Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey A report to: Stansfield Co. Scotland Farm Far Lane Ockbrook Derbyshire DE72 3RX By: EMEC Ecology The Old Ragged School Brook Street Nottingham NG1 1EA Tel: 0115 964 4828 Fax: 0115 964 4829 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.emec-ecology.co.uk May 2013 Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey CONTENTS Chapter Page No. Executive Summary 3 1. Introduction 5 2. Site Description 5 3. Methodology 6 3.1 Desk Study 6 3.2 Ecological Survey 6 3.3 Ecological Evaluation Criteria 7 3.4 Mitigation Measures 7 4. Results 8 4.1 Desk Study 8 4.2 Ecological Walk-over Survey 10 5. Evaluation 14 5.1 Designated Nature Conservation Sites 14 5.2 Habitats 14 5.3 Protected/notable Species 15 5.4 Summary of Main Potential Ecological Issues 16 6. Mitigation, Compensation & Further Survey Recommendations 16 6.1 Mitigation Recommendations 16 6.2 Compensation Recommendations 17 6.3 Further Survey 17 References 18 Appendix 1: Figures 19 Figure 1: Site Location Plan 19 Figure 2: Survey Area, Survey Features and Target Notes 20 Appendix 2: Protected Species Legislation 21 Appendix 3: Botanical Species List 23 Appendix 4: Suitable Species for Planting or Sowing 25 Appendix 5: Desk Study Data 27 2 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Proposed Works The proposed works involve the redevelopment of a disused industrial site near Cossall in Nottinghamshire. Method of Study EMEC Ecology’s brief was to identify potential ecological issues associated with the proposed work and make recommendations for general mitigation, compensation and further surveys, as appropriate. To meet the requirements of the brief, a desk study, an ecological walk-over survey of the site and a daytime bat survey of two buildings were carried out. The desk study involved consulting various organisations to provide previous species records and information on designated sites of nature conservation importance from the site and vicinity. Results Three nature conservation sites occur within very close vicinity of the survey area. Nottingham Canal (Awsworth and Cossall) SSSI is situated immediately adjacent to the south-west boundary of the survey area and Cossall Marsh Grassland LWS occurs only 10m beyond the southern boundary. In addition, Nottingham Canal Rough Grassland LWS occurs 25m to the south-west. Habitats recorded within the survey area ranged from moderate (‘Parish’) value to low (‘Sub- parish’) value. The earth mounds and rubble piles within the survey area provide potential hibernation and sheltering opportunities for amphibians and reptiles. Two ponds occur within 200m of the site boundaries. The scrub on site provides potential bird nesting and foraging habitat. Recent records of water vole exist for Nottingham Canal LWS, adjacent to the site boundary. Conclusions The main potential impacts of the proposed works are considered to be disturbance to amphibians, reptiles, water vole, otter and nesting birds, as well as the loss of relatively species-rich grassland. Mitigation Recommendations Please refer to Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of the report for more detailed recommendations. Vegetation clearance should be kept to a minimum. This should include areas of meadow grassland, trees and shrubs, being incorporated into a landscaping scheme in the new development. Environment Agency guidelines for working within the vicinity of a watercourse (e.g. Pollution Prevention Guidance Note 5 ‘Construction within and adjacent to watercourses’) should be adhered to. Best practice includes capping off at night any pipes over 200mm diameter, to prevent badgers or other animals entering; and placing ramps or scaffold boards or leaving sloping ends in any trenches to ensure animals that fall in can escape. Any clearance of woody vegetation, should be timed to avoid the bird breeding season, which runs from March to September (inclusive). A 10m buffer zone must be maintained between the proposed working area and the banks of Nottingham Canal LWS. Compensation Recommendations As the grassland within the site will be lost, it is recommended that a landscaping scheme be created for the new development. This should include areas of species-rich native meadow, as well as native tree and shrub planting. 3 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey Further Survey Amphibians In order to mitigate for the potential disturbance to great crested newts, it will be necessary to assess the two ponds within close vicinity of the survey area (illustrated below) for their potential to support great crested newts. If either of the ponds are considered to offer suitable habitat for the species, full great crested newt surveys will be required. Presence/absence survey can be undertaken from mid-March to mid-June. Four site visits in suitable weather conditions would be required, with at least two of these visits between mid-April and mid-May. If great crested newts are recorded, an additional two site visits would be required to establish an estimate of population size. Based on the survey outcome, appropriate action can be taken. Reptiles In order to ascertain whether reptiles are present on the site and, if so, avoid any adverse impacts to the populations present by informing mitigation and enhancement measures, a reptile survey will be required prior to works commencing. A reptile survey requires the deployment of artificial refuges across areas of suitable habitat, and these refuges need to be checked on seven occasions during suitable weather conditions, in April/May or in September, to establish presence/absence of reptiles. Water Vole and Otter If it becomes necessary to work within 10m of the banks of Nottingham Canal, a water vole and otter survey will be necessary prior to works commencing. The water vole survey will record the following signs: burrows, latrines, feeding remains, runs in the vegetation, grazed ‘lawns’ and actual sightings. The ideal time to carry out the survey is during the water vole breeding season which runs from late March to October (temperature dependent). Whilst water voles are breeding they are highly active and mark their territory with conspicuous piles of droppings, called latrines. An otter survey records actual sightings and otter spraints, footprints, feeding remains and potential holts and resting sites. Surveys for field signs of otter can be carried out throughout the year. 4 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report has been prepared by EMEC Ecology for Robert Oxley. It provides the details of a desk study and an ecological walk-over survey of an area of land where redevelopment is proposed. The redevelopment will involve the demolition of two buildings on site; a portakabin and a steel framed barn. 1.2 The survey area is centred on grid reference SK 477 430 and is situated just outside Cossall in Nottinghamshire. The location of the site is shown on Figure 1 in Appendix 1. 1.3 EMEC Ecology’s brief was to identify potential ecological issues associated with the works and make recommendations for general mitigation, compensation and further surveys, as appropriate. 1.4 To meet the requirements of the brief, a desk study, an ecological walk-over survey of the site and a daytime bat survey of the buildings were carried out by suitably qualified ecologists. 2. SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Photographs of the survey area are provided in within the text. The survey area comprises of a currently disused industrial site situated off the A6096, just south of Cossall Common. The site comprises of hardstanding which is becoming colonised with vegetation and a number of rubble piles occur within the site. The site boundary is denoted by metal and timber fencing. 2.2 The survey area is situated within a semi-rural landscape comprising mainly grassland with mature hedgerows and trees. The Nottingham Canal runs along the south-west boundary of the site and the River Erewash lies 400m to the north-east. 5 Prepared by EMEC Ecology Tel: 0115 964 4828 Land at Shilo Park near Cossall in Nottinghamshire Ecological Walk-over Survey 3. METHODOLOGY 3.1 Desk Study This involved consultation to obtain any existing records of protected and/or notable species and designated nature conservation sites e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) from the site to a distance of approximately 2km (this will be referred to as the ‘study area’). As the site is located within Nottinghamshire albeit close to the Derbyshire county boundary, the following organisations were contacted: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Nottingham Biological and Geological Records Centre Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (Magic web site for statutory nature conservation sites). National Biodiversity Network (nbn web site for protected species distribution). 3.2 Ecological Survey 3.2.1 Ecological Walk-over Survey An ecological walk-over survey of the survey area was conducted and notes were made on the Phase-1 habitat types present (JNCC 2010) and their suitability for protected species. Target notes were used to record any habitats or features of particular interest and any sightings, signs or evidence of protected or notable faunal species or any potential habitat for such species, as detailed below: The suitability of habitats for badgers (Meles meles) was recorded and any evidence of badgers including setts, dung pits, badger paths, hairs, bedding, footprints and scratching trees was noted. The suitability of habitats was assessed for amphibians (including great crested newt Triturus cristatus) and reptiles.