Holme Moss Transmitting Station, West Yorkshire Ecological Assessment Report Prepared for Arqiva Services Ltd Kevin Honour MSc MIEEM, Claire Gilchrist MSc January 2011 CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Methods 2 2.1 Consultation and data collection 2 2.2 Field survey 2 3 Description of the site 3 3.1 Ecological context 3 3.2 Habitats in the study area 5 3.3 Protected species 7 3.4 Other fauna 8 4 Assessment of ecological impacts 8 4.1 Site access and storage requirements 8 4.2 Impacts on habitats 8 4.3 Impacts on protected species 9 5 Conclusions and recommendations 10 5.1 Conclusions 10 5.2 Recommendations 10 6 References 11 Appendix 1 Plant species list 12 Drawing 1 Habitat survey plan Holme Moss Transmitting Station 1 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 1 INTRODUCTION Argus Ecology Ltd was commissioned by Arqiva Services Ltd to undertake an ecological assessment of the broadcast transmitting station at Holme Moss, Holme, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, HD9 2QH. The purpose of the survey is to identify potential ecological constraints associated with erection of two vertical wind energy micro generation wind turbines. The turbines are to be erected within the transmitter compound adjacent to existing buildings. The site is located in West Yorkshire. The compound is approximately 130m x 100m (1.1ha area) and is centred on grid reference SE 095 040. The scope of the investigation was as follows: • Desktop study of site; • Extended phase 1 habitat survey; and • Risk assessment of structures and habitats for protected species. 2 METHODS 2.1 Consultation and data collation A web-based data search was carried out for statutory designated sites using the government Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) database, and for species records using the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway site. Overhead aerial photography was viewed to look at the ecological context of the site. West Yorkshire Ecology and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were consulted for species and non-statutory site records and Derbyshire Bat Group for records of bats within 2km of the site. These records are collated in the report, in order to set the site in its ecological context and identify any ecological constraints in the vicinity of the site. 2.2 Field survey The field survey work was carried out to identify the habitats present on site and evaluate the site’s potential to support protected species and other ecological features that may constrain the development. This survey allows the identification of subsequent specialist work that may need to be carried out at an appropriate time of year. The field survey comprised a habitat survey and a protected species walkover survey to assess the potential of the site and immediate surrounds to support protected species. Holme Moss Transmitting Station 2 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 The habitat survey was carried out on 13th January 2011, this is outside of the recommended period for phase 1 habitat surveys, constraints associated with the time of year are discussed in section 3.2. A phase 1 habitat survey was carried out using the standard method (Parkins 1990). The site was walked, habitats mapped on a base plan and species of interest noted. Signs of use of the area by protected species were searched for during the habitat survey. Photographs were taken to illustrate habitats and ecological interest features. 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE 3.1 Ecological context Local ecological context The survey area lies at approximately 520 - 530 m AOD, and is located to the south west of Holmfirth. The wider area is upland moor within The Peak District National Park and is located within the Dark Peak Natural Area. The Natural England description of this area is reproduced below. 25 Dark Peak The Dark Peak is an area of peat-covered, high hills dissected by deep, narrow valleys or 'cloughs'. The summits form relatively level plateaux which exceed 610 m on Kinder Scout and neighbouring Bleaklow. The underlying geology is dominated by Upper Carboniferous shales and sandstones, laid down around 330-320 million years ago, which have the fossil remains of both marine and freshwater invertebrates. Upland heathland and blanket bog cover extensive areas of the Dark Peak and these support nationally important breeding populations of golden plover, dunlin, merlin and short-eared owl. Rough grassland, hay meadow and pasture create feeding and breeding areas for lapwing, curlew and twite. Characteristic steep-sided valleys or cloughs have fast-flowing streams and are home to ring ouzel and dipper. Woodland is largely confined to the cloughs and moorland fringes. Reservoirs are a characteristic feature of the Dark Peak. Designated Wildlife Sites Information regarding statutory nature conservation sites within 5km of the site was obtained by means of site checks on the government’s Multi Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) website. Holme Moss Transmitting Station 3 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 The site is a fenced compound immediately surrounded by an area of extensive moorland which has several designations; these are Dark Peak Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Peak District Moors Special Protection Area (SPA) and South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Dark Peak SSSI is the main moorland area of The Peak District comprising plateau blanket mires, wet and dry heaths and acid grasslands, with associated flushes and mires on moorland slopes. The area is an extensive tract of semi-natural upland vegetation including plants and animals at either the southern or northern limits of their range. The moorland breeding bird assemblage is of regional and national importance. Peak District Moors SPA is designated for several upland breeding species of European importance, including birds of prey and waders; • Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria , 752 pairs representing at least 3.3% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count as at 1990), • Merlin Falco columbarius , 77 pairs representing at least 5.9% of the breeding population in Great Britain, • Peregrine Falco peregrinus , 16 pairs representing at least 1.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain, • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus, 25 pairs representing at least 2.5% of the breeding population in Great Britain. The site also supports dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii , a migratory species of European importance, during the breeding season with 140 pairs representing at least 1.3% of the breeding Baltic/UK/Ireland population. The Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of South Pennine Moors as a SAC are: European dry heaths, Blanket bogs and sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles. There is also one additional statutory site within 5km of the site; this is Rake Dike, a geological SSSI. Rake Dike valley contains rock exposures from the Carboniferous period with shale layers containing important fossil remains; it runs from 0.7 km to the north to 2.3km to the north east of the site (SSSI notations). West Yorkshire Ecology and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were consulted for data regarding non-statutory sites within 2km of the site. The records indicate that there is one nature conservation site (Site of Scientific Interest) within 2km of the site. This site is in West Yorkshire and is Yateholme Reservoir and Plantation SSSI, which is 0.36km to the north east. The SSSI has a good range of upland habitats including Holme Moss Transmitting Station 4 Argus Ecology Ltd Ecological Assessment Report January 2011 woodlands, grassland, heath, open water, mires and flushes which help support a regionally important bird assemblage and provides a buffer to the internationally important bird breeding grounds within the adjacent SSSI/SPA. An additional non-statutory site is Peak District Moors Important Bird Area (IBA) this is designated for important populations of breeding waders and raptors as described for the SPA. Protected species West Yorkshire Ecology and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were also consulted for data regarding protected species in the local area. Species records are within the 2km of the site and include water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ), common lizard (Zootoca vivipara ) and brown hare ( Lepus europaeus ). Water vole are present within the two water systems in the area around the site, there are numerous records for these watercourses the closest being 0.6km to the west 1.1km to the north east. Common lizard is recorded 0.5km to the west of the site. West Yorkshire Ecology also provided records of two Notable:B invertebrates; a dung beetle Aphodius distinctus and a weevil Barypeithes sulcifrons 1.6km to the north east of the site in Yateholme Reservoir and Plantation SSI. There were no records of bats relevant to the site, the only record supplied by West Yorkshire Bat Group was for a bat of an unidentified species in a building approximately 3km to the north east in Holmfirth. A search of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway also revealed a record of common lizard in the OS square immediately to the south and there are numerous water vole records but none closer than those supplied by the data centres. NBN also hold records for the following additional protected species more than 2km but within 10km of the site: badger ( Meles meles ) brown long-eared bat ( Plecotus auritus ), Daubenton’s bat ( Myotis daubentoni ), and mountain hare ( Lepus timidus ). 3.2 Habitats in the study area The Habitat Survey Plan (Drawing 1) shows the distribution of habitats across the site. Although the survey was carried out outside of the recommended season for phase 1 habitat surveys, habitat types were readily identifiable and any omissions of plant species are unlikely to have affected the habitat evaluation and assessment of ecological impact.