AllAboutEcology Ecological Consultan t Preliminary Ecological Appraisal ‘Low Impact’ Ecological Impact Assessment F o r Unthank, Harwood D L 1 2 0 HX F or Raby Estates M a r c h 2 0 2 1 D o c u m e n t Verification Document Title • Preliminary Ecological Appraisal • Tricia Snaith BSc BA PGCE Prepared By PGCert EST MIfL ACIEEM • Andrew Watson FLS CEnv Authorised By MICFor CBiol MRSB FArborA LCGI Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Issued 23rd April 2021 Authorised - A Watson Revision - Revision - Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ............................................................................. 1 2. Introduction .......................................................................................... 4 2.1 Survey Objectives ............................................................................................ 4 2.2 Development Proposals .................................................................................. 4 2.3 Site Location .................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Surveyors & Timing ......................................................................................... 7 3. Legal Status Of Protected Species ..................................................... 8 4. Survey Methodology ............................................................................ 9 4.1 Pre-survey Data Search (Desk Top Survey) ................................................... 9 4.2 Field Surveys ................................................................................................... 9 4.2.1 Habitat Survey ............................................................................................................... 9 4.2.2 Preliminary Bat Roost Assessment ............................................................................. 10 4.2.3 Bat Activity Survey (Presence/Absence Survey) ......................................................... 10 4.2.4 Bat DNA Analysis ......................................................................................................... 11 4.2.5 Protected Species ........................................................................................................ 12 4.3 Site Assessment ............................................................................................ 13 5. Survey Results ................................................................................... 14 5.1 Pre-survey Data Search (Desk Top Surveys) ............................................... 14 5.1.1 Designated Sites .......................................................................................................... 14 5.1.2 Local Protected Species Data...................................................................................... 17 5.1.3 Previous Surveys ......................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Field Surveys ................................................................................................. 20 5.2.1 Phase I Habitat Survey ................................................................................................ 20 5.2.2 Preliminary Roost Assessment (Bat Building Survey) ................................................. 22 5.2.2 Bat Activity Surveys ..................................................................................................... 29 5.2.3 Bat DNA Analysis Results ............................................................................................ 29 5.2.4 Protected Species Scoping Survey ............................................................................. 30 5.3 Site Assessment ............................................................................................ 31 6 Ecological Constraints & Opportunities .......................................... 32 7. Conclusion & Recommendations ................................................................. 36 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 36 Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 37 Appendix 1 - References .................................................................................... 38 Appendix 2 – Assessments ................................................................................ 41 Appendix 3- Raw Data ..................................................................................... 46 Bat Owl Mitigation ................................................................................................. 1 Precautionary Method Statement ........................................................................ 1 AllAboutEcology Table of Figures Figure 1- Existing and proposed plans ............................................................................................... 5 Figure 2 – Position of the survey area using GIS & Google............................................................... 6 Figure 3 – Designated Sites ............................................................................................................. 15 Figure 4 – Habitats within 2km of Site .............................................................................................. 16 Figure 5 – Bat records supplied by DBG .......................................................................................... 18 Figure 6 – Barn Owl 5km records & potential foraging area ............................................................ 19 Figure 7 – Site boundary .................................................................................................................. 20 Figure 8 – Eastern paddock ............................................................................................................. 21 Figure 9 – Building layout ................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 10 - southern outbuildings ..................................................................................................... 23 Figure 11 - Barn ................................................................................................................................ 24 Figure 12 –Out house ....................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 13 – Farmhouse external features ........................................................................................ 26 Figure 14 – Farmhouse internal features ......................................................................................... 27 Figure 15 –Byres .............................................................................................................................. 28 Figure 16 – Barn Owl features ......................................................................................................... 30 AllAboutEcology 1. Executive Summary We are requested by Karl Hankey from Raby Estates to provide a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal at Unthank, Harwood. An initial ecological assessment, bat and Barn owl surveys were undertaken at the property. 1.1 It is proposed to renovate and convert the existing buildings on site, no increase of building footprint is expected. 1.2 Desk top data searches indicate: a. The site is within the North Pennines AONB and its statutory sites. b. A rural upland setting – within Harwood Beck valley, within the inbye land. c. Habitats listed in the UK Priority Habitat Inventory are present around the site. d. Existing records indicate the presence of Barn owls within 5km of the site. e. We are awaiting bat data for the 2km of the survey area. 1.3 Field surveys were carried out on in 2021: a. Initial ecological assessment survey – March 17th 2021. b. Initial bird activity survey – March 30th 2021. c. Dusk bat and bird/ barn owl survey – April 11th 2021 1.4 Potential impact - priority habitats a. Upland Hay Meadow to the north - All building work to the north of the property to be retained within the existing fencing, no building rubble to spill onto the vegetation. b. Lowland fens – to the south east, adjacent to the road. No proposed alteration in the management of this parcel of land. c. Lowland fens – eastern paddock, potential change of use from fen to garden space. d. Former farmyard areas, at present hardstanding/bare ground to be used as storage and working areas for the proposed development. 1.5 Potential impact - protected species: a. Bats – preliminary assessment – the building is situated in an area with bat foraging and commuting habitat within 200m of the site these are not well connected to the surrounding habitat. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal F o r Unthank, Harwood F o r Raby Estates 23rd A p r i l 2 0 2 1 © AllAboutEcology - 1 - AllAboutEcology b. Bats – the buildings have potential roost features present – wall top eaves access and accessible crevices and cavities with limited potential to support occasional roosting bats. c. Bats – necessary roof work will be carried out following the enclosed Bat Method Statement following bat activity surveys. d. Barn owls – preliminary assessment – suitable foraging habitat is present around the site. e. Barn owls – have been recorded as present within the buildings within 2 years. f. Barn owls – Barn owl pellets were identified within the outbuildings. g. Barn owls nesting – the dusk evening survey identified two Barn owls