Primrose Lodge, Clitheroe Wildlife Audit Report April 2019 Primrose Lodge, Wildlife Audit Report Control sheet 2 York Street, Offices Level 1, Clitheroe, Robert Owen School, Lancashire, New Lanark, BB7 2DL. ML11 9DB. www.bowlandecology.co.uk 01200 446777 01555 438880 Job number: BOW17/870 Title: Primrose Lodge Wildlife Audit Report Client: Ribble Valley Borough Council Sarah Birtley, Ecologist Prepared by: Jack Driver, Assistant Ecologist Checked by: Jeremy James, Director and Principal Ecologist Date of Issue: 02/04/2019 Version: 1 Revisions: N/a Status: FINAL This report is prepared by Bowland Ecology Ltd for the sole and exclusive use of Ribble Valley Borough Council in response to their particular instructions. No liability is accepted for any costs, claims or losses arising from the use of this report or any part thereof for any purpose other than that for which it was specifically prepared or by any party other than Ribble Valley Borough Council. This report has been prepared by an ecological specialist and does not purport to provide legal advice. You may wish to take separate legal advice. The information which we have prepared and provided is true, and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the BS42020:2013 and the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions. Bowland Ecology is accredited to Quality Guild (QG) standards in respect of our Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety procedures. The QG is an independent externally audited and accredited system that has been developed according to the principles of ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHAS18001. Signed (Author) Signed (QA) Primrose Lodge, Wildlife Audit Report Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 2. Methodology .................................................................................................... 2 3. Results ............................................................................................................. 4 4. Evaluation and Recommendations for Enhancement ..................................... 10 References .............................................................................................................. 14 Appendix A – Ecological Features Plan ................................................................... 15 Appendix B – Location Plan of Trail Cameras and Static Bat Detectors .................. 16 Appendix C – Static Detector Results ...................................................................... 17 Appendix D – Japanese Knotweed Guidance for Contractors ................................. 19 Appendix E – Himalayan Balsam Guidance for Contractors ................................... 20 Primrose Lodge, Wildlife Audit Report 1. Introduction 1.1 Bowland Ecology Ltd was commissioned by Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) to complete a wildlife audit at Primrose Lodge, Clitheroe, Lancashire (central NGR: SD 73918 40975). RVBC, together with landowners Beck Developments and the Ribble Rivers Trust will launch the Primrose Lodge Blue and Greenway Project, which has recently been granted funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The project aims to restore the former mill lodge and surrounding semi-natural habitats. This will involve initial de-silting works; in addition to and re-landscaping and planting to increase the wildlife value and improve the hydrology of the site. Public access will also be created, providing opportunities for leisure and education for the local community and a long-term management plan will be established. 1.2 Primrose Lodge comprises a former mill lodge, Mearley Brook and semi-natural broadleaved woodland situated south of Clitheroe town centre (Figure 1). Within the surrounding landscape, built up urban areas are located adjacent to the site boundaries and extending west and north-east of the site. To the south, open agricultural land features pockets of woodland and hedgerows along field boundaries. The River Ribble is situated approximately 1.05 km west of the site. The lodge was originally constructed to generate power for Clitheroe’s Primrose Works and is currently designated a non-statutory Biological Heritage Site (BHS). However, to date the site has suffered from a lack of management and extensive fly tipping. Figure 1: Site Location 1.3 Existing ecological assessments of the site comprise an ecological assessment report by TEP (2011) and an initial review report issued by Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust (2012). These reports provided an assessment of the potential wildlife interests within the site; the need for further ecological survey and/or mitigation prior to works; and advice on the long-term habitat management. 1.4 This wildlife audit aims to supplement and update the existing wildlife information with data collected over several surveys, undertaken during October/November 2017; throughout the 2018 survey season; and during March 2019. Surveys comprised habitat walkovers; otter (Lutra lutra) and water vole (Arvicola amphibius) surveys of the Mearley Brook; invasive species mapping; and the deployment of bat static detectors and trail cameras. This report includes a description of survey methods, a detailed description of habitats and fauna and outlines species-specific recommendations to provide protection and enhancements for biodiversity and protected species. 1 Primrose Lodge, Wildlife Audit Report 2. Methodology 2.1 Site surveys were carried out by Sarah Birtley MBiolSci (Hons), ACIEEM (SB), Jodie Marks BSc (Hons) (JM), Mark Breaks MSc, BSc (Hons) (MB), Jack Driver BSc (Hons) (JD), Jack Taylor (JT) and Heather Whalley (HW). Table 1 below provides a summary of the survey type, date and surveyors. Table 1: Dates, surveyors and surveys undertaken Date Surveyors Survey type 24/10/17 SB, JM Deployment of trail cameras and bat detectors, habitat survey 31/10/17 SB, MB Collection of bat detectors, relocating trail cameras, wintering bird survey 09/11/17 SB Collection of trail cameras 10/04/18 SB, JT Spring woodland ground flora survey and otter/water vole survey 15/05/18 SB Deployment of trail cameras and bat detectors 31/05/18 JT Collection of trail cameras and bat detectors 23/08/18 JD, JT Deployment of trail cameras 07/09/18 JD Collection of trail cameras 18/03/19 JD, HW Breeding bird survey Habitat survey 2.2 Habitat surveys comprised an initial assessment of habitat types during 2017, followed by a spring woodland ground flora survey on the 10th of April 2018. Surveys were undertaken broadly in line with the extended Phase 1 Habitat survey standard methodology (JNCC, 2010). In addition to assessing botanical interest, any evidence of, or potential for legally protected and notable wildlife was also noted during the surveys, in particular: • potential for roosting sites for bats within trees; • assessing for the presence of notable and protected species such as water vole, otter, great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), badger (Meles meles) and invertebrates; • checking for the most common invasive plant species subject to strict legal control including Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), giant knotweed (F. sachalinensis), hybrid knotweed (F. x bohemica), giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), rhododendron (R. ponticum, R. ponticum x R. maximum and R. luteum) and Indian balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). Otter and Water Vole Survey 2.3 An otter and water vole survey was conducted in April 2018 by Sarah Birtley and Jack Taylor. The water vole survey followed methodology detailed within the Water Vole Mitigation Handbook (Dean et al 2016). During the survey the following evidence of water voles was searched for: sounds of water voles entering the water (a distinctive ‘plopping’ noise), burrow entrances, feeding stations, latrines or droppings, waterside paths, runs in vegetation and footprints. Signs of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and field vole (Microtus agrestis) were also searched for, as these may be confused with those of water vole. 2.4 The method for the otter survey followed a modified method described in Chanin (2003). During the survey, the following evidence was searched for: spraints, footprints, holts, couches, slides, feeding remains, lay-ups and sightings of otter. Wintering and Spring Bird Surveys 2 Primrose Lodge, Wildlife Audit Report 2.5 Bird surveys comprised a visit to record wintering species, conducted on the 31st of October 2017 and a second visit to record species in Spring 2019, which may potentially nest within the site. Methods broadly followed standard guidelines issued by the British Trust for Ornithology (Gilbert et al. 1998), and involved walking a transect of the site and recording all bird species encountered. The surveys were undertaken in suitable weather conditions, avoiding heavy rain or strong winds. Trail Camera Deployment 2.6 Nine Browning trail cameras, triggered to take photos on sensing movement, were deployed within the site at a range of locations, sampling various habitats present within the site (Table 2; Appendix B). Camera locations included the watercourse (Mearley Brook), the former mill pond, and various areas of woodland. On collection of the cameras, the data was downloaded and all photos checked for the presence of fauna. Table 2: Dates of deployment and locations of cameras Camera Date Location Situated along