Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry 10 December 2013
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CEMEX UK Operations Ltd Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry Ecological Walkover Survey 10 December 2013 100 St John Street, London, EC1M 4EH Tel: 020 7250 7500 Fax: 020 7250 7501 Email: [email protected] www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Document Control Project: Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry Client: CEMEX UK Operations Ltd Job Number: A084728-2 File Origin: G:\Projects\Projects A084000 on\A084718-2 Manor Farm\WORKING\A084718-2 Manor Farm ecological walkover 05Dec2013.docx Document Checking: Prepared by: Duncan Smith CEnv MCIEEM Signed: Senior Ecologist Checked and Claire Wilmer CEnv MCIEEM Signed: verified by: Director of Ecology Issue Date Status 1 10.12.13 Final issue 2 3 4 WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd. accept no responsibility or liability for the use which is made of this document other than by the Client for the purpose for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Development Proposals .............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Survey and Reporting Objectives ................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Data Search Results ................................................................................................................... 2 3.0 Survey Methodology .......................................................................................................... 8 3.1 General ..................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Habitats .................................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Protected and Notable Species .................................................................................................... 8 3.4 Invasive Species ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.5 Limitations ............................................................................................................................... 10 4.0 Walkover Survey Results ................................................................................................ 12 4.1 Habitats .................................................................................................................................. 12 4.2 Protected and Notable Species .................................................................................................. 14 4.3 Invasive Species ...................................................................................................................... 16 5.0 Ecological Impacts and Recommendations..................................................................... 17 5.1 Statutory and Non-statutory Sites ............................................................................................. 17 5.2 Habitats .................................................................................................................................. 17 5.3 Protected and Notable Species .................................................................................................. 18 6.0 Summary of Recommendations ...................................................................................... 22 7.0 References ....................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix Contents Appendix A – Figures Appendix B - Photographs Appendix C – Biodiversity and Environmental Legislation, Conventions & Threatened Lists Appendix D – Data Search Results www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry: Ecological Walkover Survey 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background WYG was commissioned by CEMEX UK Operations Ltd in November 2013 to undertake an ecological assessment of revised restoration proposals at Manor Farm, Longwater Road, Finchampstead, following approval of the existing restoration scheme in December 2006 (VAR/2006/8160). The variation relates to an increase in the amount of reed bed habitat created and an extension to the time limit for the site’s restoration. 1.2 Development Proposals The proposals at Manor Farm are to extend the time limit for restoration of the site by 5 years, and a revision of the approved restoration scheme to include additional reedbed. It is understood that mineral extraction is finished at Manor Farm, but that filling with inert material is still to take place at the south of the site. This includes the locations of the proposed reedbed extensions. 1.3 Survey and Reporting Objectives The ecological investigations undertaken by WYG included: • A desk study to obtain existing information on statutory and non-statutory sites of nature conservation interest, and records of protected/notable species within the site and its environs; • An ecological walkover survey to note broad habitat types and dominant vegetation, including any invasive species, and a reconnaissance survey for evidence of protected fauna or habitats capable of supporting such species; • An investigation of features within the site for their potential to support bats; and • An assessment of the potential ecological constraints to the proposed works at the site and recommendations for further survey, avoidance, mitigation and enhancement where appropriate. CEMEX UK Operations Ltd A084728-2 1 10/12/2013 Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry: Ecological Walkover Survey 2.0 Desk Study 2.1 Methodology As the Eversley Quarry site straddles the border of Hampshire and Berkshire, information was gathered from Hampshire Biological Records Centre (HBIC) and the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC), the ecological records centres for Hampshire and Berkshire respectively, regarding the presence of nature conservation designations and protected and notable species within 3km of the centre of Eversley Quarry (centred on OS grid reference SU 794 623). In addition, a search for statutory nature conservation sites was made of Natural England’s interactive, web-based MAGIC (Multi Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside) database. The data search covers: • Statutory nature conservation designations, such as National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest; • Non-statutory nature conservation designations, such as Wildlife Sites; • Protected species, such as badgers, great crested newts and bats; and • Notable species, such as those listed in the local Biodiversity Action Plan. The data search did not include Tree Preservation Orders and non-nature conservation designations. 2.2 Data Search Results The results of the HBIC and TVERC data search are summarised below. Further records are available on request to relevant parties. 2.2.1 Statutory Sites The HBIC and TVERC data search showed the following seven statutory sites within the search area. CEMEX UK Operations Ltd A084728-2 2 10/12/2013 Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry: Ecological Walkover Survey Table 1 : Statutory sites within 3km of the Eversley Quarry (centred on NGR: SU 794 623). Statutory site Approx Reason of Designation distance from Eversley Quarry site centre Special Protection Areas (SPA) Thames Basin Heaths SPA 2.50km The site supports internationally important breeding populations of nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus , woodlark Lullula arborea , and Dartford warbler Sylvia undata . National Nature Reserve (NNR) Castle Bottom NNR 2.55km from Castle Bottom National Nature Reserve is a Eversley small lowland site containing one of the most Quarry site important valley mires in southern England, centre with associated heathland and woodland habitats. Castle Bottom NNR is also part of Castle Bottom Thames Basin Heaths SPA, and NNR is Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley 2.41km from Commons SSSI. Manor Farm at it closest point; Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Castle Bottom to Yateley and Hawley 2.50km from Heathland and young conifer plantation Commons SSSI. Eversley which supports an internationally important Quarry site population of Dartford warbler, woodlark and centre. nightjar. This site is also part of Thames Basin Heaths SPA Castle Bottom to Yateley and Thames Basin Heaths SPA is 2.31km Hawley from Manor Farm at its closest point. Commons SSSI is 1.90km from Manor Farm at its closest point Bramshill SSSI 2.64km from This site is notified for a series of shallow Eversley acid ponds and associated mire, which Quarry site support a rich assemblage of dragonfly and Bramshill SSSI is 2.60km from Manor Centre damselfly, and rotationally felled conifer Farm at its closest point. plantation, which provides habitat for internationally important populations of CEMEX UK Operations Ltd A084728-2 3 10/12/2013 Manor Farm, Eversley Quarry: Ecological Walkover Survey Statutory site Approx Reason of Designation distance from Eversley Quarry site centre nightjar,