Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9LP November 2016 Andrew P. Chick MPhil ACIEEM Ecological Consultant The Old Farmhouse, Washdyke Lane, Fulbeck, Grantham, Lincs NG32 3LB Tel: 07880700313 E-mail: [email protected] Report Prepared by Andrew Chick Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 --- Page left blank --- Prepared by Andrew Chick MPhil 2 07880700313 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9LP CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Accurate lifespan of ecological data 5 2 SITE DESCRIPTION 5 2.1 Site communities and habitats 5 2.2 Site and site boundaries 5 2.3 Survey buildings 6 2.4 Stone barn 6 2.5 Dovecote 7 2.6 Outbuildings 8 2.7 Survey constraints 9 2.8 Proposed work 9 3 METHODS 9 3.1 Bats 9 3.1.1 Bat activity survey 9 3.2 Common species of birds 10 3.3 Schedule 1 species of birds (Barn Owls) 10 3.4 Badgers 10 3.5 Other statutorily protected species 10 4 RESULTS 10 4.1 Data search 10 4.2 Habitats and plant species 11 4.3 Bats 11 4.4 Birds 15 Schedule 1 species of birds (Barn Owls) 15 4.5 Badgers 16 4.6 Other statutorily protected species 16 5 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 16 5.1 Habitats 16 5.1.1 Recommendations 16 5.2 Bats 16 5.2.1 Legal protection 16 5.2.2 Recommendations 17 5.2.3 Good working practice 18 5.2.4 Recommendations – trees 18 5.2.5 Recommendations - lighting 18 5.3 Birds 19 5.3.1 Legal protection 19 5.3.2 Recommendations 19 5.3.3 Recommended conservation measures – House Sparrows 19 5.3.4 Recommended conservation measures – Swallows 20 5.4 Enhancement recommendations 21 5.4.1 Habitat creation 21 5.5 Further survey recommendations 21 5.5.1 Nesting birds 21 6 REFERENCES 21 APPENDIX 1 22 FIGURE 1 Site habitat and location map at 22 East End, Langtoft 22 APPENDIX 2 24 Procedure to follow if bats are discovered during works 24 APPENDIX 3 25 Native Species Suitable for Planting and Sowing 25 Prepared by Andrew Chick MPhil 3 07880700313 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 PHOTOGRAPHS Photograph 1: Representative images showing the stone barn. 6 Photograph 2: Representative images showing the internal roof structure of the stone barn (left) and the southern extension (right). 7 Photograph 3: Representative images showing the northern (left) and southern (right) elevations of the stone dovecote. 7 Photograph 4: Representative images showing the internal walls (left) and internal roof structure (right) of the dovecote. 8 Photograph 5: Representative images showing outbuildings to the rear of the stone barns. 8 Photograph 6: Representative images of discarded moth wing (left) and two relatively fresh bat droppings (right) from the hay-loft within the stone barn. 11 Photograph 7: Representative images of discarded moth wing on the bonnet of a stored vehicle within the stone barn (left) and c30 discarded moth wings from within the dovecote (right). 11 Photograph 8: Representative image of gaps within the stonework. 12 Photograph 9: Representative image of timber feature within the stonework. 12 Photograph 10: Representative image of the timber frame on the northern elevation. 13 Photograph 11: Representative image of timber beam within stone barn. 13 Photograph 12: Representative image of the ridge tile. 13 Photograph 13: Representative image of an area of missing bedding mortar on the northern elevation. 13 Photograph 14: Representative image of the internal nest-holes. 14 Photograph 15: Representative images showing the location of the trees surveyed. 15 Photograph 16: Representative images of sparrow nest within the stone barn (left) and an old swallow nest located within the stone barn extension (right). 15 Photograph 17: Schwegler 1SP sparrow nestbox (left) and wooden sparrow nestbox (right). 20 Photograph 18: Schwegler No. 10 swallow nest ledges. 20 Prepared by Andrew Chick MPhil 4 07880700313 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9LP 1 INTRODUCTION Independent Ecologist and Protected Species Consultant, Andrew Chick MPhil, was commissioned by Mrs P Lighton to undertake a protected species survey of outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9LP. The survey is required in connection with a future planning application with South Kesteven District Council. This report details the methods used, describes the habitats and species found on the site, discusses the results and makes recommendations for further work. The common English names are used for all species referred to throughout the text. The Latin name is also given following the common name the first time the species is referred to. 1.1 Accurate lifespan of ecological data The majority of ecological data remains valid for only short periods of time due to the inherently transient nature of the subject. Where the species/group being surveyed for is present within the site, the data is considered to be accurate for two years. However, an update may be needed in order to obtain a European Protected Species licence, if such a licence is required. Where absent, although the data is considered accurate for two years, an update may be required if the habitats surrounding the site are of a quality that are likely to encourage the species to move into the site in the interim. 2 SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Site communities and habitats The survey buildings are located at National Grid Reference (NGR) TF 12459 12612 within the village of Langtoft. The survey site contains two traditional stone buildings and two timber framed outbuildings which are surrounded by houses and gardens to the north, east and west; with extensive areas of arable agriculture, including occasional mature trees, hedgerows and drainage ditches to the south. The immediate area is dominated by a garden/small holding area with short mown amenity grassland and compacted hard standing. Access to the site is available via a gateway and gravelled drive on the southern side of East End road. A general site location is given in Appendix 1 as Figure 1 and shows the approximate survey boundary (marked with a red line). 2.2 Site and site boundaries The majority of the site is dominated by short mown amenity grassland, predominantly comprised of rye-grass Lolium sp.. with occasional yarrow Achillea millefolium, ribwort plantain Prepared by Andrew Chick MPhil 5 07880700313 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 Plantago lanceolate and creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens. There are a number of mature and semi-mature trees including several ash Fraxinus excelsior, apple Malus spp, oak Quercus robur and cherry Prunus spp. One of the apple trees has a growth of mistletoe Viscum album. Associated with the boundary of the site is occasional ornamental planting including leylandii XCuprocyparis leylandii, holly Ilex aquifolium, butterfly-bush Buddleja davidii and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Areas of rough grassland found at the edge of the survey buildings and on the site boundary include false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius, white dead nettle Lamium album and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. 2.3 Survey buildings These consist of four buildings, as described individually below, all of which are located to the east of number 22 East End - sharing an access driveway. 2.4 Stone barn A traditional barn that is estimated to be between c200-250 years-old and constructed of local stone. The building supports an original timber framed roof that is covered with Collyweston slates, with no underlining. The northern gable end is adjacent to the main road, with the main access roadway running alongside the western elevation. There are no windows except for an unglazed timber framed opening in the northern gable end. Photograph 1: Representative images showing the stone barn. Generally, the stone work is in a good state of repair with only occasional gaps and settlement cracks present within the bedding mortar. There are a number of features associated with wooden beams that key into the stonework. The southern gable end consists of a solid brick wall, suggesting that part of the building has been demolished in the (historic) past, leaving a smaller structure than was originally present. Internally there is a suspended wooden hay-loft, with access available via a ladder and trap door. Prepared by Andrew Chick MPhil 6 07880700313 Protected Species Survey of Outbuildings at 22 East End, Langtoft November 2016 Photograph 2: Representative images showing the internal roof structure of the stone barn (left) and the southern extension (right). There is no roof void, with the building being open to the apex. The roof is in a good state of repair, with only a small area of missing slates on the southwest elevation. This, along with the unglazed timber window frame on the northern elevation, potentially allows wildlife (bats and birds) unrestricted access to the structure. Attached to the southern elevation is a single storey extension, which is clad with a mixture of metal sheeting and corrugated fibre cement boarding. At the time of the survey the building was being used for general domestic storage and for parking cars. A high level of dust and general debris within the hay-loft and on stored items within the building suggest that the building is mostly unused. 2.5 Dovecote A traditional dovecote constructed of local stone and supporting a timber-framed roof, covered with clay tiles. The building is in a relatively good state of repair and the roof has been repaired/renovated in the past c30-40 years.