A50 GROWTH CORRIDOR, UTTOXETER, STAFFORDSHIRE PROJECT A REPTILE AND DINGY SKIPPER SURVEYS Prepared for Staffordshire County Council August 2014 A50 GROWTH CORRIDOR, UTTOXETER, STAFFORDSHIRE PROJECT A REPTILE AND DINGY SKIPPER SURVEYS Prepared for STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Prepared by APEX ECOLOGY LIMITED Synchro House 512 Etruria Road Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 0SY 01782 346494 [email protected] Report produced by Helen Ball, CEnv, MCIEEM, MSc Report checked by Max Robinson, MCIEEM, BSc August 2014 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY 2.1 Reptile Survey 2.8 Dingy Skipper Survey 2.10 Personnel 2.11 Constraints 3. FINDINGS & INTERPRETATION 3.1 Survey Findings 3.3 Interpretation of Survey Results 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 5. REFERENCES FIGURE 1 Locations of Reptile Mats APPENDIX I Legislation Relating to Reptiles Apex Ecology Limited August 2014 Report HB/140805 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report has been prepared by Apex Ecology Ltd on behalf of Staffordshire County Council. It presents the results of a reptile survey and a survey for the butterfly, dingy skipper Erynnis tages, carried out during 2014 on land located to the west of Uttoxeter. 1.2 The surveys were undertaken to inform on a project for the provision of a road improvement scheme. The overall proposals have been spilt into two Projects: A and B; it is Project A to which this report relates. The works are shown on drawing A50 Growth Corridor Project A Scheme Layout (drawing number CDX8609/P/01, dated May 2014). The development proposals are to improve junctions on the A50 with the main focus of Project A being the improvement of the junction of the A522 and A50 to the south of the JCB World Parts Centre. 1.3 The reptile and dingy skipper surveys are part of a number of ecological surveys undertaken as part of Project A. The reptile and dingy skipper survey report is to be submitted as an appendix/supplementary information to an Environmental Statement assessing Project A. 1.4 The ecological surveys encompass land potentially affected by the proposals to include an approximate 50m buffer and is referred to hereafter as the site. It stretches for an approximate distance of 1650m encompassing land of variable width either side of the A50 dual carriageway from just east of where Pigeonhay Lane crosses the A50 (at approximate OS grid reference SK065352) to 500m to the west of the roundabout of the A50 with the B5030 (at approximate OS grid reference SK085347). The site encompasses a range of habitats including grassland, hedgerow, ponds and young plantation. 1.5 The reptile and dingy skipper surveys were undertaken on an area of the site that was identified as supporting suitable habitat for these species during a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal in March 2014. The results of the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal are detailed in our report A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire: Project A Ecological Surveys; Report Ref. HB/ 140330. 1.6 The survey area lies in the south-east corner of the JCB World Parts Centre towards the western end of the site between the A50 and the A522. It is roughly triangular in shape and 150m by 80m in extent. It supports a mosaic of wet and dry habitats, including short and long sward grassland, tall-herb, drainage ditches and bare ground, along with piles of corrugated asbestos, breezeblocks, rubble and other materials. 1.7 Reptiles are legally protected under European and domestic legislation and are a material consideration during determination of planning applications. A summary of the key legislation protecting reptiles is provided in Appendix I. The dingy skipper is a Priority Species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is listed as a Section 14 Species of Principal Importance under the NERC Act in England. 1.8 The report describes the methods used for the surveys and any constraints encountered, along with the results of the surveys. The findings are then Apex Ecology Limited August 2014 Report HB/140805 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys assessed in light of the proposals and recommendations for further survey or action are given where appropriate. Apex Ecology Limited August 2014 Report HB/140805 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys 2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY Reptile Survey 2.1 The methodology used for the reptile survey was based on the standardised and nationally recognised approach detailed in the Herpetofauna Worker’s Manual (Gent and Gibson, 1998) and involved the use of reptile mats or ‘tinning’ as it is also known. The methodology for survey did not follow Natural England’s Reptile Mitigation Guidelines (Technical Information Note number 102, dated 9th September 2011). This first edition of the guidance has been withdrawn to enable various points to be clarified and addressed. Until the time the guidance is re- issued, Natural England have advised that surveys using older guidance (pre- dating TIN102) will be acceptable. 2.2 The method of ‘tinning’ takes advantage of the affinity of reptiles for hiding under, or basking on, debris exposed or partially exposed to the sun. In this instance, the tins consisted of bitumastic Hessian under-felt (roofing felt) cut into squares approximately 500mm x 500mm and laid flush with the ground. 2.3 An appraisal of the site for its suitability to support reptiles was made and the habitat types were assessed. The squares of roofing felt where possible were laid in lines of 5, spaced around 2-5m apart in optimal locations, including open sunny spots within dense vegetation, along the interfaces of habitats (such as the woodland edge and the margins of water bodies) and adjacent to features such as logs and mammal burrows. 2.4 A total of 40 roofing felt ‘tins’ were positioned in early May 2014 and each numbered to aid locating the mats and recording the findings. The mats were left in place for c. 10 days prior to checking. The locations of the reptile mats are shown on Figure 1. 2.5 The mats were checked on seven occasions during May and early June 2014. At this time of year, the air temperatures can be high and reptiles active. For this reason, the survey visits were carried out early in the morning or late in the afternoon and carefully timed to coincide with periods of cooler weather that were overcast with sunny intervals. During the surveys, the surveyors also looked for reptiles basking in suitable areas of habitat, such as in bare ground or on rubble piles. 2.6 The dates and weather conditions of the surveys visits are given in the table below. Date Weather conditions 14th May 2014, PM Sunshine with broken cloud, dry, gentle breeze. 23rd May, AM 95% cloud cover, sun beginning to break through, breezy, dry, rain overnight. 27th May, AM Overcast with sun trying to break through, light drizzle prior to survey clearing and cloud breaking with up to 70% cloud cover Apex Ecology Limited August 2014 Report HB/140805 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys 5th June, AM Overcast, clouds breaking with sun breaking through, dry. 10th June Clouds clearing, 40% cloud cover, breezy, dry 12th June High cloud, sunny, light breeze, dry 13th June 50% cloud cover, sun breaking through, light breeze, dry. Dingy Skipper Survey 2.8 A transect was walked through suitable parts of the survey area focussing on the areas of short sward grassland with a flower-rich ward and bare ground, as well as marginal areas of long sward grassland. During the transects, the surveyors walked at a slow pace, stopping at regular intervals, and watched for dingy skipper butterflies ahead of them and to the sides. The surveyors were aided by the use of close-focussing binoculars (Pentax close focussing papilio binoculars). Dingy skipper butterflies were also watched for by the surveyors during the reptile survey visits. 2.9 The surveys were carried out during the day on the 24th May and 13th June 2014 during suitable warm and sunny weather conditions. Personnel 2.10 Surveys were undertaken by Helen Ball and Rosemary Godwin. Constraints 2.11 None encountered. Apex Ecology Limited August 2014 Report HB/140805 A50 Growth Corridor, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Project A Reptile and Dingy Skipper Surveys 3. SURVEY FINDINGS & INTERPRETATION Survey Findings 3.1 No reptiles were recorded during the surveys. Adult and juvenile toads Bufo bufo were found taking refuge below a small number of the mats during the survey visits. 3.2 No dingy skipper butterflies were recorded during the surveys. A number of other butterfly species were recorded including peacock, green-veined white, common blue, meadow brown, small skipper and small copper. Interpretation of Survey Results 3.3 Although no reptiles were recorded, the survey area supports suitable reptile habitat that would be favoured by species such as common lizard Zootoca vivipara and grass snake Natrix natrix in particular. Potential areas where reptiles could bask occur along the edges of short grassland, rubble and soil piles and bare ground adjacent to dense vegetation. The free-draining substrate and undulating topography provide good basking areas for reptiles and the rank grassland and bordering hedgerows places to forage and shelter. The site is also undisturbed. 3.4 Common lizards are known to be present in the local area (a common lizard was recorded in 2012 from a garden lying 815m to the south east – record courtesy of Staffordshire Ecological Record). Although there are no known records of grass snake in the local area, they are likely to frequent suitable habitats associated with the nearby corridor of the River Tean.