LAND WEST OF WHITWORTH ROAD, THE RIDGE WEST, ST.LEONARD’S-ON-SEA
ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL REPORT
January 2018
Hastings Borough Council
The Ash Partnership UK Ltd. Administration Office. BNSS. 39 Christchurch Road. Bournemouth. Dorset. BH1 3NS Contact: 07914-378494. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] www.ashpartnership.co.uk
Director: Ashley Leftwich BSc MSc. Company Registration No. 4994495. VAT Registration No. 826549600
LAND WEST OF WHITWORTH ROAD, THE RIDGE WEST, ST.LEONARD’S-ON-SEA ECOLOGICAL APPRAISAL REPORT
January 2018
Hastings Borough Council
Contents Record
This Report has been issued and amended as follows:
______Issue Revision Description Date Signed ______
1 Final Issue to Client 25.01.18 APL
Approved by: A. P. Leftwich
Signed: ______
Position: Director
Date: ______CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Desk Study 2.3 Extended Phase I Habitat Survey 2.6 Plant Species 2.9 Protected Species
3. RESULTS
3.1 Desk Study 3.6 Extended Phase I Habitat Survey 3.14 Off-Site Habitats 3.15 Protected Species Surveys
4. EVALUATION
4.3 Nature Conservation Context 4.11 Habitats/Features 4.13 Protected Species
5. CONCLUSIONS
TABLES
Table 1 – Floral List
FIGURES
Figure 1 – Phase I Habitat Plan
APPENDICES
Appendix 1a – Marline Valley Woods SSSI citation Appendix 1b – Maplehurst Wood SSSI citation Appendix 1c – Hollington Valley SNCI citation Appendix 2 – Location of Ancient Woodland
PHOTOGRAPHS Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Hastings Borough Council has commissioned The Ash Partnership UK Ltd. to provide an ecological appraisal of land to the south-west of Whitworth Road in St Leonard’s-on-Sea, East Sussex, hereafter referred to as the ‘Site’.
1.2 This Site forms part of an area of land known as LRA8 that is designated for employment development (B use classes) within the Development Management Plan (Hastings Borough Council, 2015). LRA8 is to be developed as an extension to the West Ridge employment area and includes a new access road between Whitworth Road and Queensway that is currently under construction.
1.3 Part of the Site currently lies within the construction area for the new access road known as the Queensway Gateway Road, and this forms part of a wider Planning Consent [Ref: HS/FA/14/00832] for a link road between Sedlescombe Road North (A21) and the Queensway.
1.4 This Report sets out the baseline ecology and nature conservation context, establishes the impact of the development proposals and, where appropriate, sets out commensurate mitigation and enhancement in relation to habitats and species.
Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
2. METHODOLOGY
Desk Study
2.1 No formal Desk Study was undertaken as part of this Report as most of the relevant background information is provided within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Planning Consent HS/FA/14/00832.
2.2 In addition, the Ordnance Survey, aerial mapping [www.bing.com], Natural England website [www.magic.gov.uk] and British Geological Society website [www.bgs.ac.uk] were all interrogated for relevant information.
Extended Phase I Habitat Survey
2.3 The entire Site was subjected to an Extended Phase I Habitat Survey, based on the Handbook for Phase I Habitat Survey – A Technique for Environmental Audit (JNCC, 2003).
2.4 Wherever possible each vegetation type was plotted in relation to logical features such as fences, ditches, field margins, roads or watercourses.
2.5 If appropriate, areas of semi-improved or unimproved habitats would be considered in relation to the National Vegetation Classification (or NVC) system based upon Rodwell (1991 et seq.).
Plant Species
2.6 The survey concentrated on macrophytes, with only incidental records being made of bryophytes. The abundance of each species was recorded using the DOMIN Scale, i.e. Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional and Rare. Where species are localised or patch-forming, the additional term Local was also applied.
2.7 All species were identified using Stace (1997) and guides such as Rich & Jermy (1998), in accordance with the nomenclature of Preston et al. (2003). Their national status was assessed using Preston et al. (2003) and the local status within Hall (1980).
2.8 Certain species were grouped together and the actual species richness therefore slightly under-estimated, while assumptions were also made concerning other species. Those dealt with in this fashion are as follows:
• Dandelion Taraxacum officinale agg., Mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum agg., Polygonum aviculare agg., Fat-hen Chenopodium album agg., Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. and Dog Rose Rosa canina agg. – No attempt was made to identify separate any species within these species aggregates.
• Willow/sallows Salix sp(p). – This is such a complex hybridising genus that little attempt has been made to separate other than the most obvious species.
Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
Protected Species
2.9 The Site was also assessed for its potential to contain protected and/or nationally uncommon species. In particular, attention was given to the more likely species to occur such as Badger Meles meles, Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius, bats, reptiles, amphibians and breeding birds.
Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
3. RESULTS
Desk Study
Nature Conservation Context
3.1 There are two statutory sites of nature conservation interest within a 2km radius of relevance to the Site, these being:
Marline Valley Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – A 55ha woodland, the majority (40.3ha) also being designated as Marline Wood Local Nature Reserve (LNR) – see Appendix 1a. It lies approximately 650m to the west of the Site at its nearest point, from which it is separated by the width of the Queensway Bypass.
• It mostly consists of a Pedunculate Oak-Hornbeam (Silver Birch-Hazel variant) woodland community that is managed under a coppice with standards system. There is also ghyll woodland present, the stream valley including three uncommon Atlantic bryophytes – Fissidens rivularis, Tetrodontium brownianum and Metzgeria furcata.
Maplehurst Wood SSSI – A 31ha woodland that lies approximately 500m to the east of the Site, from which it is separated by residential housing and the Ridgeway road – see Appendix 1b.
• It mostly consists of a Pedunculate Oak-Hornbeam woodland community and is managed as coppice with standards. There is also a Pedunculate Oak-Ash damp woodland community and Alder woodland. Uncommon plants include Herb Paris Paris quadrifolia, Thin-spiked Wood-sedge Carex strigosa and the uncommon moss Hookeria lucens.
3.2 The Site itself lies within a non-statutory site of nature conservation interest, this being Hollington Valley Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) [Site Ref: Ha14] – see Appendix 1c.
• This is a 12ha area of secondary woodland, Ancient Woodland, willow carr and meadows that is centred along the wooded valley of the Hollington Stream. There are various uncommon plants associated with woodland, e.g. Green-flowered Helleborine Epipactis phyllanthes, and with undisturbed grassland, such as Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus.
Ancient Woodland Context
3.3 There are numerous stands of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) within a 2km radius of the Site, the most relevant of which is:
• Un-named Wood ASNW – A woodland stand approximately 0.21ha in size that lies less than 10m distance to the south-west at its nearest point to the Site.
Protected Species Context
3.4 The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the new Queensway Gateway Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
Road [Planning Consent HS/FA/14/00832] contains background information on protected species that occur within the surrounding Hollington Valley SNCI immediately north and east of the Site.
3.5 Protected species that were detected within the adjacent land included:
• Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius – A nest was detected during a nest tube survey and there are also confirmed results for these species on the northern side of the Queensway between 2006 to 2012.
• Roosting Bats – Two separate roosts were detected in 2015, each consisting of a single bat, these being Common Pipistrelle Pipistellus pipistrellus and Soprano Pipistrelle P. pygmaeus.
• Foraging Bats – As well as Common Pipistrelle and Soprano, an automated 2014 survey also recorded Noctule Nyctalus noctua, a long-eared bat Plecotus cf. auritus and Myosotis sp.
• Reptiles – Slow Worm Anguis fragilis and Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara occurred here as ‘good’ and ‘low’ sized populations (based on Froglife, 1999), but these populations have since been translocated.
Extended Phase I Habitat Survey
3.6 The walkover survey recorded a total of just 33 plant species during a walkover on 12th January 2018, see Table 1, none of which would be regarded as uncommon on a national, regional or local scale.
3.7 Just five principal habitat types were noted within the Site, see Figure 1, and these are listed below along with their JNCC (2003) habitat codes:
• Scrub Woodland & Bramble Scrub [A2.1];
• Mature Broadleaf Trees [A3.1];
• Mixed Scrub/Tall Ruderal Vegetation [Uncoded];
• Bracken [C1.1]; and
• Poor Semi-Improved Grassland [B6].
In addition, there were Fences [J2.4] and fresh Bare Ground [J4] – none of which had any significant floral interest and so are not considered further.
Scrub & Mixed Scrub
3.8 Secondary woodland covers the south-western third of the Site, mostly composed of bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. beneath maturing saplings of Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, Hazel Corylus avellana, Pedunculate oak Quercus robur and a single Turkey Oak Q. cerris.
3.9 These trees are up to 220mm diameter at breast height (dbh), therefore this Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
emerging woodland is relatively recent. The ground layer is almost devoid of vegetation, other than scattered Nettle Urtica dioica, Cleavers Galium aparine and Common Feather-moss Kindbergia praelonga.
3.10 No Ancient Woodland Vascular Plants (AWVPs) were noted here, however, this survey was undertaken out-of-season.
Mature Broadleaf Trees
3.11 A few larger trees were present that appeared to represent a different age class, and these probably represent mature sapling that colonised longer ago. They include a Pedunculate Oak (@ 400mm dbh), a line of three Hazel coppice stools and a coppiced Ash Fraxinus excelsior, see Figure 1.
Mixed Scrub/Tall Ruderal Vegetation & Bracken
3.12 Definable areas within the scrub woodland include a dense stand of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum and another composed of Rosebay Willowherb Chamaerion angustifolium and Nettle, intermixed with bramble.
Poor Semi-Improved Grassland
3.13 There are few grass and herb species present but, of those species present, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra can be indicative of better quality grasslands. As the grassland was examined at an unfavourable time of the year for a botanical survey, the grassland was placed into this category to ensure it was not under- valued.
Off-Site Habitats
3.14 To the south-west of the Site lies an un-named fragment of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) that is bound by a post-and-rail fence. Here there was obvious signs of a woodland of long continuity based (i) on the occurrence of Hazel coppice stools and (ii) the presence of Ancient Woodland Vascular Plants such as Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta.
Protected Species
Badger
3.15 No signs of Badger presence were evident. For this reason, this species is considered unlikely to be of significance and so is not considered further.
Roosting Bats
3.16 None of the trees provided natural bat roosting potential. For this reason, these species are considered unlikely to be of significance and so are not considered further.
Hazel Dormouse
3.17 Two trees, one inside the Site and one that appears to lie immediately outside (see Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
Target Notes TN1 and TN2 on Figure 1), had attached dormouse boxes. Assuming these were installed as part of the mitigation work for the new access road then they were presumably erected sometime between 2015 to 2017. Otherwise, they could represent the actions of a local conservation group
Reptiles
3.18 The open grassland is featureless and tightly grazed by Rabbit so has little or no potential for reptiles. It also has a sharply defined interface with the adjacent dense scrub that would not be regarded as favourable for reptile occupation.
3.19 The grassland has also been subjected to a reptile translocation exercise and is still partly surrounded by a reptile exclusion fence.
3.20 The scrub woodland is underlain a bare and featureless ground layer and this would be considered very poor reptile habitat that is also heavily shaded.
3.21 For these reasons, coupled with the small size of the scrub habitat, reptiles are not considered to be significant and are not considered further.
Amphibians
3.22 The only amphibian breeding habitat shown on the Ordnance Survey base for the surrounding 500m radius, are two large ponds that have previously been surveyed for Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus (GCN) – see Phase I Ecology Report: Queensway Industrial Access Road, Hastings (applied Ecology Ltd., August 2013). No GCN life stages were detected and the ponds were found to have large fish populations.
3.23 For this reason, this species is considered unlikely to be of significance and so is not considered further.
Breeding Birds
3.24 The dense scrub within the Site provides potential breeding bird habitat, especially for small woodland and garden birds such as Robin and Wren Troglodytes troglodytes.
Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
4. EVALUATION
4.1 This Site forms part of an area of land known as LRA8 that is designated for employment development (B use classes) within the Development Management Plan (Hastings Borough Council, 2015). LRA8 is to be developed as an extension to the West Ridge employment area and includes a new access road between Whitworth Road and Queensway that is currently under construction.
4.2 Part of the Site currently lies within the construction area for the new access road known as the Queensway Gateway Road, see Planning Consent [Ref: HS/FA/14/00832], and therefore consists of disturbed bare soil. The remainder of the Site is mainly composed of scrub woodland and grassland.
Nature Conservation Context
4.3 The Site is well-separated from the Marline Valley Woods SSSI and Maplehurst Wood SSSI by over 500m distance, the intervening land being variously composed of residential and industrial estates and main roads. There is no hydrological connectivity between these SSSIs and the Site.
4.4 For these reasons, no adverse impacts upon these statutorily protected nature conservation sites are considered likely and therefore they are not considered further.
Hollington Valley SNCI
4.5 The Site lies within Hollington Valley SNCI and therefore forms part of the network of constituent habitats that define this non-statutory nature conservation site.
4.6 None of the most significant habitats that are mentioned in the SNCI citation are present within the Site, i.e. Ancient Woodland, willow carr or undisturbed meadows, while the habitats that are present are regarded as secondary disturbed habitats. All of these disturbed habitats are regarded as being common and widespread and readily re-creatable, and therefore they would not be regarded as being of significant ecological value.
4.7 The Site does in part, however, provide a buffer to the adjacent ASNW to the south- west, a buffer that would be regarded as important for two particular reasons:
• Natural England Standing Advice to Local Planning Authorities on Ancient Woodland and Veteran Trees (as revised in November 2017), seeks a minimum buffer of 15m from the woodland edge.
• Part of the Root Protection Area (RPA) for the larger trees within the Ancient Woodland (e.g. see Pedunculate Oak on Figure 1) will extend into the Site.
4.8 So although the Site habitats are not of significant ecological value, they are very compatible with the adjacent ASNW.
4.9 The botanical survey did not identify any compatible Ancient Woodland Vascular Plants [AWVPs] (Rose, 1999) within the Site, and few to none would be anticipated based on the disturbed nature of the habitats. However, it is acknowledged that the Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
survey was undertaken at an unfavourable time of the year so the botanical survey is not completely reliable.
4.10 For this reason, a spring 2018 botanical survey is recommended to confirm the January results.
Habitats/Features
4.11 The most significant features within the Site are the presence of semi-mature saplings of native trees. These are compatible with adjacent ASNW to the south- west and almost certainly naturally grown.
4.12 To retain trees or to minimise root or canopy impacts upon them, it is strongly recommended that an arboricultural survey is undertaken of the Site and the leading edge of the surrounding ASNW to the south-west. This should be undertaken in accordance with BS 5837: 2012 Guide for Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition & Construction: Recommendations (BSI Standards Limited, April 2012 - ISBN 978 0 580 699177). This will also ensure that no significant arboricultural impacts would be anticipated to trees within ASNW as a result of any proposed development footprint.
Protected Species
4.13 The only protected species that might be associated with the Site are bats, Hazel Dormouse and breeding birds.
Bats
4.14 All species of bat are protected in the UK on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000), and on Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations, 1994. The latter further implements European legislation protecting bats. Bats are also protected from cruel ill-treatment by the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act, 1996.
4.15 Bats are highly protected species, the protection being conferred on a population and their roosting habitat. Live bats do not need to be present to confer protection on the roost habitat, and confirmation of a bat roost can be made on the basis of relatively fresh droppings and/or combined with roost potential.
4.16 The Site lies within Hollington Valley SNCI and surveys here in 2015 confirmed that individuals of Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle are roosting within the SNCI. Other bat species were also recorded as flight activity within the SNCI, and this could be due to foraging or even commuting to/from a roost.
4.17 It is recommended that bat activity surveys are undertaken in spring 2018 in order to confirm whether there are bat populations associated with the adjacent ASNW to the south-west. The presence of bat flight lines needs to be taken into account with regard to any lighting arrangements as well as soft landscaping recommendations.
Hazel Dormouse
4.18 Hazel Dormouse is a European Protected Species (EPS) and as such is afforded Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
full legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and by the Habitat Regulations 1994. In summary, these make it an offence to damage or destroy abreeding site or resting place, intentionally or recklessly obstruct any place used for shelter or protection, deliberately, intentionally or recklessly disturb a dormouse or intentionally kill, injure or take a dormouse.
4.19 Hazel Dormouse is a predominantly nocturnal arboreal species that is most often associated with ancient woodlands and old hazel coppice. Dormouse will also use Bramble scrub during the summer months for foraging where this is linked to woodland habitat. Hazel Dormice hibernate throughout the winter and are therefore vulnerable to impacts during this period.
4.20 This species is known to occur within Hollington Valley SNCI and surrounding woodland, so the Site could feasibly form part of a Hazel Dormouse territory. Indeed, the presence of nesting boxes may have established Hazel Dormouse here, while the presence of suitable foraging habitat both within and adjacent to the Site further increases the potential for Hazel Dormouse to occur.
4.21 For these reasons, it is recommended that a nest tube survey is undertaken of the Site and its surroundings to confirm whether Hazel Dormouse are present.
Breeding Birds
4.22 Breeding birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and amendments, and in accordance with the CROW Act 2000. This legislation makes it necessary to ensure that breeding birds are not disturbed or harmed during the nesting season.
4.23 The Phase I Ecology Report: Queensway Industrial Access Road, Hastings (applied Ecology Ltd., August 2013) recorded 18 species of breeding bird within Hollington Valley SNCI, and these included the following species of conservation consern:
• Song Thrush – Red-Listed BoCC and Species of Principal Importance (SPI); • Dunnock – Amber-Listed BoCC and SPI; • Common Whitethroat and Green Woodpecker – Amber-Listed BoCC; • Bullfinch – SPI.
4.24 Although the Site itself is too small to be of significance for breeding birds, it might be used by one or more of these uncommon species.
4.25 A breeding bird survey of the Site and its immediate surroundings (including the un- named Ancient Woodland) is therefore recommended in spring 2018.
Land west of Whitworth Road, The Ridge West, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea Ecological Appraisal Report ______
5. CONCLUSIONS
5.1 The baseline nature conservation and ecology associated with the Site is established in section 3 of this Report.
5.2 No statutorily designated sites of nature conservation interest occur within or adjacent to the Site, and those occurring within a 1km radius of the Site are not considered likely to be influenced by the proposed development.
5.3 The Site lies within Hollington Valley SNCI and so any constituent habitats form part of this non-statutory nature conservation site.
5.4 This Site forms part of an area of land known as LRA8 that is designated for employment development (B use classes) within the Development Management Plan (Hastings Borough Council, 2015). Should it be considered for development, given its SNCI status then additional baseline ecology surveys are recommended to confirm (i) the January 2018 botanical survey results, (ii) bat activity, (iii) Hazel Dormouse status and (iv) breeding birds – see section 4 of this Report.
5.5 In order to conform with Natural England Standing Advice on Ancient Woodland and Veteran Trees, should development proposals be considered for this Site then an arboricultural assessment is also recommended to prevent/minimise arboricultural impacts – see paras. 4.11 to 4.12 of this Report.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"#$%&'
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! TABLE 1 - FLORAL LIST FOR LAND AT WHITWORTH ROAD
ABUNDANCE (DAFOR) Dense Scrub SPECIES COMMON NAME Poor SI [A2.1] with Bracken [C1.1] Grassland [B6] Mature Trees [A3.1]
Ferns (2 spp.) Dryopteris felix-mas Male Fern - R - Pteridium aquilinum Bracken - O D
Grasses, Sedges & Rushes (2 spp.) Agrostis capillaris Common Bent O - - Holcus lanatus Yorkshire F - -
Herbs (22 spp.) Arum maculatum Lords-and-ladies - R R Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed R-LO R - Cerastium fontanum agg. A mouse-ear R - - Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay Willowherb - LF - Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle R - - Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle R - - Galium aparine Cleavers - R-LO - Geum urbanum Wood Avens - O - Glechoma hederacea ground-ivy R - - Prunella vulgare Selfheal - LO - Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup R - - Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup - R - Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celendine - R - Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup O LO - Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel O - - Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock - R - Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort O - - Silene dioica Red Campion - LO-LF - Stellaria media Common Stitchwort R - - Urtica dioica Common Nettle LO O (-LF*1) LO Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell R - - Viola odorata Sweet Violet R - -
Trees & Shrubs (7 spp.) O Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore - - (to 150mm dbh) O Corylus avellana Hazel - (200 to 300mm - dbh) Hedera helix Ivy - LO - R Quercus cerris Turkey Oak - - (to 150mm dbh) O Quercus rubur Pedunculate Oak - - (to 200mm dbh) Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble - F-LD - Sambucus nigra Elder - R -
Legend: *1 Estimated based upon dead stems. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"#$%&'!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Species Abbreviations:
Cave - Corylus avellana Fexc - Fraxinus excelsior Paqu - Pteridium aquilinum Qrob - Quercus robur Rfru - Rubus fruticosus agg. Udio - Urtica dioica
TN1 - Bird Box TN2 - Bird Boxes TN3 - Hollington Stream TN4 - Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !""#$%&'#(!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Appendix 1
Appendix 1a
COUNTY: EAST SUSSEX SITE NAME: MARLINE VALLEY WOODS
BOROUGH/DISTRICT: HASTINGS, ROTHER
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Local Planning Authority: HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL, Rother District Council
National Grid Reference: TQ 780122 Area: 55.0 (ha.) 135.82 (ac.)
Ordnance Survey Sheets 1:50,000: 199 1:10,000: TQ 71 SE
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1965
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1986 Date of Last Revision: 1989
Other Information: Part of this site is a reserve of the Sussex Wildlife Trust. This site was formerly known as Marline Wood.
Reasons for Notification: These ancient woodlands on Wadhurst Clay and Lower Tunbridge Wells sandstone are dominated by a nationally uncommon woodland type. A valuable feature of the site is the steep sided stream valley (ghyll) which contains plants that have an ‘Atlantic’ distribution. The site also includes an area of species-rich unimproved grassland, a nationally declining habitat.
The nationally uncommon pedunculate oak-bornbeam (birch-hazel variant) woodland type dominates the woods. There is some variation in composition due to local differences in drainage, soil type, slope and management. There is a history of management under the coppicewith-standards system. The ghyll has been created by vigorous downcutting of the stream through the soft sandstones which underlie the Wadhurst clay. It has a moist and warm microclimate which favours ‘Atlantic’ plants, now restricted in Britain to the Weald and the west of the country.
Standards of pedunculate oak Quercus robur are widespread throughout above coppice of hornbeam Carpinus betulus and, less commonly, hazel Corylus avellana or sweet chestnut Castanea sativa. There are scattered stands of birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior, field maple Acer campestre and beech Fagus sylvatica. Alder Alnus glutinosa occurs discontinuously along the stream valley and in small flushes which drain into the stream. Occasional stands of alder coppice are present. Active coppicing has generally reduced the shrub layer but holly Ilex aquifolium is locally common and two shrubs associated with ancient woodland are present: butcher’s- broom Ruscus aculeatus and midland hawthorn Crataegus laevigata. The ground flora varies with the current state of management, but honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum, enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea lutetiana, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and wood avens Geum urbanum are often abundant. The stream valley and lateral flushes support a flora of pendulous sedge Carex pendula, yellow archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium. Two wide rides have been cut through Marline Wood and are dominated by tufted hair grass Deschampsia cespitosa with bramble Rubus fruticosus.
The stream valley supports 61 species of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) including 3 uncommon ‘Atlantic’ species: Fissidens rivularis, Tetrodontium brownianum and Metzgeria furcata. Other plants of the ghyll area include soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum and broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata.
The agriculturally unimproved pasture supports a species-rich neutral grassland flora, dominated by lesser knapweed Centaurea nigra, red fescue Festuca rubra and common bent Agrostis capillaris. Other species adding to the interest of the pasture include adder’s-tongue fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, dyer’s greenweed Genista tinctoria, quaking grass Briza media and common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii.
Appendix 1b
COUNTY: EAST SUSSEX SITE NAME: MAPLEHURST WOOD
BOROUGH: HASTINGS
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Local Planning Authority: HASTINGS BOROUGH COUNCIL
National Grid Reference: TQ 807134 Area: 31.6 (ha.) 78.08 (ac.)
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 199 1:10,000: TQ 81 SW
Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1966 Date of Last Revision: –
Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1985 Date of Last Revision: –
Other Information:
Reasons for Notification: An area of ancient woodland on Wadhurst clay and Ashdown sands. The wood is the only East Sussex location of one plant species and is valuable for local breeding birds.
Maplehurst Wood is on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1816. This, and the presence of an old ditch and bank system, suggests it is likely that there has been continuous woodland cover here since at least the Middle Ages. Parts of the site have been modified by sweet chestnut Castanea sativa coppice but a large area remains semi-natural. Variations in geology, drainage and management account for the range of woodland types. A network of woodland rides is present and the more open ones support a range of common grassland plants.
Semi-natural parts of the wood are mostly of hornbeam Carpinus betulus coppice with standards of pedunculate oak Quercus robur. Hazel Corylus avellana coppice, birch Betula pendula, ash Fraxinus excelsior and field maple Acer campestre are scattered throughout this type. The shrub layer is often diverse and includes hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, holly Ilex aquifolium, alder buckthorn Frangula alnus, guelder rose Viburnum opulus, buckthorn Rhamnus catharticus, spindle Euonymus europaeus and wild privet Ligustrum vulgare. The ground flora varies with the current state of management but bramble Rubus fruticosus, dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis, enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana and ivy Hedera helix are the most common herbs.
Other woodland types occupy smaller areas. Mature oak with hazel coppice in the north-east occurs with hornbeam, ash and field maple above a dense ground flora of dog’s mercury, ivy, enchanter’s nightshade and bugle Ajuga reptans. A base rich area is dominated by an oak-ash-hazel wood with a very lush ground flora which includes herb paris Paris quadrifolia in its only East Sussex locality. In addition alder Alnus glutinosa is scattered along the streams which run through the site. The stream valleys are notable for the presence of thin spiked wood sedge Carex strigosa and the uncommon moss Hookeria lucens.
The wood is locally important for breeding birds which include kestrel, tawny owl, greater spotted woodpecker, cuckoo and nuthatch.
Appendix 1b
SITE OF NATURE CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE (SNCI)
East Sussex
Site Name: Hollington Valley
Site Ref: Ha14
District: Hastings
National TQ793127 Grid Ref:
Size (ha): 12.00
Date: Identified April 1998. Revised Sept 2008.
Habitat: Semi-natural woodland with associated stream and meadows
INTRODUCTION
Situated between Sedlescombe Road North and Battle Road, the habitat forms part of the significant Hollington Valley habitat complex which runs continuous with the Hollington Stream and forms one of the most significant valley corridors in the Borough.
The area supports a range of complimentary and continuous habitats which include ancient semi-natural woodland, meadow with willow carr, secondary semi-natural woodland, an excellent pond feature, and open running water by way of the Hollington Stream.
Such a large corridor system and habitat matrix form the essential elements of the green network of the borough and provide a unique countryside experience within the town. Access to the area extends from the Ridge in the north to Hollington in the south.
SITE NOTES
A path leads into the site from the Ridge and cuts through remnant ancient woodland, the eastern side of which has a canopy of predominantly oak and ash with an understorey of blackthorn and hawthorn. There is good regeneration of the canopy trees, with little evidence of much sycamore. The woodland floor supports wood avens, wood dock and large patches of wood speedwell. The western part of the wood supports a greater variety of tree species including horse chestnut, sycamore and hornbeam as well as oak and ash and field maple. This part of the wood borders the Ridge and adjacent farmland.
The footpath itself supports a rich variety of path edge species, including wood dock, ox-eye daisy, herb robert, a variety of rose species, red campion and wood avens along with a variety of plants such as hop trefoil, brambles, stitchwort, clovers, meadow buttercup. Of special note is the presence of pyramidal orchid and green flowered helleborine, both of which are particularly unusual in Hastings. The path is integral to the entire site, as it provides walkers with a countryside experience and leads into the rest of the SNCI. It is a particularly well used path for local residents.
The path leads to an enclosed meadow area which is bounded on all sides by a mature and diverse hedge line with trees.
The meadow is bisected by an open drain which feeds the pond in the southern adjacent woodland. The northern part of the drain provides an excellent environment for the growth of a dense willow scrub resulting in a carr habitat. This gives way to the wet margins of the drain which support a valuable and dense growth of hemlock water dropwort and great willowherb for the entire length of this wetland feature. Within this wet habitat there is profuse growth of soft rush, silverweed and fleabane with aquatic figwort, hemp agrimony and water pepper. The drain provides an unusual habitat and one that would appear to be fairly unique in its abundance and diversity of vegetation. The shallow nature and width of the wet area supports plants best suited to this environment such as the water dropwort, a plant of unusual character and relatively rare within Hastings, found in few other sites. The relative scarcity of the plant, and other damp and wetland species is undoubtedly due to the absence of good quality damp and wet marginal habitats in the Borough.
The meadow edge supports a mature woodland edge composition with ash, oak, sycamore, blackthorn,
birch, elder, holly, bramble, bracken and rose species in an excellent habitat structure. Lesser trefoil, common cat's ear, beaked and marsh hawksbeard, nipplewort, common field speedwell, yellow rattle and foxglove are all part of the dynamic mix at the meadow edge.
The main meadow area is characterised by a variety of grassland species with cut-leaved geranium, fleabane, common field speedwell, pignut, germander speedwell and creeping cinquefoil all found in the grassland habitat. There are areas of bramble and bracken clumps which further diversify the habitat structure and provide additional food and shelter for wildlife. Other meadow species which can be found are common knapweed, stitchwort, yellow rattle, birds-foot trefoil and meadow vetchling.
The meadow represents one of the few remaining and certainly one of the best examples of this habitat type, with associated habitat complexes, left in the Borough. The rich variety of meadow flowers are the primary food source for an array of butterfly species, insects and moths. Notable on site is the abundance of ant hills.
The adjacent Willows Wood is situated to the south of the main meadow area. It is predominantly birch and sycamore wood of an open aspect, with hazel, holly and hawthorn growing and a wet flush area supporting a dense area of alder carr.
There is no rank vegetation or extensive bramble thickets. The ground flora forms a carpet of bluebells and wood anemone in the spring. Where the woodland opens out close to the stream the floral diversity increases with wood sorrel, wild celery, woodrush, opposite-leaved golden saxifrage and cuckoo flower. Where there are wet margins to the stream water mint and great willowherb extend into the pond area. The pond is used by anglers and has a good coverage of reedmace with marginal vegetation.
The public footpath which leads down Beauharrow Lane, skirting the outside edge of the wood, has a typically disturbed flora of cow parsley, hedge mustard and ground elder. Interestingly, dog's mercury is found at this edge environment but not as part of the main woodland flora. The path leads into and through Willows Wood which forms a continuous belt of semi-natural habitat.
The edge graduates from the disturbed ground flora at the path side to a typical shrubby edge of blackthorn and hawthorn, interspersed with ivy and bramble thickets. The Hollington stream runs down the western edge of the path. The stream side vegetation is particularly dense with abundant ramsons and wood anemone and regeneration of sycamore, holly, hawthorn, elder and ash alongside alder. Some gooseberry bushes are also growing beside the stream.
Further south, where the stream meanders, there are obvious signs of occasional flooding. Woodrush, equisetum and opposite leaved golden saxifrage can be found along most of the streamside. The stream is crossed by a bridge which leads out to either Battle Road or Sedlescome Road North. A large number of semi-mature alder trees are present at this part of the wood.
The main woodland belt between the path and stream consists of a ground flora of wood anemone and ramsons with associated black nightshade and hemp agrimony with rose spp. The wood is characterised by birch, willow, alder, ash and gean, particularly at the southern end.
The eastern side of the path has a sparser ground flora with less prolific tree regeneration. The wood here is dominated by mature gean and some of the oldest stands of mature blackthorn bushes seen anywhere in the Borough. There are also less bramble thickets.
Across the bridge on the western side of the stream lies an area of disused allotments which now provides an excellent dense bramble habitat with regenerating trees.
DISCUSSION The site represents an excellent matrix of wildlife habitats which form part of the greater Hollington Valley which has the Hollington Stream and associated woodlands running its course. The valley forms a very major wildlife corridor and one of the best wildlife habitats within the Borough.
The open meadow area together with the unique carr habitat graduating into woodland with woodland pond make the area not only a valuable wildlife complex but an open countryside experience within the town for local residents. With the development of land adjacent to Beauharrow Lane and the destruction of a large area of blackthorn habitat it is essential the SNCI is recognised as an invaluable and irreplaceable habitat of excellent quality and an asset for the people of Hastings to enjoy.
The entire site has obvious potential for management as a community resource where paths, signposts and way marking could contribute to the site. As a large matrix of complimentary habitats, the SNCI has
few rivals in the Borough, and the potential for creating and promoting a green network of footpaths for local residents and visitors should be a strong management objective.
Borough Plan Considerations
Part of the site is identified as employment land and land required for the proposed bypass.
Appendix 2
Appendix 2 - Location of Ancient Woodland
(c) Crown Copyright and database rights 2018. Ordnance Survey 100022861.
Legend Priority Habitat Inventory - Coastal Saltmarsh (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh (England) 0 0.035 0.07
Priority Habitat Inventory - Coastal Sand Dunes (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Good quality semi-improved grassland (Non Priority) (England) km Priority Habitat Inventory - Coastal Vegetated Shingle (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Lowland Calcareous Grassland (England)
Priority Habitat Inventory - Maritime Cliffs and Slopes (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Lowland Dry Acid Grassland (England) Projection = OSGB36 Priority Habitat Inventory - Mudflats (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Lowland Meadows (England) xmin = 579100 ymin = 112900 Priority Habitat Inventory - Saline Lagoons (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Purple Moor Grass and Rush P asture (England) xmax = 579500 Saline Lagoons (Wales) Priority Habitat Inventory - Upland Calcareous Grassland (England) ymax = 113100 Saltmarsh (Wales) Priority Habitat Inventory - Upland Hay Meadows (England) Map produced by MAGIC on 13 January, 2018. Copyright resides with the data suppliers and the Sand Dunes (Wales) Priority Habitat Inventory - Lowland Heathland (England) map must not be reproduced without their permission. Some information in MAGIC is a snapshot of the Priority Habitat Inventory - Calaminarian Grassland (England) Priority Habitat Inventory - Mountain Heaths and Willow Scrub (England) information that is being maintained or continually updated by the originating organisation. Please refer to the metadata for details as information may be illustrative or representative rather than definitive at this stage. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"#$#%&'!"(!
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Looking NW across Site.
Looking south across the Site.
Looking north across Site.
Looking east across Bracken stand within Site.
Un-named ASNW woodland adjacent to Site, with post and rail fence.