EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY CHAILEY BRICKWORKS SOUTH CHAILEY A Report to Ibstock Brick Ltd Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Triumph House Birmingham Road Allesley Coventry CV5 9AZ Tel: 01676 525880 Fax: 01676 521400 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.middlemarch-environmental.com Report Number: RT-MME-102747 Rev 1 July 2008 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY CHAILEY BRICKWORKS SOUTH CHAILEY CONTROLLED COPY 01 OF 02 01 IBSTOCK BRICK LTD 02 MIDDLEMARCH ENVIRONMENTAL LTD This report was conducted & compiled by Lucy Philpott BSc (Hons) AIEEM The contents of this report are the responsibility of Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. It should be noted, that whilst every effort is made to meet the client’s brief, no site investigation can ensure complete assessment or prediction of the natural environment Contract Number C102747 July 2008 Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 2 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4 1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 4 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 4 2. METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 6 2.1 DESK STUDY ................................................................................................... 6 2.2 EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ........................................................... 6 3. DESK STUDY RESULTS ................................................................................... 7 3.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES ...................................................................... 7 3.2 PROTECTED SPECIES ....................................................................................... 8 4. EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ................................................. 11 4.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 11 4.2 HABITATS ..................................................................................................... 11 4.3 FAUNA .......................................................................................................... 19 5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................. 20 5.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES .................................................................... 20 5.2 HABITATS ..................................................................................................... 20 5.3 PROTECTED SPECIES ..................................................................................... 22 6. RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 26 6.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES .................................................................... 26 6.2 HABITATS ..................................................................................................... 26 6.3 PROTECTED SPECIES ..................................................................................... 26 7. REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................................................. 28 8. APPENDICES .................................................................................................... 29 APPENDIX 1 ........................................................................................................... 30 APPENDIX 2 ........................................................................................................... 35 APPENDIX 3 ........................................................................................................... 37 Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 3 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Ibstock Brick Ltd commissioned Middlemarch Environmental Ltd to undertake an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey of two distinct areas within the ownership of Chailey Brickworks, Caveridge Lane in South Chailey. It is understood that the quarry is being reviewed under the Review of Mineral Permissions (ROMP) process. The ROMP will include details of working the south of the existing quarry (Area A) and within a new area to the north west of the existing quarry (Area B), which is also permitted for clay extraction under an old consent. To fulfil the above brief to assess the existing ecological interest of the site, a desk study and an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey were undertaken. The Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was performed on the 18th June 2008. This report details and provides the following information: • Desk Study • Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey. 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION The Chailey Brickworks is located on Caveridge Lane in South Chailey, East Sussex (central National Grid Reference TQ 391 177). The site is situated on the eastern edge of South Chailey and is surrounded by woodland to the south and east with agricultural land dominating the remaining areas. The survey has been split into two distinct areas, Area A and Area B. Area A consisted of the existing quarry with adjacent broadleaved woodland in the south and along the western boundary. The central quarry was dominated by bare ground with three areas of standing water. Inundation vegetation surrounded the northern and eastern edges of the standing water. The northern bank of the quarry consisted of establishing vegetation, dense scrub and trees. A band of bracken was located along the eastern boundary of the survey area. A small stream was recorded within the woodland area south of the quarry. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 4 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Area B consisted of a plot to the north of the brick processing locale. The southern part of the survey area was dominated by a mixture of bare ground and improved grassland surrounded by scrub. The northern half of the study site comprised broadleaved woodland with sections of improved grassland, scrub and tall ruderal vegetation. Two ponds, a wet ditch and dry ditch were also recorded within Area B. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 5 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 DESK STUDY A desk study was undertaken to determine the nature conservation designations and protected species that have been recorded within 1 km of the edge of the site. This involved contacting statutory and non-statutory organisations. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd assimilated and reviewed the desk study data provided by these organisations. The consultees for the Desk Study were: • Multi Agency Geographic Information Magic Web site for statutorily conservation sites • Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre • National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway website The data collected from these consultees is discussed in Section 3. 2.2 EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY To fulfill the brief of undertaking an ecological assessment of the site, an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was conducted (JNCC, 1993). This is a standard technique for classifying and mapping British habitats. The aim is to provide a record of habitats that are likely to be ecologically important. During the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey, the presence, or potential presence, of protected species was also recorded. The data collected during the field survey is discussed in Section 4. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 6 Chailey Brickworks RT-MME-102747 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey 3. DESK STUDY RESULTS From the details provided by the consultees, relevant ecological data have been reviewed and are summarised below. Details are provided in Appendix 1. 3.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES There are two nature conservation sites with non-statutory protection within 1 km radius of the edge of the survey area. These sites are summarised in Table 3.1. In addition the data search identified 11 areas designated as Ancient Woodland, 10 of these are designated as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and one is defined as Ancient Replanted Woodland. The nearest of these Ancient Woodlands, Kiln Wood and Starvecrow Woods, forms part of the study area and details are provided in Table 3.1. Full details of the location of the woodlands can be found in Appendix 1. Site Designation Summary of Site National Approximate Grid Proximity to the Reference Site Boundary Kiln Wood & SNCI Site consists of three woods forming block of TQ 396 174 Forms part of the Starvecrow Ancient Semi- ancient woodland. Woodland as a whole is mosaic southern extent Woods Natural of overshot oak Quercus sp., oak and hornbeam of Area A Woodland Carpinus betulus coppice with ash Fraxinus excelsior coppice also present. The ground flora is generally poor due to shading but some anchient woodland indicators present in clearings including bluebells Hyacinthoides non-sripta and anemone Anemone nemorosa. Understorey consists of elder Sambucus nigra and holly Ilex aquifolim with much regeneration ash and oak. Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum is present where wood is dominated by oak. Adjoins Markstakes Common forming a potentially important wildlife corridor. Markstakes SNCI The site contains scrub, woodland, three ponds, a TQ 400 180 100 m east of Common disused clay pit and a large open area dominated by Area A, 250 m bracken Pteridium aquilinum. The woodland has a east of Area