AN INVERTEBRATE SURVEY OF ROSSINGTON COLLIERY Dr. Mark G. Telfer June 2011 version 2: 14th July 2011 This report was produced for SKM Enviros. Dr. Mark G. Telfer 10, Northall Road Eaton Bray DUNSTABLE Bedfordshire LU6 2DQ [email protected] Cover illustration: A view of Rossington Colliery. 2 Contents 0. Summary ................................................................................................................ 5 1. Introduction and Methods ...................................................................................... 5 2. Results .................................................................................................................... 8 2.1. Key Species .................................................................................................... 9 Conostethus venustus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) a mirid bug, RDBK ................. 10 Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Na) ................... 11 Agrilus laticornis (Coleoptera) a jewel-beetle, Nationally Scarce (Nb) .............. 11 Magdalis cerasi (Coleoptera) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Nb) ......................... 11 Orthochaetes setiger (Coleoptera) a weevil, Nationally Scarce (Nb) ................. 12 Heterocerus marginatus (Coleoptera) a variegated mud-loving beetle, Nationally Scarce ................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. BAP species ................................................................................................. 13 Coenonympha pamphilus (Lepidoptera) Small Heath, BAP (research only) ...... 13 Tyria jacobaeae (Lepidoptera) Cinnabar, BAP (research only) .......................... 13 2.3. BAP species searched for but NOT found ................................................... 13 Erynnis tages (Lepidoptera) Dingy Skipper, BAP (NOT found) ........................ 13 3. Site Evaluation ..................................................................................................... 14 4. Key Habitats and Habitat Features ...................................................................... 15 4.1. Woodland ..................................................................................................... 15 4.2. Ditches ......................................................................................................... 16 5. Recommendations and Mitigation ....................................................................... 17 5.1. Woodland ..................................................................................................... 17 5.2. Ditches ......................................................................................................... 17 6. Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 18 7. References ............................................................................................................ 18 Appendix 1: British conservation status categories – definitions. ............................... 20 3 Appendix 2: List of invertebrates recorded at Rossington Colliery in 2011 by Mark G. Telfer. ........................................................................................................................... 22 4 0. Summary • An invertebrate assessment of Rossington Colliery was carried out based on three survey visits in May and June 2011. • Of the 288 species of invertebrate recorded by this survey, six (2.1%) have a Red Data Book or Nationally Scarce conservation status or merit such a status. • Two BAP Priority invertebrates were recorded (Small Heath butterfly Coenonympha pamphilus and Cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae). Both are listed as requiring research action rather than action to protect and maintain individual sites. • Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council specifically requested the inclusion of Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages in the invertebrate survey of the site. Survey was carried out for this species but it was not found and there is strong evidence that it was absent. • The overall assessment is that the site is of low conservation importance for invertebrates in a national context. • The woodland fringing the eastern and southern flanks of the spoil-heap is of county importance for invertebrates. Retention was recommended and the key area of mature woodland has been excluded from the area to be affected by the proposed development. • The ditch which runs on a north-south axis on the eastern side of the railway track is of local importance for invertebrates. This ditch will be retained and measures are proposed to minimise indirect impacts upon it. 1. Introduction and Methods The site lies on the western edge of Rossington, south of Doncaster, centred at about SK 601 980 in South Yorkshire. The core of the study area comprises rather bare colliery spoil left by the former Rossington Colliery with little vegetation, showing as a grey area on the aerial photograph (Map 1). There are areas of grassland, scrub and woodland on the flanks and surrounds of the spoil-heap. The southern part of the survey area is arable farmland. There are some areas of herb-rich, sparsely-vegetated and disturbed ground on the site, notably on the south-eastern and eastern flanks of the spoil-heap and in the northern part of the site, north of the entrance road. Wetland habitats on site include the ditch which runs along the eastern edge of the survey area, through the woodland, and a ditch which runs along the eastern side of the railway track. There are also ephemeral seepage habitats on the flanks of the colliery spoil including some with apparently brackish water. It is proposed to recover coal from the spoil-heap, to transport the coal via the existing rail track to the north, and to restore the site to woodland and grassland, including public access. 5 Map 1: The survey area, delimited in magenta. Subsequent to the fieldwork phase of the survey, the boundaries of the area to be affected by the proposed development were revised and are shown delimited in red. Holmes Carr Great Wood and the “Woodland Triangle” are indicated as these areas are referred to later in the report. This survey was commissioned because the site was considered to contain potentially valuable habitats for invertebrates. It was previously the subject of an eco-town proposal but any invertebrate survey conducted in relation to that proposal has not been seen by the current author. Thus an entomological survey was commissioned in 2011 to assess the value of the site for invertebrates. One specific requirement of Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) was to include Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages in the survey work. 6 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 • assess the actual quality of the site by sampling invertebrates, and • survey for Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages. The survey has been conducted with regard to English Nature (now Natural England) guidance (Anon., 2005) and the guidance contained in Drake et al. (2007). This report is based on three survey visits on 19th May, 3rd June and 9th June 2011. 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. 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. Sieving. A useful supplement to grubbing Grassland and wetland in denser vegetation. Handfuls of vegetation. 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, Scrub and trees. flowers and foliage of shrubs and trees. Pond-netting. Aquatic beetles and bugs. Ditches. 7 Technique Target groups Target habitats Direct observation. Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, All habitats, paying grasshoppers and crickets particular attention to (Orthoptera), etc. nectar and pollen sources. The weather on 19th May 2011 was warm (forecast maximum 17 °C) and dry, with 3/8 cloud, frequent sunny intervals and a Moderate Breeze (Force 4). 3rd June was a hot (forecast maximum 24 °C), dry and cloudless day with just a Light Wind (Force 2). 9th June was cloudier (6/8), cooler (forecast maximum 16 °C) and windier with a Fresh Breeze (Force 5) but also dry. All three survey visits were thus made in very good or excellent conditions for entomological survey. 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. 2. Results The survey identified 288 species of invertebrate