EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY PROUTS PARK FARM, EAST WILLIAMSTON PEMBROKESHIRE A Report to Seren Energy Middlemarch Environmental Ltd Triumph House Birmingham Road Allesley Coventry CV5 9AZ Tel: 01676 525880 Fax: 01676 521400 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.middlemarch-environmental.com Report Number: RT-MME-110654-01RevB October 2012 Prouts Park Farm, Pembrokeshire RT-MME-110654-01RevB Extended Phase I Habitat Survey EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY PROUTS PARK FARM, EAST WILLIAMSTON PEMBROKESHIRE CONTROLLED COPY 01 OF 02 01 SEREN ENERGY 02 MIDDLEMARCH ENVIRONMENTAL LTD This report was compiled by: Tim Hextell MIEEM and Dr Gwen Dean The contents of this report are the responsibility of Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. It should be noted that whilst every effort is made to meet the client’s brief no site investigation can ensure complete assessment or prediction of the natural environment. Contract Number C110654 October 2012 Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 2 Prouts Park Farm, Pembrokeshire RT-MME-110654-01RevB Extended Phase I Habitat Survey EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Middlemarch Environmental Ltd was commissioned by Seren Energy to undertake an initial ecological appraisal of the site of a proposed wind turbine and associated access track located at Prouts Park Farm near East Williamston in Pembrokeshire. To fulfil this brief, an Extended Phase I Habitat Survey and ecological desk study and bat survey were undertaken. The ecological desk study identified three statutory and no non-statutory nature conservation sites within a 2km radius of the survey area. The desk study included records of notable and protected species, including badger, several bat species, hedgehog, birds, reptiles and lower plant species. The Extended Phase I Habitat Survey was undertaken on 30th September 2011 by Tim Hextell (Principal Technical Consultant) and Dr Gwen Dean (Ecological Project Officer). The survey area was dominated by livestock grazed pasture, frequently wet rush-pasture and delineated by a series of hedgerows that often formed areas of dense linear scrub. Other habitats recorded within the surveyed area included significant areas of broad-leaved woodland along the north-eastern and south-eastern boundaries of the surveyed area, small parcels of dense scrub and open water. In terms of habitats, the surveyed area was considered to generally be of low ecological value, being largely dominated by livestock grazed pasture. The location of the proposed turbine is within an area of poor semi- improved grassland grazed by livestock and in excess of 50 m from boundary features. It is considered that there may be potential for some impacts to protected/notable species without implementation of appropriate control measures. In order to ensure that the works proceed in compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and local planning policy, the following recommendations are made: • Any vegetation removal should be undertaken outside of bird nesting season, which extends from March to September inclusive. If this is not possible, vegetation should be checked by an experienced ecologist prior to removal. • Undertake consultation with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to determine the necessity for any additional bat works. • Undertake a desk-based bird assessment to identify any potential ornithological issues. • Prepare a method statement and utilise an Ecological Clerk of Works to oversee any works within areas regarded to be ecologically sensitive and which may support amphibians and reptiles. Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 3 Prouts Park Farm, Pembrokeshire RT-MME-110654-01RevB Extended Phase I Habitat Survey CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 5 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................... 5 2. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 DESK STUDY ....................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY .................................................................................................. 6 3. DESK STUDY RESULTS .......................................................................................................................... 7 3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 7 3.2 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES ............................................................................................................ 7 3.3 PROTECTED SPECIES .......................................................................................................................... 7 4. EXTENDED PHASE 1 HABITAT SURVEY ............................................................................................ 10 4.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 10 4.2 SURVEY CONSTRAINTS ...................................................................................................................... 10 4.3 HABITATS .......................................................................................................................................... 10 4.4 FAUNA .............................................................................................................................................. 14 5. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................... 16 5.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES .......................................................................................................... 16 5.2 HABITATS .......................................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 PROTECTED/NOTABLE SPECIES ......................................................................................................... 18 6. RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 21 6.1 NATURE CONSERVATION SITES .......................................................................................................... 21 6.2 HABITATS .......................................................................................................................................... 21 6.3 PROTECTED / NOTABLE SPECIES ........................................................................................................ 22 REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 23 APPENDICES .................................................................................................................................................. 24 APPENDIX 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 25 APPENDIX 2 ................................................................................................................................................ 30 APPENDIX 3 ................................................................................................................................................ 32 Middlemarch Environmental Ltd. Page 4 Prouts Park Farm, Pembrokeshire RT-MME-110654-01RevB Extended Phase I Habitat Survey 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND In September 2011, Seren Energy commissioned Middlemarch Environmental Ltd to undertake an initial ecological appraisal at the site of a single proposed wind turbine with an output of 800 kW, a hub height of 60 m, a rotor diameter of 53 m and an overall tip height of 86.5 m together with associated access track located at Prouts Park Farm, near East Williamston in Pembrokeshire. To fulfil the above brief to assess the existing ecological interest of the site an ecological desktop study, Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey and bat survey were undertaken on 30th September 2011. This report details the results of the ecological desk study and Extended Phase I Habitat Survey. The results of the bat survey are provided in Middlemarch Environmental Ltd report no. RT-MME-110654-02RevB. 1.2 SITE DESCRIPTION The surveyed area is located approximately 400 m south of the village of East Williamston, 3 km north-west of the coastal town of Tenby, with the approximate centre point of the survey area at SN 099 044. The surveyed area encompasses a large parcel of livestock grazed farmland extending to approximately 32 ha in extent. The survey area comprised the route of a proposed access track to the location of a single proposed turbine, with the current preferred location towards the south-western extent of the study area at approximate National Grid Reference: SN 09494 04291. The location of the proposed turbine together with access track is provided on the Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Drawing in Appendix 1 (Middlemarch Environmental Ltd Drawing Number C110654-01-01). Land use