John Drewett Ecology Bat scoping survey report Warren House Farm, Brandsby, York, YO61 4SJ November 2008 Castlerigg, Redmire, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, D L 8 4 E L [email protected] 01969 623065 Contents 1 Summary ................................................................................................. 3 2 Introduction ............................................................................................. 3 2.1 Site description ................................................................................... 3 2.2 Proposed works ................................................................................... 5 2.3 Aims of survey .................................................................................... 6 3 Methodology ............................................................................................. 6 3.1 Desk study.......................................................................................... 6 3.2 Field survey ........................................................................................ 6 4 Results..................................................................................................... 6 4.1 Desk study.......................................................................................... 6 4.2 Field survey ........................................................................................ 7 5 Assessment ............................................................................................ 10 5.1 Summary and evaluation of findings .................................................... 10 5.2 Constraints on survey information ....................................................... 10 5.3 Legislation and policy guidance ............................................................ 11 6 Mitigation method statement .................................................................... 12 7 Brief summary of bat biology .................................................................... 15 8 References ............................................................................................. 15 Record of report and revisions Date Details Issued by 21 November 2008 Original report John Drewett Warren House Farm 2 1 Summary 1.1.1 A bat scoping survey of outbuildings at Warren House Farm, Brandsby was commissioned in November 2008 by the owner, David Shields. 1.1.2 The survey was carried out on 17 November 2008. 1.1.3 No evidence of bats was found during the survey. However, the survey was undertaken in winter when it is not possible to carry out bat activity surveys. 1.1.4 The main potential for roosting bats is in a boxed section of ridge beam in two of the buildings and within external wall crevices. The interior of buildings have few suitable crevices and are generally too dirty to be attractive to bats. 1.1.5 It is considered that the proposed development is unlikely to have an adverse impact on bats. 1.1.6 To minimise the risk of accidentally impacting on bats the method statement in section 6 of this report must be followed. This includes measures to make provision for roosting bats in the converted building. 1.1.7 It is considered that a European Protected Species licence is not required for this development. 1.1.8 If the development has not been commenced by June 2009 then a bat activity survey should be carried out before work commences. 2 Introduction 2.1 Site description Site name and address: Warren House Farm, Brandsby, York, YO61 4SJ OS Grid Ref. SE601732 Altitude 148m Local Planning Authority: Hambleton District Council Features on site and adjacent to site Feature On site Adjacent Comments Buildings (more or less Existing farmhouse and cottage, plus converted barn complete) on site in addition to surveyed buildings Building ruins (no roof) Trees and woodland A number of field and hedgerow trees on site. Woodland within 300m. Rivers or streams Small streams within 1km. bordered by trees Ponds or lakes Garden pond close to surveyed buildings. Dale Pond 1km to SW. Fragmented hedgerows Gardens Improved grassland Warren House Farm 3 Fig. 1 Site location plan Warren House Farm 4 Fig. 2 Surveyed buildings relative to other buildings on site Fig. 3 Surveyed buildings described in 4.2.2 2.2 Proposed works 2.2.1 The proposal is for the conversion of the surveyed buildings to form a dwelling house for the owner. Warren House Farm 5 2.3 Aims of survey 2.3.1 The survey was carried out to establish the following: Likelihood of particular buildings, structures, trees or other features to support bats The presence or absence of bats e.g. in a particular building, structure or tree Specific features used within the survey area by roosting bats Bat behaviour that may be affected by the proposed activity or development in terms of emergence, foraging, commuting or mating Opportunities for enhancement of bat habitat that may be possible with any given area 3 Methodology 3.1 Desk study 3.1.1 Information concerning designated sites was obtained from www.magic.gov.uk. 3.1.2 Information regarding bats previously recorded at the site or within 2km was obtained from North Yorkshire Bat Group. 3.2 Field survey 3.2.1 The following personnel took part in this survey: Surveyor Natural England Licence No. or status John Drewett BSc. (Hons.), MIEEM 20081159 (Conservation & scientific) Val Kirk 20081982 (Conservation & scientific) 3.2.2 The following activities were carried out during this survey: An examination and assessment of the site and habitats present within 300m An examination of each building to record its main structural features and condition and to identify features that may be suitable for roosting bats The making of a photographic record of the site, its features and any evidence of bats to illustrate the findings in this report A detailed check of the interior and exterior of buildings to look for bat droppings; feeding remains such as moth & butterfly wings; live bats; dead bats; stains and marks on surfaces indicating regular use by bats 3.2.3 The following equipment was used in conducting this survey: Digital camera Powerful torches 4 Results 4.1 Desk study 4.1.1 There are no statutory nature conservation sites within 2km of the survey site. 4.1.2 The following records of bats previously recorded within 2km of the site were supplied by North Yorkshire Bat Group. Species Site Gridref Date Comment Unknown Bumper Farm, Stillington Road, SE582712 08 Apr 1987 Brandsby Warren House Farm 6 Species Site Gridref Date Comment Brown Long-eared Bumper Farm, Stillington Road SE5871 08 Apr 1987 Bat Unknown Bell Cottage, Brandsby SE5872 13 Mar Summer roost 1987 Unknown Old Rectory, Brandsby SE5872 11 Aug 1986 Unknown Bell Cottage, Brandsby SE5872 1986 Unknown The Spring, Brandsby SE5873 13 Aug Summer roost 1984 Unknown Yearsley, Nr Easingwold SE5874 03 Aug Injured 2003 Unknown Wombwell House, Yearsley SE5874 25 Sep Bat in 2003 bedroom Unknown Oliver's View, Brandsby SE595722 18 Dec Roost 2006 Brown Long-eared Oliver's View, Brandsby SE595722 18 Dec Roost Bat 2006 Brown Long-eared 7 Oliver's View, Brandsby SE596722 05 Sep Roost Bat 2006 Unknown The Spring, Brandsby SE5972 11 Aug Flying 1984 Unknown Old Rectory, Brandsby SE5972 08 Aug 1986 Brown Long-eared Brandsby Hall SE598719 17 Oct 1996 Bat Pipistrelle species Brandsby Hall SE598719 17 Oct 1996 Brown Long-eared Thornhill Farm, Stearsby SE606704 1997 Roost Bat 4.2 Field survey 4.2.1 The layout of buildings on the site is shown on fig 3, above. 4.2.2 Descriptions of each building are given below along with information about any evidence of bats found within and potential for roosting bats. Building Building Wall Roof Evidence Bat roost Comments type of bats potential Red Barn (fig. 4) Stone on Pantiles over None Low Little scope for three sides, wooden laths. bats between brick on SE Laths in very pantiles and side. Large poor condition. laths due to sliding doors Interior of roof poor state. on SE side. dirty, becoming Few internal NW wall very more so wall crevices. low. towards N end External walls (fig. 5). too low to be attractive. Orange Passageway None. Corrugated None None (figs. 6 – 7) Wooden sheeting door forms supported on north end variable (fig. 6). timbers. Warren House Farm 7 Building Building Wall Roof Evidence Bat roost Comments type of bats potential Green Covered None Pitched roof of None Medium No solid floor, yard (fig. 6) unlined potential for so not corrugated roosting bats practical to sheeting. in boxed search for bat Underside of section below droppings. ridge boxed in ridge (fig.8). (fig. 8). Otherwise, none. Purple Barn Low stone Pitched roof of None Medium wall at each unlined potential for end. Gable in corrugated roosting bats Yorkshire sheeting. in boxed boarding (fig. Underside of section below 9). ridge boxed in ridge (fig. 8). (fig. 8). Otherwise, low. Blue Barn (figs. Mostly Pitched roof of Three bat Low on Building is 10 – 11) stone. pantiles over droppings account of divided into a Northern wooden laths. on stored poor state of number of part of east Laths very sacks at roof. Some individual side formed gappy and southern potential for rooms by by series of underside of end. hibernating internal walls. large doors. roof generally bats and/or Northern Some deep dirty (fig. 12). male roosts in rooms used for crevices in Many timbers, external wall storage. stone walls but no open crevices. inside and joints. out. Fig. 4 ‘Red’ building, NW side Fig. 5 ‘Red’ building, roof interior Warren House Farm 8 Fig. 6 N end of ‘orange’ and ‘green’ buildings