Whatley Quarry

Site Biodiversity Action Plan

Prepared: November 2008 Updated: August 2015 January 2019

Site Information-

Site Name and Whatley Quarry ST 73262 48214 (Site Entrance) Location (incl. Grid SSSI ST 75575 49170 (De la Beche Ref.) unconformity) Hanson Company Hanson Aggregates BAP(s) that will be UK BAP, Mendip BAP, Action For Biodiversity in the South targeted West Habitat(s) to be Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland developed Calcareous grassland Rivers and streams BAP species to be White Clawed Crayfish encouraged Water Vole Greater Horseshoe Bat Dormouse Hedgehog Hare Designated Natural Character Area Background and Large carboniferous limestone quarry (120ha) situated within site description the Mendip hills. The site complex comprises a large current extraction area set within an agricultural landscape with young plantations and hedgerows, but including semi-natural woodland associated with steep sided watercourses. The landholding includes Vallis Vale SSSI, Tedbury Camp, Fordbury and Whatley Bottom, consisting of valley-side ASNW, secondary woodland and calcareous grassland on former quarries and spoil tips, along with the Mells Stream, Whatley and Egford Brook. In addition there is considerable geodiversity and industrial archaeology interest. National Included within the Whatley landholding, but not within 500m Designations (SSSI, of the excavation is the SSSI/ Mendip SAC, SPAs, Woodland SAC and Vallis Vale SSSI and Mells Valley SAC RAMSARs and NPs) within 500m Resource Restoration earthworks, tree planting, plantation thinning and Requirements- coppicing and grass seeding will be covered within the comment on cost if quarry restoration budget. Additional funds may be available appropriate from the Forestry Commission for the management of the existing ASNW areas along with grants from NE for SSSI management. Contribution to Contribution will be achieved by new habitat creation through biodiversity quarry restoration; the positive management of semi-natural woodlands, statutory designated sites and young plantations; maintenance and improvement of limestone grassland; management of watercourses and riparian vegetation. Partners and Local Bat Group, Somerset Wildlife Trust, University of initiatives West of , Bath Spa University, Natural England Other documents ROMP Quarry development and restoration plans and supporting the site Environmental Statement and associated ecological surveys/ BAP reports, Vallis Vale and Old Down Wood Management Plan (1998) Site Layout: Whatley Quarry

Target 6

Target 3

Target 1

Target 4

Site Layout: Vallis Vale, Tedbury Camp, Fordbury Bottom

Target 3

Target 1

Target 2

Target 5

Target 6

Action Plan

Item Objective Biodiversity Targets Tasks Assessing Responsible Timescale No. Feature Indicator Person (Completion) 1 To increase Ancient woodland flora To positively manage the 1. Apply for EWGS WPG plan in Landscape EWGS in place and improve and fauna existing pockets of Woodland Planning Grant to place Architect by Q2 2020 existing woodland in Vallis Vale update existing Vallis Vale ancient and Dormice and Chantry, through woodland management plan secondary Fordbury Bottom/Tedbury and incorporate areas of semi-natural Bat sp Camp, to Bedlam railway woodland not currently woodland bridge covered e.g. Tedbury Camp to achieve positive woodland management to include:

a. Establish 20-25 year Evidence of Landscape Ongoing rotation of mixed coppice in every stage of Architect Old Down Wood and valley- succession side ASNW within woodland

b. Maintain and improve Maintain good Landscape Ongoing structure of secondary ground flora and Architect woodland through thinning understorey and coppicing

c. Improve quality of Visible features Landscape Ongoing woodland edge habitat by within the Architect opening up glades and woodland coppicing or scalloping setting edges of paths and rides 2 Positive River and stream Update existing Vallis 1. Update existing Vallis Vale Plan in place Landscape EWGS in place management banks, kingfishers, Vale management plan Woodland Management Plan Architect by Q2 2020 of riparian dippers, Dasiops and implement to open up and incorporate riparian zones spatiosis, nettle-leaved streamside to create management in new EWGS bellflower and small sunny areas with dappled WPG application teasel shade. Incorporate riparian 2. Create glades and open Presence of Landscape 30% management in future areas alongside riparian open areas. Architect streamside management plans for zones. coppiced in Railford and Fordbury 2013 Bottoms Next 30% complete by Q4 2022 3 Improve and Limestone grassland, Maintain and increase the 1. Monitor and control as Scrub kept to Landscape Scrub cover expand the birdsfoot trefoil, black extent of existing necessary cleared scrub from <25% Architect reduced by existing medick, slender St. calcareous grassland existing grassland areas 75% resource of John’s wort, and resource and to improve Monitoring calcareous associated butterflies its current condition ongoing grassland on old spoil tips, 2. Ensure wildflower bench Bench Site Manager Ongoing quarry faces restoration is put in place restoration in and floors eg. using low fertility substrates place and adjacent to prior to access being lost. seeded with the De La appropriate Beche seed mix or left unconformity to naturally and Tedbury regenerate Camp 4 To improve Broadleaved woodland Improve the habitat 1. Monitor on-going thinning No non-native Landscape First 30% structure and and associated flora quality of middle-aged of middle aged plantations alder and open Architect thinning diversity of and fauna and young plantations canopy complete. middle aged within restored quarry Ring barking to and young areas create standing plantations dead wood of and increase 80% remaining extent of alders wooded completed habitat 2018. Final non-natives to be felled Q4 2027

2. Monitor young plantations Increased dead Landscape On-going for thinning by felling or ring wood, open Architect barking to increase dead canopy wood habitat

3. Promote understorey and Trial plots set up Site manager Plots set up by ground flora species by and results Q3 2023 setting up trial plots. gained

Increase planted area 4. Carry out bench Length planted Landscape On-going through quarry restoration restoration and planting prior (m) Architect to safe access being lost 5 Ecological All likely flora and Improve and update site 1. Appoint and brief Resulting Landscape Contact made monitoring fauna with attention to records to aid future BAP ecological consultant or work reports and Architect with local bat and recording target species management with local volunteers to carry action plans group with out surveys target species results to be e.g. bees, bats, butterflies on provided for site to guide land Asham management conveyor going forward 6 Maintain Bat sp Ensure on-going use of 1. Ensure on-going bat grille Grille always Site manager Signs erected existing bat Vallis Vale, Asham security through regular locked, signs Q4 2020 populations Conveyor tunnel and checks and erection of signs erected Grille checks to Whatley by bat sp form part of closed site inspection checks

2. Appoint ecological Bat surveys Landscape Contact made consultant or work with carried out Architect with local bat Somerset bat group to group results to monitor use of bat cave in be provided by Vallis Vale protected by grille bat group going forward Bat connectivity surveys commenced with SWT Q2 2015

3. Erect bat boxes to Boxes erected Landscape Boxes up Q3 compensate for trees lost in and evidence of Architect 2020 2013 quarry development. use established

4. Grille Asham conveyor Grille in place Landscape Grille erected tunnel bat roost in liaison Architect Q2 2020 with SWT and local bat group