Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Report reference: BE-R-1096-01 September 2011 Report Title: Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Report Reference: BE-R-1096-01 Written by Michelle Dickinson BSc (Hons) MSc MIEEM Ecologist Technical review: Peter James Brooks BSc (Hons) MA MIEEM CEnv Director QA review: Peter James Brooks BSc (Hons) MA MIEEM CEnv Director Approved for issue Peter James Brooks BSc (Hons) MA MIEEM CEnv Director Date: 19.10.11 High Street House, 2 High Street, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7PP Phone 0113 250 6101 Fax 0113 250 6944 Email: [email protected] Registered in England Number 5351418 www.brooks-ecological.co.uk Summary Statement The site has been found to be of low conservation value. There is potential for a badger sett to be present within 30m of the site, but not within it, and therefore a badger survey has been recommended. The application site itself holds no suitable habitat for any other protected species which may be present within the surrounding area and therefore no other further surveys at this point are required. The site has been found to contain invasive species which will need to be removed by a licensed contractor. General recommendations in terms of preventing impacts on the adjacent watercourse, as well as enhancing the site’s biodiversity are made in the report. Land off New Line, Bacup Introduction Brooks Ecological Ltd was commissioned by Harron Homes to carry out an ecological assessment of land off New Line, Bacup, Lancashire (SD 878215). Figure 1: Application Site Boundary Site Proposals The proposal is for a residential development on previously developed land. Potential impacts The following potential impacts are highlighted and the report which follows sets out the significance of these impacts relative to the ecological value of the site and the potential presence of protected or notable species: Excavation and site clearance works Effects on adjacent habitats Desk Study A desk study was carried out to identify species or habitats that are considered important in a local context and to identify any species recorded locally that may be associated with the application site. This information can be used to help target groups that need to be considered in more detail in order to identify the ecological baseline for the application site. 2 September 2011 Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Designated Sites A search of the MAGIC website was undertaken. The MAGIC site is a Geographical Information System that contains all statutory (e.g. Sites of Scientific Interest [SSSI’s]) as well as many non-statutorily listed habitats (e.g. Ancient woodlands and grassland inventory sites). It is a valuable tool when considering the relationship of a potential development site with nearby important habitats. There is one statutorily designated site for nature conservation within 2 km of the application site; This is Lee Quarry Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) approximately 950m to the south-west of the application site. This site has been designated for its geological interest and is beyond the scope of this report. Lancashire Environment Record Network has provided records for three locally designated sites within 2km of the application site, these are: Taddy Lodge Biological Heritage Site (BHS) – c1.2km south-east of the application site. Reaps Moss BHS – c.1.4km north-east of the site. Lee Quarry BHS – c.950m south-west. Due to the nature of the proposed works, and distance from these sites, it is considered that no nationally or locally designated sites for nature conservation will be impacted on by the development. English Nature Natural Area The site falls within Natural Area 36 Southern Pennines Natural area 36 is characterised by large scale sweeping landform with an open character created by exposed gritstone moors at an altitude of 400-450m, deeply trenched by narrow valleys and wooded cloughs. There are mosaics of mixed heather moorland and blanket bog with rough pasture. The landscape contains habitats of European importance, being: Blanket bogs Heather moorland Wet heath There are also ecologically-rich acid flushes, wooded cloughs and existing woodlands. 3 September 2011 Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup The application site does not contain examples of the above significant habitats. Local Biodiversity Action Plan The site is covered by the Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan. Under this BAP plans have been created for the species or groups listed in Table 1. Table 1: Species Action Plans Species/group Potentially on site Likely to be significantly affected? Black-tailed Godwit No No Farmland Birds No No Hen Harrier No No Lapwing No No Reed Bunting No No Skylark No No Song Thrush No No Twite No No Bats No No Brown Hare No No Otters No No Red Squirrel No No Water Vole No No Great Crested Newt No No Natterjack Toad No No Belted Beauty Moth No No Dorus Profuges- a hoverfly No No High Brown Fritillary No No Large Heath Butterfly No No Northern Brown Argus No No Pearl-bordered Fritillary No No Shining Guest Ant No No Southern Wood Ant No No Wall Mason Bee No No Freshwater Pearl Mussel No No Freshwater White-clawed Crayfish No No Jennings Proboscis Worm No No Whorl Snails No No Birds-eye Primrose No No Black Poplar No No Dwarf Cornel No No Flat-Sedge No No Great Butterfly Orchid No No Lady's-slipper Orchid No No Lancaster Whitebeam No No Narrow Small-Reed No No Purple Ramping-fumitory No No Rock Sea Lavender No No Sea Bindweed No No 4 September 2011 Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Action plans have also been produced for the habitats in Table 2: Table 2: Habitat Action Plans Habitat Present on site Likely to be significantly affected? Arable Farmland No No Broadleaved and Mixed Woodlands No No Calcareous Grassland No No Limestone Pavement No No Moorland and Fell No No Mossland No No Reedbed No No Rivers and Streams No No Salt Marsh and Estuarine Rivers No No Sand Dune No No Species-rich Neutral No No Grassland Aerial Photography and Detailed Map Study The site consists predominantly of marshy grassland colonising crushed hardcore. A stream runs through a steep-sided narrow gorge to the south of the site which enters a lake c.150m to the west. The site is located along the southern edge of Bacup within the Rossendale Valley. To the west and east run linear villages containing a number of mills. To the south of the site rises the Pennine Moors supporting a number of quarries. Records The local Data holder, Lancashire Environment Record Network (LERN), was asked to provide information on protected or notable species within 2 km of the application site. Records have been provided for badger c.1.6km north-east of the site and an unidentified newt species c.1.7km to the south-west, both in 1998. A number of records for priority species under the Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan were also provided, being; raven, golden-ringed dragonfly, emperor dragonfly, merlin, common frog, heath spotted orchid, as well as a number of farmland birds including skylark, lapwing, curlew and twite. None of these records were from within the application site. 5 September 2011 Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Phase 1 Habitat Survey Survey Method The survey was carried out on the 14th September 2011 by an experienced field ecologist who is a full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). The survey followed a Phase 1 habitat survey methodology (JNCC, 1993) and was extended to assess faunal potential. This involves walking the site, mapping and describing different habitats (for example: woodland, grassland, scrub). Evidence of fauna and faunal habitat is also recorded (for example droppings, tracks or specialist habitat such as ponds for breeding amphibians). This modified approach to the Phase 1 survey is in accordance with the approach recommended by the Guidelines for Baseline Ecological Assessment (IEA, 1995). Results The application site comprises predominantly marshy grassland colonising crushed demolition material. There are a small number of scattered, young, broadleaved trees to the site edges and several piles of grassed, and bare, rubble to the eastern section. A small ponded area also exists within this section. The site is relatively level with a large depression colonised by coarse grasses in the western section. A culverted drain emerges into the site briefly at its northern boundary and is possibly linked to the culvert which emerges just south of the site. Whilst Figure 1 shows there to be a number of buildings within the site, these are no longer present. The site was found to support the following habitats: Marshy grassland Culverted drain Pond Marshy Grassland The site has been capped with crushed demolition material and since has become colonised by marshy grassland species and mosses (Figure 2). The vegetation across this site is sparse in places where uncolonised patches of hardcore are present. 6 September 2011 Ecological Assessment Land off New Line, Bacup Common, coarse, grasses noted within this grassland include cocks-foot (Dactylis glomerata), tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanata), sheeps fescue (Festuca ovina), timothy (Phleum pratense), canary reed grass (Phalaris arundinacea) creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) and other bent species (Agrostis spp.). Marshy grassland species, such as rushes are abundant across the main body of the site including soft rush (Juncus effusus), compact rush (Juncus conglomeratus), jointed rush (Juncus articulatus), hard rush (Juncus inflexus) and marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) as well as mosses including pointed spear moss (Calliergonella cuspidata). Towards the depressed western section of the site the grassland becomes more rank with a higher diversity of forb and tall herb species (Figure 3).