Land north of Tennis Court Lane Tollerton, North Yorkshire Bat & Barn Owl Survey December 2020 Report reference 1462 Revision 1 Prepared by Emily Hopkin Approved by Thomas McQuillan Issue date 4th December 2020 This report is valid for a period of 12 months from the issue date. 1462 – Land north of Tennis Court Lane, Tollerton Bat & Barn Owl Survey Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Personnel ............................................................................................................................. 4 2.3 Bat Scoping Survey and Inspection Survey ......................................................................... 4 2.4 Dusk Emergence Bat Survey ............................................................................................... 4 2.5 Static Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 5 2.6 Barn Owl Survey .................................................................................................................. 5 2.7 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 5 3 Results ................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Application Site .................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.1 Building Description ............................................................................................................ 7 3.2.2 Trees and Hedgerows ......................................................................................................... 8 3.2.3 Tall Ruderal & Encroaching Scrub Habitat ......................................................................... 8 3.2.4 Surrounding Habitats .......................................................................................................... 8 3.2.5 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................. 8 3.3 Bats ...................................................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Barn Owl ............................................................................................................................ 12 3.5 Other Considerations ......................................................................................................... 12 4 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................ 13 4.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................ 13 4.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 14 4.2.1 Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 14 4.2.2 Bats ................................................................................................................................... 14 4.2.3 Birds .................................................................................................................................. 16 Appendix 1. Legislation and Conservation Context .............................................................. 17 Appendix 2. Photographs ......................................................................................................... 18 Appendix 3. NYBG Data & Design Plans ................................................................................ 22 2 1462 – Land north of Tennis Court Lane, Tollerton Bat & Barn Owl Survey 1 Introduction 1.1.1.1 This report presents the results of a Bat and Barn Owl Survey undertaken at Land north of Tennis Court Lane, Tollerton, North Yorkshire, YO61 1AG. The survey focussed on bat and bird species and has been completed to provide supporting information for a planning application for the proposed development at the site1. 1.1.1.2 Included within the report are the findings of dusk emergence bat surveys and barn owl surveys undertaken in September 2020, along with a desktop study. 1.1.1.3 The site is located at OS grid reference SE50916417 at an altitude of ~24 m above sea level and comprises two farm buildings on the western periphery of the village of Tollerton (Figure 1). The site is located 15.5 km north of York city centre and 6 km south of the market town of Easingwold, with the neighbouring villages of Youlton and Alne centred 1.86 km and 1.80 km west and north west of site, respectively. The application site covers approximately 0.3 ha. 1.1.1.4 The aim of the survey was to determine the potential for the proposed development to affect protected/notable species and habitats, and to provide recommendations for mitigation and/or compensation input if required. The survey was completed to inform planning decisions in relation to the proposed development. Figure 1. Approximate site location shown by red line (aerial imagery dated 2018). 1 The proposed development works will include the demolition of the existing barns to create four dwellings. Design plans appended to the report. 3 1462 – Land north of Tennis Court Lane, Tollerton Bat & Barn Owl Survey 2 Methodology 2.1 Desk Study 2.1.1.1 North Yorkshire Bat Group (NYBG) was contacted for bat records within a 2 km radius of the site. In addition, the following web sources were searched for statutorily protected sites and additional ecological data of most relevance: Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC), Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 mapping and aerial imagery (dating 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2018). 2.2 Personnel 2.2.1.1 The survey was led by Thomas McQuillan MCIEEM2 3. 2.3 Bat Scoping Survey and Inspection Survey 2.3.1.1 The buildings proposed for demolition were subject to detailed external and internal inspections for signs of bats on 3rd September 2020. This involved searching the exterior and interior of the buildings for signs of bats such as droppings and for potential bat roost locations. The survey was undertaken in accordance with current good practice guidelines4 5. 2.3.1.2 The buildings were assessed in terms of its potential to support bat roosts using the following categories: Negligible potential. Low potential. Moderate potential. High potential. Confirmed roost. 2.3.1.3 As part of the survey, an overview ecological appraisal was completed, with the aim being to gather sufficient baseline information on the habitats within the site in order to allow an interpretation of the associated ecological value. Evidence of barn owl activity and previous nesting bird activity was search for during the survey. 2.3.1.4 In addition, the site was searched for incidental evidence of protected / notable fauna and assessed in terms of its potential to support protected / notable fauna including species listed within European, national and local legislation and policies. 2.4 Dusk Emergence Bat Survey 2.4.1.1 Dusk emergence bat surveys were undertaken on the barns on 3rd and 17th September 2020. 2.4.1.2 Two surveyors were present during the survey on 3rd September 2020; Thomas McQuillan MCIEEM and Anna Berthinussen (2016-23914-CLS-CLS - CL20 Level 4) 2.4.1.3 Three surveyors were present during the survey on 17th September 2020; Thomas McQuillan MCIEEM, Anna Berthinussen (2016-23914-CLS-CLS - CL20 Level 4) and Emily Hopkin. 2.4.1.4 Good views of all Potential Roost Features (PRFs) on the barns proposed for development were held during the surveys. The surveyors used Batbox duet, Peersonic RPA3 and Bat Scanner detectors. The dusk emergence survey conditions are summarised in Table 1. 2 Natural England Class Licence Registration No. 2015-11312-CLS-CLS - CL18 Level 2 (Bats). 3 Natural England Class Licence Registration No. WML- CL09:2014-6237-CLS-CLS (Great Crested Newts). 4 Collins, J. (ed.)(2016) Bat surveys for Professional Ecologists: Good Practice Guidelines (3rd edn). The Bat Conservation Trust, London. 5 Bat Survey Requirements, Minimum Standards in North Yorkshire Version 1; North Yorkshire Bat Group; 12/11/2013 4 1462 – Land north of Tennis Court Lane, Tollerton Bat & Barn Owl Survey 2.4.1.5 The surveys were undertaken in accordance with current good practice guidelines6. Table 1. Bat Survey Conditions Date 3rd September 2020 17th September 2020 Sunset 19:49 19:14 Survey duration 19:45 – 21:15 19:10 – 20:40 Weather conditions 13.9 – 17.1 °C, dry, cloud 60 %, 15 – 12.3 °C, dry, cloud 5 %, humidity 70 – 84% and wind Bft 0 humidity 63 – 94% and wind Bft 0 2.5 Static Monitoring 2.5.1.1 During the dusk emergence survey on 17th September 2020 a Pettersson D500X detector was placed inside the northern room of Barn 1. The survey findings were analysed via BatClassify and BatSound. 2.6 Barn Owl Survey 2.6.1.1 An initial barn owl