Information Received from Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) and South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (Sewbrec): •
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Information Received from Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) and South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC): • TCBC SINC map; • SEWBReC Designated Sites Plot: • TCBC SINC information (SINC’s within c. 500m of application site): and • SEWBReC SINC information (SINC’s within c. 500m of application site) and Ty’r Hen Forwyn SSSI Citation. Tir Pentwys SINC Search Crown Copyright © Licence Number LA100023426. Cities Revealed ® copyright by The GeoInformation ® Group, 2001 and Crown Copyright ©. All rights reserved. Copyright © and/or Database Right Landmark Information Group and Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright and/or Database Right 2002. All Rights Reserved. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Scale 1/49080 KR Her Majesty's Stationary Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Torfaen CBC, Licence No LA100023426. Performance & Engagement Atgynhyrchir y map hwn o ddeunydd yr Arolwg Ordnans gyda chaniatad yr Arolwg Ordnans ar ran Rheolwr Llyfrfa Ei Mawrhydi Centre = 324053 E 200114 N Date 14/8/2012 Alison Ward - Chief Executive © Hawlfraint y Goron. Mae atgynhyrchu heb ganiatad yn torri Hawlfraint y Goron a gall hyn arwain at erlyniad neu achos sifil. Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen, Rhif Trwydded LA 100023426. User = USR1205762 Tirpentwys SINC Crown Copyright © Licence Number LA100023426. Cities Revealed ® copyright by The GeoInformation ® Group, 2001 and Crown Copyright ©. All rights reserved. Copyright © and/or Database Right Landmark Information Group and Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright and/or Database Right 2002. All Rights Reserved. This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Scale 1/6285 KR Her Majesty's Stationary Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Torfaen CBC, Licence No LA100023426. Performance & Engagement Atgynhyrchir y map hwn o ddeunydd yr Arolwg Ordnans gyda chaniatad yr Arolwg Ordnans ar ran Rheolwr Llyfrfa Ei Mawrhydi Centre = 323908 E 201041 N Date 12/10/2012 Alison Ward - Chief Executive © Hawlfraint y Goron. Mae atgynhyrchu heb ganiatad yn torri Hawlfraint y Goron a gall hyn arwain at erlyniad neu achos sifil. Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen, Rhif Trwydded LA 100023426. User = USR1205762 Reference Signif_Assemblage_ Site_Name Grid_Ref Site_Area Main_Habitats Habitat_Quality _Number of_Species Breeding List A - Peregrine falcon (breeds every few years, but present Mosaic habitats, pre-breeding each Bog habitats and Coniferous year), goshawk, flushes, Standing plantation which hobby, merlin, long- Tirpentwys Cut HAPC-3-3 239012 52.4 ha open water, Post- supports important eared owl. Breeding ind land, rock species List B – reed bunting, exposures common crossbill, cuckoo, kestrel, linnet, tree pipit, raven, redpoll, redstart, 12 Species of sedge Species-rich . Good (Trevor Evans - Vice - Grassland fungi Whole of Acid / Calcareous County Recorder) Cefn y Crib SO 236999 including Common Grassland earthtongues and Olive earthtongue waxcaps (brown variant) - KR 2010 / 11 Most replanted with Craig Gwent Ancient conifers but a HAPA-7-6 ST 254998 60 ha Wood Woodland narrow strip of B/L woodland remains Acidic grassland Common bent grass, Mount View, 239009 5.6 Ha (some on colliery U4 NVC sheeps fescue, Heath Blaen-y-Cwm spoil) bedstraw, Tormentil Sheeps fescue, Mat Cefin Crib Top HAPD-3-6 241006 0.8 Ha Acid Grassland U4e grass, Tormentil, Bilberry, Bluebell Crested dogstail, yellow rattle, Penrhiwfid Neutral species HAPD-1-20 SO 251012 2.8 Ha MG5 / MG6 NVC Tormentil, Sweet Fields rich grassland vernal grass, Common cats ear Blaen-y-cwm Sheep grazed U4 NVC / Marshy Hen harrier, long- HAPD-3-8 245009 93.4 upland pasture acid grassland grassland eared owl Ancient woodland site on relatively high HAPA-7- Graig Ddu/Gelli- SO Ancient ground. It is 5/HAPA-7- 81 ha Deg Wood 255014/SO252001 Woodland broadleaved with oak 4 and beech dominating, the canopy density is very sparse Hafodyrynys 259999 to 270002 2.7ha MG5 Grassland High Road Verge Acid g/land H6 and post-industrial land H18 - former colliery Invertebrates inc. 'A tip supporting acid- list' odonata - small grassland sp., red damselfly, keeled Acid g/land on heather and gorse. skimmer. 'A list' bird colliery spoil, Tirpentwys LNR Acid g/land species sp. lapwing, 'B list' HAPD-3-4 SO247999 31 ha ponds and and SINC rich inc. 9 indicator breeding bullfinch, watercourses, sp. heather, pignut, linnet, song thrush. rush pasture sheeps fescue, Likely bat roosts in heath bedstraw, mat mature trees and rock grass, mouse ear, faces. hawkweed, tormentil 13 indicator species inc.bog asphodel, Cefn Crib Bog HAPC-2-5 SO 236000 4 ha Marshy grassland lesser skull cap, ivy leaved bellflower. Blaenau Gwent Wildlife Site/SINC Notification Form - OVERVIEW SHEET SITE NAME: Tirpentwys Cut GRID REF: S O 2 3 3 0 1 5 SURVEYOR(S): Rebecca Price Chris Hatch SIZE (approx.): c. 21ha DATE OF SURVEY: LDP baseline survey: 7 th October SKETCH MAP OF SITES LOCATION: 2008 (R Price) Pond Surveys: 24 th July to 11 th November 2008 (C Hatch) LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA: Blaenau Gwent WARD: Llanhilleth QUALIFYING SINC FEATURES: Tirpentwys Cut qualifies as a SINC under the following sections of the Criteria for Selection of SINCs in the Mid Valleys Area: Primary reasons for designation: S2) Birds (variety of List A and B breeding and over wintering species including List A; peregrine falcon) Supporting reasons for designation: S1) Mammals (more information needed) S3) Reptiles (adder) S4) Amphibians (common frog & common toad; supporting reasons for designation) S6) Invertebrates (including List A; keeled skimmer) H1) Woodlands (coniferous woodland supports variety of birds which qualify under S2) Birds) H12) Bogs & flushes H16) Standing open water H18) Mineral spoil tips & other post industrial land H20) Mosaic habitats & common land H21) Rock exposure Surveys of the qualifying habitats were undertaken by different field surveyors, under separate contracts to BGCBC focusing on different elements of the site. The notification of this site as a SINC comprises two SINC Notification Forms, which should be read in conjunction with this Overview Sheet. 1 Blaenau Gwent Wildlife Site/SINC Notification Form (pt 1 of 2) SITE SUMMARY SITE NAME: Tirpentwys Cut GRID REF: S O 2 3 3 0 1 5 SURVEYOR(S): Rebecca Price SIZE (approx.): c. 21ha DATE OF SURVEY: 7th October 2008 SKETCH MAP OF SITES LOCATION: LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA: Blaenau Gwent WARD: Llanhilleth MAIN HABITAT TYPES PRESENT: Habitat types NVC type Area (ha) Inland cliff/quarry face - Bare ground - Spoil, Pioneer acid grassland - Pools/standing open water/ - spring Planted coniferous woodland - Marshy grassland/flush - Scattered trees/scrub - FULL DESCRIPTION OF SITE (including topography, adjacent land use, access and boundaries etc.): An isolated site, lying 2 km away from the nearest main settlement of Llanhilleth. The site is dominated by coniferous plantation woodland and includes a disused opencast site with steep quarry faces, steep spoil slopes and pools. Other habitats include flat lying bare ground and tracks. The site extends eastwards across the unitary boundary authority into Torfaen. The site is partially fenced, with old stock fencing in evidence along the southern boundary with the road. Two tracks run east-west through the wooded part of the site. The roadside entrances to these have been covered with brash/fallen trees probably with the intention to limit fly tipping which is an obvious problem. Plantation woodland is the most extensive vegetation type across the site. Lodegpole Pine (Pinus contorta ),) is closely planted with little ground vegetation beneath, with the exception of bryophyte cover which is high in many places. A large deep pool sites fills the former quarry. The steep south facing quarry face at the north of the site supports lodgepole pine, goat willow ( Salix caprea ), silver birch ( Betula pendula ), male fern ( Dryopteris filix- mas ) and gorse within its ledges and cracks. Some ledges appear to support an acid grassland/heath community, although this was not examined closely. The ledges and cracks and small cliff face seepages may potentially support interesting plants and ferns (no access possible for closer survey). A steep spoil slope on the southern side of the floor of the cut supports a pioneer acid grassland community, with areas of bare loose spoil, large stones. Mosses are a fairly consistent feature as well as localised lichens. A single orange waxcap was recorded here. Through the floor of the cut a track links the site entrance with a large, deep pool. Vegetation cover and height is patchy. In the vicinity of the track poorly draining areas support shallow patches of standing water and marshy vegetation; aquatic species include pondweed, water-starwort and water-crowfoot species. An underground spring feeds two linked pools lying within a steep sided hollow at the sites’ southern perimeter. Marshy/flush vegetation borders and extends out from these pools with Juncus effusus (soft rush) and Glyceria fluitans (floating sweet grass) frequent. Sphagnum sp. is also locally extensive, which together with other bryophytes (inc Polytrichum sp .) creates damp cushions of moss at the edges of the northern pool. Bryophytes were frequently encountered across the site and gill fungi were locally frequent alongside the woodland paths. 2 Official Use Only: Site selected as a Wildlife Site/SINC? YES NO Date: Please state the section(s) of the Wildlife Site Guidelines that this site qualifies under: Section S2) Birds Tirpentwys Cut qualifies as SINC quality due to the presence of a number of important breeding birds. A breeding bird survey was not part of this baseline screening survey for this candidate LDP site, however personal reports & records reports ( GOS members) advocate the site qualifies as a SINC under Section S2) Birds , particularly on the basis of its peregrine falcon, long eared owl, hobby and common snipe.