Lend Lease

RAF Lyneham, ,

Dormouse Survey Report

May 2013

Ropemaker Court, 11-12 Lower Park Row, Bristol BS1 5BN

Tel: 0117 925 4393

Email:[email protected]

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Document Control

Project: RAF Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, Dormouse Survey

Client: Lend Lease

Job Number: A077957

File Origin: C: \WYG \RAF Lyneham \DIO drafts \Updated following DIO comments \Final send \A077957 Lyneham WiltshireDormouse_v1_DIO draft_Final.doc

Document Checking:

Prepared by: Sarah Dillon ACIEEM Signed:

Consultant Ecologist

Checked by: Chris Meddins MCIEEM Signed: Principal Ecologist

Verified by: Chris Meddins MCIEEM Signed: Principal Ecologist On behalf of: Claire Wilmer CEnv, Regional Director

Issue Date Status

1 26.09.12 DIO draft issue

2 03.10.12 DIO draft issue

3 15.10.12 DIO final issue v1

4 29.05.13 DIO final issue v2

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Contents Page

Executive Summary ...... 1

1.0 Introduction...... 2

1.1 Background ...... 2

1.2 Site location ...... 2

1.3 Proposed development ...... 3

1.4 Legislation Applying to Dormice ...... 3

2.0 Methods ...... 4

2.1 The constraints report ...... 4

2.2 Site survey ...... 4

2.3 Limitations ...... 5

3.0 Results ...... 6

3.1 Constraints report ...... 6

3.2 Site survey ...... 6

4.0 Ecological Constraints and Impacts ...... 7

5.0 References ...... 8

Appendix A: ......

Plan 1 – Proposed Development Plan ......

Plan 2 – Dormouse Nest Tube Location ......

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

Executive Summary

Contents Summary

Site location RAF Lyneham, nr Chippenham, Wiltshire (grid reference SU 005 786)

Previous Ecological Development Constraints Report , AMEC, 2012 reports/surveys Reptile Presence / likely Absence Report, WYG, 2012

Great Crested Newt Survey, WYG, 2012

Bat Daytime Assessment, WYG, 2013

Bat Emergence/ Return and Activity Survey , WYG, 2013

WYG Survey Dormouse Survey Report

Results No dormouse or obvious signs of dormouse were recorded on the site during the dormouse surveys carried out on site.

Additional Survey None required Recommendations

Mitigation and None required Enhancement Recommendations

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background

WYG was commissioned by Lend Lease in March 2012 to undertake a dormouse survey of land at (RAF) Lyneham (‘the site’) in Lyneham, near Chippenham, Wiltshire (see Figure 1). It is understood that the base will be converted from an airbase to training facilities.

The previous AMEC Ecological Development Constraints Report (2012, ‘the constraints report’) identified the potential for dormice to occur on site, based on the presence of suitable habitat. The aims of the WYG survey work and the subsequent report presented herein were to:

• Determine the presence or likely absence of dormice at the site;

• Provide an appraisal of the implications created by the potential presence of dormice at the site;

• Establish if any potential effects on dormice resulting from the development are permissible;

• Ensure that the required level of survey work and information is present to inform a method statement, should one be necessary; and

• Provide preliminary advice on mitigation strategies against any adverse affects on local dormouse population(s) which may arise as a result of the proposed development.

1.2 Site location

RAF Lyneham covers approximately 460 ha and is located 9 km north-east of Chippenham. The central OS grid reference of the site is SU 005 786. As per the original constraints report by AMEC (2012), the habitat is mainly grassland (approximately half the area), and buildings and hard standing (over one-quarter of the area). The rest of the area consists of landscaping, woodland, bare ground, water bodies and hedgerows (over 7 km in length).

At present the buildings are used as a mix of offices, accommodation, and catering, and many are currently unoccupied. The airfield area (i.e. the runways, airport terminal, hangers etc) is not presently in regular

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

use as the base is no longer used by aircraft however regular cutting occurs of the majority of airfield grassland.

1.3 Proposed development

It is proposed that the RAF will maintain the site, switching the role from an airbase, to a training area. The training will require a mix of outdoor areas (mainly the airfield) and indoor (the main area of building in the north-east of the site). This will also require accommodation, catering buildings, security, etc. Many of these facilities are in place within the buildings currently on site, but some refurbishment may be required (see Plan 1, Appendix A).

1.4 Legislation Applying to Dormice

The dormouse is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2012. Taken together, both levels of protection make it an offence to kill, capture, injure, possess or sell an individual. Furthermore, it is also an offence to deliberately disturb or destroy any site used for breeding by dormice.

Additionally the dormouse is a species of high conservation concern nationally and as such is included as a priority species in the UKBAP.

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

2.0 Methods

2.1 The constraints report

A report identifying the likely ecological constraints to development was produced by AMEC in 2012. This constraints report identified habitats which could potentially support the dormouse i.e. hedgerows and woodland habitat on or around the boundaries. The report was consulted to provide an overall ecological background for the dormouse survey and to target the survey effort at identified suitable habitat on site.

2.2 Site survey

Guidance on dormouse survey is provided in the Dormouse Conservation Handbook (Bright, Morris & Mitchell-Jones, 2006). It is recommended that a standard survey should use at least 50 nest tubes spaced at approximately 20m intervals and an index of probability of detecting dormice presence in each month of the survey season, as detailed in Table 1 below, is used to calculate a survey effort score. For example 50 nest tubes installed in March and left in situ until the end of November would score 25 (the sum of probability index figures for each month) and 100 tubes for the same period would score 50, i.e. double the search effort. A minimum search effort score of at least 20 should indicate a thorough survey.

It should be noted that this is a targeted survey of suitable and accessible habitat areas rather than a survey providing comprehensive coverage of the entire woodland area.

Table 1: Index of probability of detecting dormice in each month of their active season (Bright, Morris & Mitchell-Jones, 2006). Month Index of Probability April 1 May 4 June 2 July 2 August 5 September 7 October 2 November 2

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

A total of 128 nest tubes were installed on 25 th July 2012, secured to trees or scrub vegetation using gardening wire at a height of 1m – 1.5m above ground level (see Plan 2, Appendix A for nest tube locations). Hedgerows with hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn and scrub along the boundaries of the site and within woodland areas were considered likely to provide the best quality habitat for dormice due to the availability of nesting materials as well as potential food sources such as catkins, nuts, berries and flowering plants.

The survey was carried out between September 2012 and May 2013 by a suitably trained ecologist. Based on the index of probability this gives a score of 35.8 which represents a thorough survey for dormouse.

2.3 Limitations

This survey will remain valid for 2 years, following which, if works have not yet commenced, it is recommended that a brief update survey is completed to confirm whether any of the habitats have significantly changed with regards to the suitability for dormice. At this point, any habitats with new or existing potential to support dormice will require further surveys to confirm whether they are likely to support dormice prior to any future planning application to provide updated survey information to inform appropriate mitigation where necessary.

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3.0 Results

3.1 Constraints report

The constraints report did not identify any records of dormouse within 2 km of the site, however the report did identify suitable foraging and nesting habitat for dormouse within the site including Avon Grove Wood and Pepper Alley Wood located in the south of the site.

3.2 Site survey

The results of the surveys completed to date are summarised below in table 2.

Table 2: Survey results

Date Results 19/09/2012 No nests/signs of occupation found in any of the nest tubes 2/11/2012 No nests/signs of occupation found in any of the nest tubes 25/04/2013 No nests/signs of occupation found in any of the nest tubes 21/05/2013 No nests/signs of occupation found in any of the nest tubes

Each nest tube was searched for any evidence of use by dormouse for example, presence of nests or dormice. No dormice were found to be using the nest tubes; however, a small number of wood mouse nests were recorded. In addition, invertebrates such as slugs, snails, caterpillars, woodlice, earwigs and centipedes were frequently found in nest tubes.

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

4.0 Ecological Constraints and Impacts

No further survey is required due to the likely absence of dormouse on the site. However, the removal of hedgerows and trees on site as part of the development should be kept to a minimum to maintain connectivity across the site and ensure that the site would be suitable for dormouse should the species colonise the site in the future.

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RAF Lyneham, Chippenham Wiltshire: Dormice Survey

5.0 References

• Amec Environment & Infrastructure UK Ltd (2012) Defence Infrastructure organisation, Lyneham, Ecological Development Constraints Report. Unpublished

• Department for Communities and Local Government (2012) National Planning Policy Framework

• Eds. Hill, D.A., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. & Shaw, P. (2005) Handbook of Survey Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Cambridge University Press, UK.

• Bright, Morris & Mitchell-Jones The Dormouse Conservation Handbook , 2 nd edition, Natural , 2006.

• Bright & Morris. The Dormouse , The Mammal Society, 2005.

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Appendix A:

Plan 1 – Proposed Development Plan

Plan 2 – Dormouse Nest Tube Location

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§

Legend

Dormouse nest tube location Boundary

Meters 0 125 250 500 750 1,000

Drawing title:

Dormouse nest tube location

Project:

A076050 RAF Lyneham

Client:

Lend Lease, RAF Lyneham

Office: Created by Date 4594 SJD May 2013

Plan 2

WYG Planning and Environment Ropemaker Court 12 Lower Park Row Bristol BS1 5BN Tel: 0117 925 4393 Fax: 0117 925 4239 Email: [email protected]