malacostraca Isopoda Porcellionidae Porcellio scaber Common rough woodlouse None 4 Malacostraca Isopoda Trichoniscidae Androniscus dentiger Rosy woodlouse None 5 Malacostraca Isopoda Trichoniscidae Trichoniscus provisorius Common pygmy woodlouse None 6 Arachnida Opiliones Phalangiidae Megabunus diadema a harvestman None 7 Diplopoda Glomerida Glomeridae Glomeris marginata Pill Millipede None 8 Diplopoda Julida Julidae Tachypodoiulus niger White-legged Snake-millipede None 9 Diplopoda Julida Julidae Cylindroiulus britannicus a millipede None 10 Diplopoda Julida Julidae Ophyiulus pilosus a millipede None 11 Diplopoda Polydesmida Polydesmidae Polydesmus angustus Common Flat-backed Millipede None 12 Insecta Dermaptera Forficulidae Forficula auricularia Common Earwig None 13 Insecta Orthoptera Acrididae Omocestus viridulus Common Green Grasshopper None 14 Insecta Hemiptera: Heteroptera Tingidae Tingis cardui a lacebug None 15 Insecta Hemiptera: HeteropteraMiridae Stenodema calcarata a mirid bug None 16 Insecta Hemiptera: HeteropteraAnthocoridae Anthocoris confusus a bug None 17 Insecta Hemiptera: HeteropteraAnthocoridae Anthocoris nemoralis a bug None 18 Insecta Hemiptera: HeteropteraAnthocoridae Anthocoris nemorum a bug None 19 Insecta Hemiptera: HeteropteraPentatomidae Pentatoma rufipes a bug None 20 Insecta Hemiptera: Heteroptera Acanthosomatidae Elasmostethus interstinctus Birch Shield-bug None 21 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Nebria brevicollis a ground beetle None 22 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Loricera pilicornis a ground beetle None 23 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Bembidion lampros a ground beetle None number Order Class Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status 24 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Pterostichus madidus a ground beetle None 25 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Pterostichus strenuus a ground beetle None 26 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Abax parallelepipedus a ground beetle None 27 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Platynus assimilis a ground beetle None 28 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Amara familiaris a ground beetle None 29 Insecta Coleoptera Carabidae Badister bullatus a ground beetle None 30 Insecta Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Cercyon melanocephalus a beetle None 31 Insecta Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Megasternum concinnum sens. str. a beetle None 32 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Tachyporus dispar a rove-beetle None 33 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Tachyporus pusillus a rove-beetle None 34 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Tachyporus tersus a rove-beetle None 35 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Tachinus rufipes a rove-beetle None 36 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Amischa analis a rove-beetle None 37 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Cypha longicornis a rove-beetle None 38 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus clavicornis a rove-beetle None 39 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus nanus a rove-beetle None 40 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus brunnipes a rove-beetle None 41 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus cicindeloides a rove-beetle None 42 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus picipes a rove-beetle None 43 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Stenus aceris a rove-beetle None 44 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Scopaeus sulcicollis a rove-beetle None 45 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Philonthus decorus a rove-beetle None 46 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Quedius boopoides a rove-beetle None 47 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Quedius nitipennis a rove-beetle None 48 Insecta Coleoptera Staphylinidae Xantholinus linearis a rove-beetle None 49 Insecta Coleoptera Byrrhidae Byrrhus pilula Pill Beetle None 50 Insecta Coleoptera Elateridae Hypnoidus riparius a click beetle None 51 Insecta Coleoptera Elateridae Ctenicera cuprea a click beetle None

13 number Order Class Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status 52 Insecta Coleoptera Elateridae Aplotarsus incanus a click beetle None 53 Insecta Coleoptera Elateridae Athous haemorrhoidalis a click beetle None 54 Insecta Coleoptera Elateridae Agriotes obscurus a click beetle None 55 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Podabrus alpinus a soldier-beetle None 56 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Cantharis cryptica a soldier-beetle None 57 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Cantharis decipiens a soldier-beetle None 58 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Cantharis pellucida a soldier-beetle None 59 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Cantharis rufa a soldier-beetle None 60 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Cantharis rustica a soldier-beetle None 61 Insecta Coleoptera Cantharidae Malthodes pumilus a soldier-beetle None 62 Insecta Coleoptera Nitidulidae Epuraea melanocephala a beetle None 63 Insecta Coleoptera Nitidulidae Meligethes carinulatus a pollen beetle None 64 Insecta Coleoptera Coccinellidae Nephus redtenbacheri a ladybird None 65 Insecta Coleoptera Coccinellidae Calvia quattuordecimguttata Cream-spot Ladybird None 66 Insecta Coleoptera Coccinellidae Propylea quattuordecimpunctata 14-spot Ladybird None 67 Insecta Coleoptera Coccinellidae Adalia bipunctata 2-spot Ladybird None 68 Insecta Coleoptera Coccinellidae Coccinella septempunctata 7-spot Ladybird None 69 Insecta Coleoptera Latridiidae Cortinicara gibbosa a beetle None 70 Insecta Coleoptera Oedemeridae Oedemera lurida a beetle None 71 Insecta Coleoptera Cerambycidae Grammoptera ruficornis a longhorn beetle None 72 Insecta Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Hydrothassa glabra a leaf-beetle None 73 Insecta Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Phratora vulgatissima Blue Willow Beetle None 74 Insecta Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Longitarsus suturellus a flea-beetle None 75 Insecta Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Crepidodera fulvicornis a flea-beetle None 76 Insecta Coleoptera Apionidae Protapion apricans a weevil None 77 Insecta Coleoptera Apionidae Protapion assimile a weevil None 78 Insecta Coleoptera Apionidae Protapion trifolii a weevil None 79 Insecta Coleoptera Apionidae Ischnopterapion loti a weevil None

14 number Order Class Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status 80 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Otiorhynchus rugifrons a weevil None 81 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Otiorhynchus singularis Raspberry Weevil None 82 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Phyllobius oblongus Brown Leaf Weevil None 83 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Polydrusus pterygomalis a weevil None 84 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Hypera plantaginis a weevil None 85 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Hypera zoilus a weevil None 86 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Dorytomus taeniatus a weevil None 87 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Dorytomus rufatus a weevil None 88 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Glocianus punctiger a weevil Nationally Scarce (Nb) 89 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Ceutorhynchus pectoralis a weevil Nationally Scarce (Na) 90 Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae Anthonomus pedicularius a weevil None 91 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Formicidae Formica lemani an ant None 92 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Formicidae Lasius flavus an ant None 93 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Formicidae Lasius niger sens. str. an ant None 94 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Formicidae Myrmica rubra an ant None 95 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Formicidae Myrmica sabuleti an ant None 96 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Apidae Andrena haemorrhoa Early Mining Bee None 97 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Apidae Andrena scotica a mining bee None 98 Insecta Hymenoptera: Aculeata Apidae Bombus pascuorum Common Carder Bee None 99 Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Nephrotoma appendiculata a cranefly None 100 Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Tipula varipennis a cranefly None 101 Insecta Diptera Rhagionidae Rhagio scolopaceus a snipefly None 102 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Beris chalybata a soldierfly None 103 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Beris clavipes Scarce Orange Legionnaire Nationally Scarce 104 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Pachygaster atra a soldierfly None 105 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Microchrysa cyaneiventris a soldierfly None 106 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Microchrysa flavicornis a soldierfly None 107 Insecta Diptera Stratiomyidae Sargus iridatus a soldierfly None

15 number Order Class Family Species: scientific name Species: English name Conservation Status 108 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Melanostoma mellinum a hoverfly None 109 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Platycheirus albimanus a hoverfly None 110 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Platycheirus clypeatus a hoverfly None 111 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Sphaerophoria interrupta a hoverfly None 112 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Cheilosia albitarsis sens. str. a hoverfly None 113 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Rhingia campestris a hoverfly None 114 Insecta Diptera Syrphidae Neoascia podagrica a hoverfly None 115 Insecta Diptera Sepsidae Sepsis flavimana a fly None 116 Insecta Diptera Scathophagidae Norellisoma spinimanum a fly None 117 Insecta Diptera Fanniidae Fannia mollissima a fly None 118 Insecta Diptera Muscidae Mesembrina meridiana a fly None 119 Insecta Lepidoptera Micropterigidae Micropterix aruncella a micro-moth None 120 Insecta Lepidoptera Pieridae Pieris brassicae Large White None 121 Insecta Lepidoptera Lycaenidae Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper None 122 Insecta Lepidoptera Satyridae Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown None 123 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Cochlicopidae Cochlicopa lubrica Slippery Moss Snail None 124 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Pupillidae Lauria cylindracea Common Chrysalis Snail None 125 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Enidae Ena obscura Lesser Bulin None 126 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Discidae Discus rotundatus Rounded Snail None 127 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Vitrinidae Vitrina pellucida Pellucid Glass Snail None 128 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Zonitidae Vitrea crystallina Crystal Snail None 129 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Zonitidae Oxychilus alliarius Garlic Snail None 130 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Zonitidae Oxychilus helveticus Glossy Glass Snail None 131 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Agriolimacidae Deroceras reticulatum Field Slug None 132 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Helicidae Trochulus striolatus Strawberry Snail None 133 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Helicidae Trochulus hispidus Hairy Snail None 134 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Helicidae Arianta arbustorum Copse Snail None 135 Gastropoda Stylommatophora Helicidae Cepaea hortensis White-lipped Snail None

16

17

Appendix 6: Built structures descriptions Ruins of quarry buildings

There are four derelict structures associated with the former quarry, all are collapsed and open and draughty with no potential to support roosting bats. No signs of bats were located in association with these structures. They are all considered to have low potential to support roosting bats.

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Power house The power house is a large structure made of concrete located along the original access road to the quarry. It is built into the stone cliff behind. Externally there are features present to offer roosting opportunities to bats.

Internally there is no roofspace and the building is open and light. The building internally is damp and cold with no features suitable for roosting bats. The building is considered to have low potential to support roosting bats and no signs of bats such as droppings were located during the daytime survey.

This building will be lost as part of the development, it is situated on the line of the proposed new road.

Limekilns The old limekiln structure is on the lower level within the woodland. The brick lined kilns have some superficial gaps in the brickwork but the kilns are damp inside with water running down walls and are considered sub optimal for bats. No signs of bats, such as droppings or staining on the walls, were located. The kiln structure is considered to have low potential to support roosting bats. This structure is to be retained within the development.

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