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Ecological Assessment Phase 1 Habitat & Protected Species Survey

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Ecological Assessment Phase 1 Habitat & Protected Species Survey ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PHASE 1 HABITAT & PROTECTED SPECIES SURVEY Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting West Sussex GU31 5QB For Mr & Mrs Walton Ffowlers Bucke The Street South Harting Petersfield Hampshire GU31 5QB Karen L Buckley (Miss) BA ERAs Consultancy 1st June 2020 Bat licence no.: 2015-13787-CLS-CLS Great crested newt licence no.: 2015 -18601–CLS-CLS ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Phase 1 Habitat & Protected Species Survey Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Site Description 3.0 Survey Methods and Constraints 4.0 Statutory Wildlife Designations 5.0 Flora – Habitat Summary 6.0 Fauna 7.0 Discussion 8.0 Recommendations 9.0 References Appendix 1 Plant lists Appendix 2 Sussex Biodiversity Action Plan Photographs Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Phase 1 Habitat & Protected Species Survey Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB Survey: 1st June 2020 1.0 Introduction The ERAs Consultancy was commissioned to carry out a Phase 1 Habitat and protected species survey of a terraced dwelling known as Ffowlers Bucke, on The Street, in South Harting. The site is located at Ordnance Survey grid reference : SU 784194. 2.0 Description The house is the result of a conversion of three adjacent properties in 1976/7. The SW one having been a public house called The Bucke Inn, built c.1480. The building is elevated above the street level by approximately 0.75m and the street slopes gently to the SE. It is Grade II listed. It is proposed to change the windows and to do remedial works on the front slope of the roof. 3.0 Survey Methods and Constraints 3.1 .The weather for the survey on 1 st June 2020, was hot and clear with temperatures up to 25 degrees centigrade during the day. There was a slight breeze. 3.2 The field survey involved examining the property in detail and walking over the garden area to search for plants and animals of significance and to assess the habitat types. The habitat survey followed the methodology set out in JNCC guidelines (1990), 2007 edition. 3.3 The survey for the presence of animals with statutory protection followed best practice guidelines and involved looking for signs such as suitability of habitat, paths made, droppings and physical presence. 3.4 A desk-top survey involved checking data sources such as the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the MAGIC websites for data relevant to the site. 4.0 Statutory Wildlife Designations There are no statutory wildlife designations within the study site or immediately adjacent under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (W&C Act) (as amended). The site is within 1km North of Burton Chalk Pit LNR, Coulters Dean SSSI, West Harting Down SSSI, Pads Wood SSSI and NW of Harting Downs SSSI. The site is within The South Downs National Park. The Habitats Directive embodied in the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, and interpreted as the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plans, lists species of concern. These species do not necessarily have Statutory Protection but ______________________________________________________________________ ERAs Consultancy June 2020 Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB are regarded as requiring positive management to enhance populations. See Appendix 2 for the species protected under the Sussex Biodiversity Action Plan. 5.0 Flora – Habitat Summary The walk-over survey identified the broad character of the habitats found within the study area. The following notes summarise the main habitat types. See Appendix 1 for lists of plants recorded. NB No plant listed on Schedule 8 of the W&C Act (1981) was found growing on the site. 5.1 Hedges, trees and shrubs (not a complete list) Hedge There is a row of mature shrubs at the front of the property approximately 1m from the front elevation behind a brick wall c.1m high. The building is elevated above the street level. The shrubs include species such as holly, Elaeagnus pungens and firethorn. Trees The rear garden has a number of fruit trees, apple, pear, cherry, ?medlar and purple cherry-plum and decorative small trees such as Lilac ( Syringa). Shrubs There are marginal beds of mature shrubs including Buddleia , Hypericum, Cotoneaster, Choisya, Ligustrum ovalifolium, Pyracantha, Mahonia and Philadelphus coronarius. 5.2 Lawn There is a central lawn, kept cut short, with a mix of species. It is not of conservation significance. See plant list in Appendix 1. 5.3 Wetland There are no ponds in the garden and none are known from within 500m. 5.4 Land adjacent There are small mature gardens on either side of the garden, to the rear of the adjacent properties. The garden backs onto a sheep pasture which is grazed short. 5.5 Boundaries The rear garden is bordered by a c. 1.8m high brick wall. ______________________________________________________________________ ERAs Consultancy June 2020 Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB 6.0 Fauna 6.1 Mammals The surveys were targeted at those mammal species having statutory protection under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994; Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Act 2010, Badger Protection Act 1992; those listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan; and in national and local Red Data lists. The aim was to use survey techniques to identify the presence or likely occurrence of protected species. 6.1.1 Bats All species of bat are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (schedule 5), as amended and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Act 2010. Not only are the animals protected from being disturbed or killed but their roost sites are protected, whether or not a bat is present at the time. If any of these consequences are likely then a Natural England European Protected Species Licence would be required to permit activities that would otherwise be unlawful. There is no previous information on bat species at the survey site. There are flight records for serotine and daubentons and roost records for brown long-eared and pipistrelle in this 10 km square. The area offers good feeding habitat for bats. The house was checked internally and externally for evidence of bat activity. Potential for tree roosts None of the trees in the garden had bat roost potential. The garden is not expected to be affected by the proposals The surveyor holds bat licence no.: 2015-13787-CLS-CLS . 6.1.1.1 Survey of Buildings. Building Description Bat roost potential House Three properties made into one, facing onto the Slight possibility of a street. The lower front elevation has been male pipistrelle roosting returned to a recessed wall of plastered block occasionally under a tile under a narrow jetty. The original walls are of on the front slope. No lathe and plaster. No cavity walls. Plastered up bat droppings seen. to edge of soffit. No access for bats. Front roof slope of flat, clay tiles with some missing tiles. Roof voids A row of three roof voids accessed by a steep No bat droppings, no staircase. The SW and central voids are floored, mice or rat droppings. below layer of insulation material. Likely to be No potential for bats as old servants quarters. Braced purlins and braces ridge covered by plastic. at ridge. No trusses. C. 3.5m high to ridge. NE void shallower, c. 1.5m to ridge. Single ridge to all sections. Whole of inside of roof slopes, lined with insulation material held in place by sheets of plastic, forming a tent. No bat access to ridge. ______________________________________________________________________ ERAs Consultancy June 2020 Ffowlers Bucke, The Street, South Harting, West Sussex, GU31 5QB 6.1.1.2 Emergence survey No evidence of a bat roost or potential for a roost, was found in the roof voids or walls. Low potential for single bats to roost under tiles on front slope of roof as some missing. Care will need to be taken when these are removed. However, no emergence survey is considered necessary. 6.1.2 Badger The badger and its sett are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. It is illegal to take, injure or kill badgers. Under Section 3 of the Act it is illegal to damage or destroy a sett, obstruct access to a sett or disturb a badger when it is occupying a sett. The working limit for heavy vehicles and pile drivers is 30metres from a sett. There is no access to the garden for badgers because of the brick walls surrounding the gardens 6.2 Amphibians Natural England advises that water bodies within 500m of a development site be checked for great crested newts. Great crested newts (GCN) are protected under European legislation because of their scarcity there. However, despite the population declining in the UK they are still widespread in England. Following Brexit, the newt protection legislation will need to be adopted by the Government. DEFRA has told this consultant that protection is still in place for an interim period. There are no records for this 10km square. There are no ponds on the survey site and none are known from adjacent areas. Newts are not expected to occur on the site, particularly as the garden is bordered by high walls. The surveyor holds newt licence number: 2015 -18601–CLS-CLS 6.3 Reptiles The commoner reptiles, common lizard, slow-worm, grass-snake and adder have statutory protection from being killed or injured under the terms of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 . There are nationally held records for these four species in this 10 kilometre square. Reptiles like the cover afforded by rough grassland and scrub.
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