An ecological survey of the Mid Arun Valley Prepared by: Jacqueline Thompson BSc (Hons) MSc MCIEEM Consultant Ecologist and Botanist Wildlife Splash Pinehurst East Street Mayfield East Sussex TN20 6TZ Tel: 01435 872641 Mob: 07941 274423 [email protected] 1 Wildlife Splash CONTENTS SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 4 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 8 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................ 8 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE SURVEY............................................................................ 8 1.4 HISTORICAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................. 9 1.5 HUMAN CONTEXT .................................................................................................... 12 2 METHODS .............................................................................................. 14 2.1 DESKTOP BIODIVERSITY SURVEY...................................................................... 14 2.2 HABITAT SURVEY ..................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Phase 1 habitat survey .................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Notable tree survey .......................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Hedgerow assessment .................................................................................... 14 2.3 PROTECTED SPECIES SURVEY ........................................................................... 15 2.3.1 General ................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.2 Amphibians ......................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Badger .................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.4 Bats ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.5 Biodiversity Action Plan species .................................................................. 16 2.3.6 Breeding birds ................................................................................................... 16 2.3.7 Dormouse ............................................................................................................ 16 2.3.8 Invertebrates ...................................................................................................... 16 2.3.9 Otter ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.10 Reptiles .............................................................................................................. 16 2.3.11 Water Vole ......................................................................................................... 17 2.4 ADDITIONAL SURVEYS AND RECORDING...................................................................... 17 2.5 LIMITATIONS .................................................................................................................. 17 3 RESULTS ............................................................................................... 18 3.1 DESKTOP BIODIVERSITY SURVEY...................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Protected species ............................................................................................. 18 3.1.2 Plant species ...................................................................................................... 24 3.1.3 Sites of Local or National importance ......................................................... 25 3.1.4 Priority habitats and connectivity ................................................................ 26 3.2 HABITATS AND FEATURES .................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Ancient semi-natural woodland .................................................................... 32 3.2.2 Ancient woodland remnants and shaws..................................................... 33 3.2.3 Arable fields margins ....................................................................................... 33 3.2.4 Grassland ............................................................................................................ 34 3.2.5 Hedgerows .......................................................................................................... 34 3.2.6 Notable trees ...................................................................................................... 35 3.2.7 Orchard ................................................................................................................ 35 3.2.8 Plantation woodland ........................................................................................ 35 3.2.9 Ponds ................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.10 River corridor, small streams and ditches ............................................... 36 3.2.11 Ruderals and scrub ........................................................................................ 37 3.2.12 Scattered trees and tree-lines ..................................................................... 37 3.2.13 Swamp, fen and reedbed .............................................................................. 37 3.2.14 Plant species of note ..................................................................................... 39 3.2.15 Non-native invasive species ........................................................................ 40 2 Wildlife Splash 3.3 PROTECTED VERTEBRATES / INVERTEBRATES ............................................ 41 3.3.1 Amphibians ......................................................................................................... 41 3.3.2 Badger .................................................................................................................. 42 3.3.3 Bats ....................................................................................................................... 42 3.3.4 Biodiversity Action Plan species .................................................................. 43 3.3.5 Breeding Birds ................................................................................................... 44 3.3.6 Dormouse ............................................................................................................ 46 3.3.7 Fish ....................................................................................................................... 46 3.3.8 Invertebrates ...................................................................................................... 46 3.3.9 Otter ...................................................................................................................... 48 3.3.10 Reptiles .............................................................................................................. 48 3.3.11 Water Vole ......................................................................................................... 49 4 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LANDSCAPE AND CONNECTIVITY ...... 50 4.1.1 General ................................................................................................................. 50 4.1.2 Amphibians ......................................................................................................... 50 4.1.3 Badger .................................................................................................................. 51 4.1.4 Bats ....................................................................................................................... 51 4.1.5 Biodiversity Action Plan Species ................................................................. 52 4.1.6 Breeding birds ................................................................................................... 52 4.1.7 Dormouse ............................................................................................................ 52 4.1.8 Fish ....................................................................................................................... 53 4.1.9 Invertebrates ...................................................................................................... 53 4.1.10 Otter .................................................................................................................... 55 4.1.11 Reptiles .............................................................................................................. 55 4.1.12 Water Vole ......................................................................................................... 55 5 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................... 57 5.1.1 Protected species and species diversity .................................................... 57 5.1.2 Habitat quality .................................................................................................... 57 5.1.3 Position in the ecological / geographical landscape ............................... 57 6 REFERENCES ....................................................................................... 59 APPENDIX I – PHASE