Ecological Assessment: Gosden Meadow & Woodland, Shalford Written by: Isobel Girvan BSc (Hons) MIEEM May 2010 (Finalised January 2011) Surrey Wildlife Trust, School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0JN Contents 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................ 3 2.0 Description of Site ...................................................................... 4 3.0 Phase 1 Survey ........................................................................... 6 4.0 Data Search ............................................................................... 11 5.0 Protected Species Assessment .............................................. 12 6.0 General Management Recommendations ............................... 15 7.0 Species List .............................................................................. 18 8.0 Photographs ............................................................................. 21 9.0 References ................................................................................ 23 Figure 1 Location ........................................................................... 24 Figure 2 Statutory & Non-statutory Designations ....................... 25 Figure 3 Phase 2 Survey Results .................................................. 26 Appendix 1 Data Search ............................................................... 27 The contents of this report were correct at the time of the site visit. The report is provided for the sole use of the named client and is confidential. All rights in this report are reserved. No part of it may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without our written permission. Its content and format are for the exclusive use of the addressee in dealing with this. It may not be sold, lent, hired out or divulged to any third party not directly involved in this situation without our written consent. (Surrey Wildlife Trust) May 2010 (amended Jan 2011) 2 C1931 Gosden Ecological Assessment 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) Consultancy was commissioned by The Wey and Arun Canal Trust (WACT), to undertake an ecological assessment at Gosden Meadow and Woodland Strip, Shalford, Surrey (Central Grid Reference TQ000461). See Figure 1. 1.2 The assessment is required as WACT approached Community Realm CIC in 2009 to undertake a feasibility study for an environmental enhancement and public access scheme along the route of the Cranleigh Waters between Shalford and Bramley. WACT wishes to engage with the local community and prepare the landscape for their longer term aspiration to restore the link between the Wey Navigation and restored sections of the Wey and Arun Canal. The scheme includes a series of public access and interpretation opportunities which aim to celebrate heritage, wildlife and landscape values of the valley corridor of the Cranleigh Waters. 1.3 The aims of the ecological assessment are: to provide an overall picture of the botanical habitats within the site to assess the potential for the site to support protected species to provide appropriate and realistic brief management recommendations and outline future survey and monitoring work. 1.4 A site visit was made on the 5th May 2010 by Isobel Girvan BSc (Hons) MIEEM, Principal Ecologist for SWT Consultancy. 1.5 The site visit was made prior to the commencement of the initial site preparation works. The ecologist recommendations are based on the existing ecology, determined from the site visit date. 1.6 The protected species assessment can only give a preliminary view of the site and whilst every effort has gone into providing a comprehensive description, it should be noted that it is only valid at the time when the assessment was carried out. 1.7 A data search has been completed by the Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre (SBIC) and is included as Appendix 1. May 2010 (amended Jan 2011) 3 C1931 Gosden Ecological Assessment 2.0 Description of Site 2.1 Surrey County Council (SCC) operates two special schools at Bramley. Wey House School (Grid Reference TQ001458) and Gosden House School (GR TQ003456) located between the A281 and the Cranleigh Waters. SCC and WACT have begun negotiations to enable the trust to develop and manage a small area of land at the northern extent of the schools site (referred to in this report at Gosden Meadow) (GR TQ000461), and a strip of land adjacent to the water (known as Gosden Woodland Strip in this report) (GR TQ002460), see Figure 1. 2.2 The entire site covers approximately 3.7 hectares (ha) (9.3 acres) which has been broken down by habitat in Table 1 below. Table 1 – Coverage of site habitats Area name Habitat type Hectares Acres Gosden Meadow (inc. dry Wet Meadow 0.6 1.6 & wet woodland) Alder/Willow Carr & flush 0.6 1.6 West Woodland 0.4 0.9 Gosden Woodland Strip Woodland & Cranleigh Waters 2.1 5.2 (inc. Cranleigh Waters) Total 3.7 9.3 2.3 The approximate length of Cranleigh Waters within the defined site is 500m and the length of the disused railway line/path is approximately 430m. This path is part of a National Trail and a Traffic Free Cycle route and appears to be regularly used by local walkers and dog owners. 2.4 The surrounding land comprises school playing grounds to the south (Wey House and Gosden House Schools); a disused tip (Stonebridge Depot) to the west beyond the Horsham Road (A281) now grassed over; woodland and fields to the north and west of the site. 2.5 Wet woodlands, more than other woodland types, tend to be recent in origin and, being on relatively inaccessible ground, have been lightly managed. The Rocque map of 1768 does show Stonebrige and The Wey navigation with Gosden Meadow as an open field, but no woodland is indicated. 2.6 The site is not covered by any statutory or non-statutory designations. However, in order to present a picture of the wider landscape context the following information has been included. The nearest Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) non-statutory site is on the other side of the Horsham Road opposite the north corner of the site, known as Shalford Common and Shalford Green SNCI, known for a Surrey Rare plant and variety of habitats. Just beyond this is the statutory Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) called the Wey Valley Meadows SSSI, see Figure 2, known for its varied, uncommon mosaic of wet grassland meadows with botanical interest. May 2010 (amended Jan 2011) 4 C1931 Gosden Ecological Assessment The site has been identified as a Biodiversity Opportunity Area (BOA) known as RO4 River Wey (plus tributaries), see Figure 2. These are areas identified on the South East Biodiversity Strategy website. The BOA map depicts the regional priority area of opportunity for restoration and creation of Biodiversity Action plan (BAP) habitats. This is a spatial representation of the BAP targets and are areas of opportunity, not constraint. These BOAs will complement the work of regional and local organisations working to restore and create areas rich in biodiversity. Delivering BAP targets and actions through this agreed area based approach will result in a landscape scale approach to conservation, making our wildlife more robust to changing climate and socio-economic pressures. The BOAs cover a variety of habitats allowing for an ecosystem approach to conservation to be embedded across the region. By working with larger, more dynamic ecosystems, it will be possible to create a wider range of habitat niches, which will in turn increase the ability of the landscape to support species. May 2010 (amended Jan 2011) 5 C1931 Gosden Ecological Assessment 3.0 Phase 1 Survey Methodology 3.1 The survey area is defined on Figure 1 and includes the pathway (disused railway line), dry woodland, wet woodland Alder/Willow carr, wet meadow with flush and a section of the Cranleigh Waters. 3.2 Phase 1 survey is a standardised system for classifying and mapping semi- natural vegetation and wildlife habitats in Great Britain. Vegetation is mapped in terms of standard habitat types as defined in the JNCC Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey (1990), with additional detailed target notes to describe each habitat. This methodology was extended to include an assessment of the suitability of the habitats recorded to support protected species. 3.3 The optimal time frame for conducting habitat surveys is April to September; although, these surveys can be conducted at any time of year. 3.4 Where the abundances of species are mentioned, these are based on the DAFOR scale and usually refer to the specific section of the site under discussion in the target notes. The DAFOR scale is a way of describing the abundance of a species using the following key:- (Locally) Dominant Abundant Frequent Occasional Rare Please note that plants described as “rare” means that they were not found often over this site or location and does not necessarily indicate a county or national rarity. Abundances given refer to that within a particular habitat area. May 2010 (amended Jan 2011) 6 C1931 Gosden Ecological Assessment Results 3.5 Descriptions of each habitat area on the site are given below, the approximate locations of which are given on the attached map (Figure 3). Species are referred to in the text by their common names and scientific names. The full list of vascular plants recorded at the site visit are given in section 7.0. Habitat Descriptions Gosden Meadow & Woodland Neutral wet meadow