LocalBorough of Pendle Biodiversity Audit 2010 Development Framework for Pendle Evidence Base Pendle Biodiversity Audit Summer 2010 Adopted: 23rd September 2010 £25.00 1 For an alternative format of this document phone 01282 661330 Borough of Pendle Biodiversity Audit 2010 Images on the front cover (top to bottom): • Bryophyte (Frullania tamarsci) (Photo: Clare O’Reilly) • Woods cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum) (Photo: John Lamb) • Water vole (Arvicola amphibious) (Photo: ourwildlifephotography.com) • Tree roots (Photo: Burnley Borough Council) • Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (Photo: Stephen Burch) 2 Borough of Pendle Biodiversity Audit 2010 Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 What is the Pendle Biodiversity Audit? ............................................................................................ 6 What is biodiversity? ........................................................................................................................ 6 Why is Biodiversity Important? ......................................................................................................... 7 2. The Need for Evidence .................................................................................................. 8 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Local Distinctiveness in Spatial Planning ........................................................................................ 8 Soundness ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Statutory Requirements ................................................................................................................... 9 National Planning Guidance ............................................................................................................ 9 Local Planning Policy ..................................................................................................................... 11 Evidence ........................................................................................................................................ 11 3. The Pendle Biodiversity Audit .................................................................................... 12 Our Biodiversity Resource ............................................................................................................. 12 Extent of the Audit .......................................................................................................................... 22 Limitations of the Data ................................................................................................................... 22 4. Priority Habitats and Species ..................................................................................... 24 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 24 European Protected Species ......................................................................................................... 24 UK Priority Habitats and Species ................................................................................................... 25 Habitats and Species of Principal Importance (England) .............................................................. 25 Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan ............................................................................................... 26 Pendle Key Habitats and Species ................................................................................................. 27 Further Information ........................................................................................................................ 30 Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 33 5. Statutory Wildlife Sites ................................................................................................ 34 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 34 Special Protection Areas (SPA) ..................................................................................................... 35 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) ............................................................................................ 36 Ramsar Sites .................................................................................................................................. 38 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ...................................................................................... 41 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) ................................................................................................. 44 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) ...................................................................................................... 44 Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 49 6. Local Sites of Biodiversity Interest ............................................................................ 50 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 50 Biological Heritage Sites (BHS) ..................................................................................................... 50 Local Geodiversity Sites (LGS) ...................................................................................................... 52 Sites of Local Natural Importance (LNI) ......................................................................................... 54 Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 55 7. Pendle’s Key Habitats .................................................................................................. 57 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 57 Broadleaved and Mixed Woodland ................................................................................................ 57 - Ancient Woodland ................................................................................................................... 60 Moorland and Fell .......................................................................................................................... 64 3 Borough of Pendle Biodiversity Audit 2010 Reedbed ......................................................................................................................................... 66 Rivers, Streams and Ponds ........................................................................................................... 67 Species-rich neutral grassland ....................................................................................................... 70 - Special Biodiversity Verges (SBV) .......................................................................................... 72 8. Landscape Ecology ..................................................................................................... 75 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 75 National Character Areas ............................................................................................................... 77 Planning ......................................................................................................................................... 79 9. Using the Pendle Biodiversity Audit ............................................................................ 81 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................81 Planning ...........................................................................................................................................81 Spatial Implications ..........................................................................................................................85 10. Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 94 11. Useful Contacts ............................................................................................................ 96 Appendix 1 – Biodiversity Evidence Base for Pendle .................................................... 100 Appendix 2 – Core Strategy and Policy Formulation ..................................................... 110 Appendix 3 – Monitoring Our Biodiversity Resource ..................................................... 112 Appendix 4 – Lancashire BAP Habitat Plans .................................................................. 114 Appendix 5 – Lancashire BAP Urban Habitat Plans ....................................................... 115 Appendix 6 – Lancashire BAP Species Plans ................................................................. 116 Appendix 7 – Summary of statutory and other protected sites in Pendle