Saredon (Hill) Quarry
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Saredon (Hill) Quarry: Discharge of Condition 47 (Tree and Hedgerow Planting and Protection) on Planning Permission SS.12/15/602 MW Revised and expanded, May 2016 Introduction The proposals fall into five main areas, as follows: 1. Works to existing tree belts to the north of the haul road (groups G1 to G3, as shown on Wardell Armstrong drawing ST12713-036 Rev. A, April 2014, appended to Arboricultural Assessment) – including protection measures for trees to be retained and understorey planting; 2. Planting of a new hedgerow (incorporating two oak trees) on the western boundary to the materials storage area (south-west of the haul road tree belts); 3. Planting of four more oak trees on the eastern boundary of the quarry site, south of the main entrance; 4. Planting of a new hedgerow on the south and west sides of the south-west corner of the active quarry area, with the creation of 2.5-metre high earth bunds behind the hedge lines (seeded with grass); 5. Planting of a new hedgerow on the outer side of the existing grassed bund on the southern boundary of the eastern portion of the quarry site, as shown on Wardell Armstrong Mitigation Strategy drawing, ST12713-035. The operations likewise fall into six categories: 1. Selective tree felling and cutting back in Area 1; 2. Understorey shrub planting in Area 1; 3. Hedgerow planting in Areas 2, 4 & 5; 4. Tree planting in Areas 2, 3, 4 & 5; 5. Tree/hedgerow protection (barriers) in all areas; 6. Maintenance and aftercare; replacement of dead stock (all areas) These are dealt with in turn below. 1.0 Tree Felling and Cutback in Area 1 1.1 The specification for these works has already been provided in the Wardell Armstrong document entitled Arboricultural Survey and Landscape Recommendations (April 2014). Paragraphs 2.3.1-2 discuss the tree types and split them into three groups, identified as ‘G1’, ‘G2’ and ‘G3’ on drawing ST12713-036 (Revision A). G1 and G2 are sycamores on the southern side of the tree belt, nearest to the haul road. The G1 trees have had their root protection areas (RPAs) severed by the construction of the haul road about one metre below the ground level, whilst the G2 group have had 1 part of the same road constructed over their RPAs. The northern side of the tree belt consists of a line of beech trees, which have suffered less root disturbance. 1.2 Out of a total of around 170 trees, the Wardell Armstrong document recommends felling some 30 trees marked with an ‘X’ on site, which are dead, dying, in poor condition or preventing neighbouring trees of higher quality from flourishing. Another 40 trees, marked with a ‘C’, are to be cut back to around 2 metres in height to promote vigorous reaction growth and so thicken up and strengthen the visual barrier (2.3.3), as well as allowing the beech trees to the north to produce more growth southwards (2.3.5). The report acknowledges that the trees are generally of low quality, having been planted at too high a density. They suffer from ‘etiolation’; that is, they have grown with tall, narrow trunks and few branches or leaves below the crown level, due to being planted too close together and having to compete against each other to reach the light. Some of the trees have also been affected by ‘windthrow’; that is, they have been uprooted or broken by the wind. 1.3 Further details of the tree classifications are provided in Appendix 1 to the Arboricultural Survey. Some of the damaged or dead trees may already have been removed in the intervening period. The red ‘X’ and ‘C’ markings are, in any case, no longer visible. The majority of the proposed work does not appear to have been carried out and the original survey was stated to be valid only until April 2016 (2.3.7). The County Council’s Landscape Officer has therefore requested an updated Arboricultural Survey, which will be commissioned and submitted as soon as possible. The basic principle of cutting back selected existing trees to two metres in height and then re-coppicing them every five years (to maintain a dense visual barrier) is to be incorporated within the new Survey recommendations. 1.4 The felling of dead, dying or diseased trees must be carried out by a qualified tree surgeon, outside of the bird breeding season (March to August). Checks for bat roosting must also be carried out by a licensed ecologist. Felled trees are to be cut into logs and piled up within the tree belt to act as habitat for invertebrates and other wildlife (2.3.4). 2.0 Understorey shrub planting in Area 1 2.1 Despite acknowledging the harm caused by overplanting and etiolation, the Survey goes on to recommend more tree and shrub planting within belts G1/2 and G3, using additional species to create more diversity and greater wildlife and visual amenity value. We do not feel that additional planting of competitive, larger tree species is advisable at this stage, as it would be better to allow the healthier beech trees room to expand and flourish. We do, however, see some value in establishing an understorey of suitable shrubs and smaller trees. Nevertheless, the County Council’s Landscape Officer has requested that, where dead, dying or damaged trees are felled and the canopy opened up, ultimately larger species should be preferred as replacements. In this revised scheme, a 10% quantity of English oak has therefore been introduced and the proposed rowan percentage reduced accordingly. 2.2 The rationale behind this is that the new oak saplings should be allowed to grow ultimately into high canopy trees, rather than being included among the trees to be coppiced. The best, mature trees are to be retained to provide a well-furnished canopy, which will be allowed to continue developing in the longer term. In-between those trees, existing trees that are still healthy and viable are to be coppiced to provide infill/screening value (both vertically and horizontally) between the higher quality, mature, taller specimens. This should result in a tree belt that is both an effective vegetative screen and also has visual quality as a feature within the landscape. New planting is to be located where dead or dying trees have had to be removed. These principles are to be reflected in the report recommendations following the updated Arboricultural Survey. 2 2.3 Looking at table ‘C’ at the top of drawing ST12713-037 Rev. A, therefore, we propose omission of the beech, Irish oak, silver birch and hornbeam trees and retention of the species suited to an understorey layer, with their percentage in the mix increased accordingly: • Common hazel (Corylus avellana) – 25% of mix • Common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) – 15% • Field maple (Acer campestre) – 15% • Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) – 15% • English or pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) – 10% • Wild cherry (Prunus avium) – 10% • Common holly (Ilex aquifolium) – 10% 2.4 The benefits of these species to wildlife are discussed below: • Field maple is the UK’s only native maple species; though it can grow into a tree, it is more commonly seen as a hedgerow shrub, because it responds well to being cut back and trimmed, growing back vigorously with numerous new shoots. The honeydew produced by the leaves is a good source of food for white hairstreak butterflies and the leaves also support the caterpillars of several moth species. The environment of this shrub is attractive to orchids and therefore also to their predators (e.g. ladybird, hoverfly, birds); the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and birds and the fruit is eaten by small mammals. • Rowan – its leaves are eaten by caterpillars of a number of moths, including the larger Welsh wave and autumn green carpet. Caterpillars of the apple fruit moth feed on the berries. The flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects, while the berries are a rich source of autumn food for birds, especially the blackbird, mistle thrush, redstart, redwing, song thrush, fieldfare and waxwing. • Holly provides dense cover and good nesting opportunities for birds, while its deep, dry leaf litter may be used by hedgehogs and small mammals for hibernation. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly, along with those of various moths, including the yellow barred brindle, double-striped pug and the holly tortrix. The smooth leaves found at the tops of holly trees are a winter source of food for deer. The berries are a vital source of food for birds in winter, and are also eaten by small mammals such as wood mice and dormice. • Wild cherry – Its spring flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees, while the cherries are eaten by birds, including the blackbird and song thrush, as well as mammals such as the badger, wood mouse, yellow necked mouse and dormouse. The foliage is the main food plant for caterpillars of many species of moth, including the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths, the orchard ermine, brimstone and short cloaked moth. • Hazel is also a common hedging plant. As well as supporting five species of moth that are specialist feeders on hazel, this plant is extremely important to many invertebrates, birds and mammals because of the protein-rich nuts it produces during the autumn. • Hawthorn: a very common shrub, extensively used for hedging and also stock fencing, as its spiky structure discourages browsing by horses or other animals.