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BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE of FOREST RESEARCH (Bifor) MILL HAFT WOOD, NORBURY University of Birmingham Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Ecology) 09/09/2014

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BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE of FOREST RESEARCH (Bifor) MILL HAFT WOOD, NORBURY University of Birmingham Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Ecology) 09/09/2014 BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE OF FOREST RESEARCH (BIFoR) MILL HAFT WOOD, NORBURY University of Birmingham Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Ecology) 09/09/2014 Quality Management Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Draft Final Date 10th June 2014 25th June 2014 9th September 2014 Prepared by Robert Randall Rossa Donovan Rossa Donovan Signature Checked by Rossa Donovan Marc Jackson Signature Authorised by Rossa Donovan Signature Project number 42492 42492 42492 Report number File reference Project number: 42492 Dated: 09/09/2014 BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE OF FOREST RESEARCH (BIFoR) MILL HAFT WOOD, NORBURY University of Birmingham Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey (Ecology) 09/09/2014 Client University of Birmingham Estates Services Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT Consultant WSP UK Limited Three White Rose Office Park Birmingham B5 4PJ UK Tel: +44 (0)121 352 4700 Fax: +44 121 352 4701 www.wspgroup.co.uk Registered Address WSP UK Limited 1383511 WSP House, 70 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1AF WSP Contacts Rossa Donovan [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary........................................................................... 1 1 Introduction ............................................................................... 3 2 Methods .................................................................................... 5 3 Desk Study Results ................................................................... 8 4 Field Survey Results ............................................................... 14 5 Legal and Planning Considerations......................................... 16 6 Recommendations .................................................................. 21 7 Conclusions ............................................................................ 24 8 References .............................................................................. 25 Figures and Appendices .................................................................. 27 Project number: 42492 Dated: 09/09/2014 Executive Summary WSP was instructed by the University of Birmingham to undertake an extended Phase 1 habitat survey for the proposed Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) within Mill Haft Wood, Norbury Park, Staffordshire (hereafter, ’the Application Site’). Set within a rural landscape Mill Haft is designated a Site of Biological Importance (SBI) which is a non- statutory designation for nature conservation. Mill Haft is not included in Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory. There are three Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitats on Application Site, these are native woodland, streams and ponds; therefore, mitigation has been recommended to reduce potential effects on these habitats. The survey was completed on the 14th February 2014. The habitats and species present on the Application Site were recorded and mapped to produce a Phase 1 habitat map and botanical species list. The Application Site is dominated by semi-natural broadleaved woodland with additional habitats present including a stream and ponds. The wider landscape comprises arable and pastoral agricultural fields, semi-natural woodland pasture surrounding the Application Site and the Shropshire Union Canal present to the west. The Application Site has the potential to support bats, great crested newt and breeding birds all of which are subject to some degree of protection under relevant wildlife legislation. The Application Site also has the potential to support botanical assemblages typical of mature lowland semi-natural woodland communities. Bats Ŷ The woodland habitat provides high quality habitat for bats providing good foraging resources and good connectivity to suitable features within the wider landscape. Ŷ Due to the low impact of the Proposed Development and following discussion with Stafford Borough Council’s Ecologist, further bat surveys are not considered necessary to support the planning application. Ŷ While the trees to be removed to accommodate the Site compound and infrastructure are not thought to provide potential for roosting bats, it is recommended that they are checked (either visually from the ground or through climbed inspections and/or emergence and re-entry surveys) to determine the presence or likely absence of bats prior to felling. Birds Ŷ The woodland Site is likely to be used by a range of common and widespread breeding bird species and in order to comply with wildlife legislation it is recommended that vegetation clearance is undertaken outside of the nesting bird season (i.e. clearance should occur between September and February) to avoid damage or disturbance to breeding birds and their young. Ŷ Due to the low impact of the Proposed Development and following discussion with Stafford Borough Council’s Ecologist, dedicated breeding bird surveys are not considered necessary to support the planning application. Great crested newt Ŷ There are 13 water-bodies on or within 500m of the Application Site with intervening contiguous habitat. Ŷ Of these 13 water-bodies one was considered to have ‘excellent’ suitability for gcn, three ‘good’, three ‘average’, one ‘below average’ and five ‘poor’. Ŷ Great crested newt presence/absence surveys are recommended for the eight water-bodies that score ‘below average’ or above. Badgers Ŷ This extended phase 1 survey is accompanied by a confidential badger appendix. Plants Ŷ Due the potential for interesting botanical assemblages to be present a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey is recommended. 1 It is recommended that the amount of woodland impacted is kept to the minimum amount required to facilitate the work. It is also recommended that protection measures are employed to protect the stream and ponds. Compliance with Legislation and Planning Policy National and local planning policies and legislative protection have been described. Provided the recommended protected species surveys are carried out and appropriate mitigation measures are carried out there should be no reason why the Proposed Development would contravene domestic and Euro- pean wildlife legislation. With reference to paragraph 118 of the National Planning Policy Framework the Proposed Development will cause no significant harm to the habitats or species occupying the Application Site. Furthermore, one of the outcomes of scientific investigations made possible by the Proposed Development will be to develop guidance for managing woodland habitats under future climate change scenarios. As such, the Proposed Development has the potential to provide benefits to biodiversity and nature conservation throughout the UK and internation- ally Project number: 42492 Dated: 09/09/2014 2 1 Introduction 1.1 Project Background 1.1.1 WSP has been appointed by the University of Birmingham to prepare an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report for the Proposed Development at Mill Haft Wood, near Norbury, Staffordshire. 1.1.2 The Application Site is currently woodland with informal un-made access tracks. Refer to Application Site location plan (Figure 1). 1.2 Description of the Proposed Development 1.2.1 This report has been prepared on behalf of the University of Birmingham in support of a full planning application for the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) on land under the ownership of the Norbury Park Estate. This is an important innovative project with the objective of BIFoR becoming a world-leading centre in the understanding of how forests react to the combined threats of climate change and invasive pests or diseases. 1.2.2 Through the careful integration of a number of slim-line structures within Mill Haft, it is the intention that BIFoR will comprise ground-breaking field facilities, enabling scientists to take measurements from deep within the soil to above the tree canopy. Automatic sensors and instrumented trees will allow scientists to take measurements continuously and remotely, over timescales ranging from seconds to decades. This will then allow further research studies to be carried out back at on- campus laboratories in Birmingham. 1.2.3 It will be the first of its kind for the UK and will provide research collaboration opportunities with similar well established facilities in Australia and America. 1.2.4 The application has been prepared following extensive public consultation and pre-application discussions with officers at Stafford Borough Council (SBC) and Staffordshire County Council (SCC). 1.2.5 The proposed development is detailed on the accompanying drawings which should be reviewed in full. In summary, the Proposed Development includes the following; Ŷ Six Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) Rings located in the central area of the Application Site; Ŷ Flux Tower: Ŷ Four Meteorological (MET) Masts; Ŷ Six array control buildings; Ŷ Welfare and Site compound and buildings: providing a work space and welfare facilities for staff and carbon dioxide storage vessels; Ŷ Underground services including a water supply and a fibre optic cable; Ŷ Vehicle access improvements and service roads and upgrade of existing tracks; Ŷ Fences and security gate. 1.3 Description of the Application Site 1.3.1 The Application Site covers approximately 21 hectares (ha) known as Mill Haft Woodland to the south east of Norbury Junction in Staffordshire (hereafter ‘the Application Site’). Figure 1 shows the location of the Application Site. The Application Site mainly comprises broadleaved woodland with a 3 stream and water-bodies also present. It is bounded to the north by arable fields,
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