Mr T.B Brown. Land off Turweston Road, Northamptonshire REPTILE SURVEY REPORT

Transcription

1 Mr T.B Brown Land off Turweston Road, Northamptonshire REPTILE SURVEY REPORT June 2013

2 FPCR Environment and Design Ltd Registered Office: Lockington Hall, Lockington, Derby DE74 2RH Company No [T] [F] [E] [W] This report is the property of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd and is issued on the condition it is not reproduced, retained or disclosed to any unauthorised person, either wholly or in part without the written consent of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Ordnance Survey material is used with permission of The Controller of HMSO, Crown copyright Rev Issue Status Prepared / Date Approved/Date - Draft 1 CAG / KG /

3 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION LEGISLATION METHODOLOGY RESULTS & ASSESSMENT DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS... 7 TABLES Table 1: Date and Weather Conditions during Reptile Surveys Table 2: Key Reptile Site Survey Assessment Categories (HGBI 1998) Table 3: Reptile Survey Results FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Reptile Location and Artificial Refugia Plan J:\5300\5393\ 1

4 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 FPCR Environment & Design Ltd were commissioned on behalf of Mr T.M. Brown. It provides details of a reptile surveys undertaken on land located to the south of Turweston Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire (Figure 1). The survey was commissioned to update previous survey findings undertaken by Thompson Ecology in March 2011 to support the granting of the outline planning application (Planning Reference Number: S/2011/0141/MAO). This report details the findings of the survey completed to confirm the presence / absence of reptiles within the proposed development area. 1.2 The site is located east of Brackley, Northamptonshire (centred on grid reference SP ). Surrounding land-use includes disused Helmdon Railway and embankment to the west with residential housing on the western elevation of the disused railway embankment. The A43 is situated on the eastern boundary of the site and Turweston Road is situated on the northern boundary. 1.3 The majority of the site comprises arable and grazing pasture with a large soil bund within the north-east of the site. Several streams run through the site and along the length of the eastern boundary. Hedgerows/tree lines border on site field boundaries throughout the site and within the wider countryside. 1.4 Proposals for the site include proposals for the construction of 350 residential houses, construction of an access road and a 40 metre landscaped acoustic bund and areas of open space. 1.5 This report details the results of reptile surveys carried out in The status of the reptile population within the application site is assessed and mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures provided to ensure that the favourable conservation status of the local reptile population is maintained following development. 2.0 LEGISLATION 2.1 All common reptile species, including slow worm Anguis fragilis, common lizard Zootoca vivipara and grass snake Natrix natrix, are partially protected under Sections 9(1) and 9(5) of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This legislation protects these animals from: intentional killing and injury; selling, offering for sale, possessing or transporting for the purpose of sale or publishing advertisements to buy or sell a protected species. 2.2 This partial protection does not directly protect the habitat of these reptile species, however where these animals are present on land that is to be affected by development, the implications of the legislation are that providing that killing can reasonably be avoided then an operation is legal. Guidance provided by Natural England (English Nature 2004) and the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (Herptofanual Groups of Britain and Ireland 1999) recommends that this should be achieved by ensuring that: the animals must be protected from injury or killing; mitigation is provided to maintain the conservation status of the species; J:\5300\5393\ 2

5 following operations the population should be monitored. 2.3 All common reptile species, including grass snake, are listed under Section 41 of the NERC Act METHODOLOGY Field Survey 3.1 Habitats present within the site were considered for their potential suitability for reptiles, including features which provide opportunities for reptiles to bask, forage and/or hibernate and areas of varied vegetation structure, in sheltered locations with sunny aspects and connectivity to other suitable reptile habitats. 3.2 A strategic reptile presence / absence survey was undertaken at specific locations identified as offering potential habitat within the area of survey. The survey was undertaken based on methodology detailed in the Herpetofauna Workers Manual (Gent and Gibson, 1998) and the Froglife Advice Sheet 10 - Reptile Survey (Froglife 1999). Methods involved a search for basking reptiles on / under naturally occurring and strategically positioned artificial refugia. These were placed in locations that offered the most suitable habitat for common reptiles, i.e. structurally diverse grassland habitats with areas of bare ground/short vegetation. A total of 58 refugia were placed within the survey area. The indicative location and numbers of refugia placed is shown in Figure All of the surveys were undertaken during April to July 2013 by suitably experienced FPCR ecologists. The prevailing weather conditions, including relative wind speed, cloud cover, ambient temperature and any other notable weather, are provided in Table In addition, the surveys also followed the guidelines recommendations by: 3.5 Surveys were undertaken in accordance with guidelines as follows: At temperatures of between 9 C - 18 C; On sunny/cloudy days with little or no wind; Between 0900 & 1100 hrs and between 1600 & 1900 hrs; In addition the surveys also followed the guidelines recommendations by: Using regularly spaced corrugated tin sheeting/similar (0.5m 2 ) as artificial refugia, with a black upper side; Approaching refugia from downwind, casting no shadow and with care so as to not disturb basking animals when checking; That the location and number of tins are mapped to aid survey and avoid the possibility of leaving tins in situ after completion of the survey. J:\5300\5393\ 3

6 Table 1: Date and Weather Conditions during Reptile Surveys Survey Date Time Temp. Cloud rain Wind C 4/8 None No Wind C 6/8 None Slight Breeze C 2/8 None Slight Breeze C 0/2 None No Wind C 6/8 None Slight Breeze C 6/8 None No Wind C 0/2 None Slight Breeze Assessment 3.6 Reptile populations were assessed in accordance with population level criteria as stated in the Key Reptile Site Register (HGBI, 1998). This system classifies populations of individual reptile species into three population categories assessing the importance of the population (Table 2). These categories are based on the total number of animals observed during individual survey occasions. Table 2: Key Reptile Site Survey Assessment Categories (HGBI 1998) Species Low Population (No. of individuals) Good Population (No. of individuals) Exceptional Population (No. of individuals) Adder < >10 Common lizard < >20 Grass snake < >10 Slow worm < >20 Survey Limitations 3.7 There were no survey limitations and all surveys were carried out during suitable conditions. The survey results are therefore considered sufficient to adequately assess the presence or absence of reptiles and their population size (if present). J:\5300\5393\ 4

7 4.0 RESULTS & ASSESSMENT Reptile Survey Habitat Assessment 4.1 The majority of the site was considered sub-optimal to support populations of reptile species as it was largely homogenous and lacked the vegetation structure required to provide shelter and basking environments. However, the watercourse and adjacent riparian margins have the potential to be utilised by grass snake Natrix natrix for foraging and shelter and basking habitats. These linear habitats also provide suitable corridor of movement for grass snakes. 4.2 Ditches and marshy shallow water courses along the eastern boundary of the site have potential to be used by grass snake and common lizard but will be unaffected by the proposed development. The suitable habitats within the site would only provide a limited resource for the grass snake if present in the wider environment. Field Survey 4.3 Over the survey period a single grass snake was identified along the eastern boundary of the site associated with the tussocky grassland and the stream which are present in this area (Table 3). No other reptile species were recorded during the surveys within the site boundary. Table 3: Reptile Survey Results Survey Date Common Lizard Grass Snake Adder Slow Worm Population Size Assessment 4.4 The results of the surveys demonstrate that the site supports a low population (<5 adults) of grass snake. 4.5 It is likely that the grass snake identified forms part of a large population which are using the optimal habitats present to the south and west of the site. As the habitats across the site are predominately sub-optimal for use by grass snake and grass snakes are a wide ranging species it is likely that the single grass snake is only using the site as a corridor of movement. Given the survey result and the habitats present within the site, it has been concluded that the site does not J:\5300\5393\ 5

8 form a significant proportion of the habitat required to maintain the favourable conservation status of this species. J:\5300\5393\ 6

9 5.0 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 The results from the surveys undertaken to date indicate that a low population of grass snake is present within the site as less than five or more individuals were recorded present during each of seven separate survey occasions. From the results of the survey and the sub-optimal nature of the habitats within the site it has been concluded that the proposed development will not result in a significant affect to the local population of reptile. Furthermore, with the application of appropriate mitigation in the areas of public open space shown on the current masterplan the favourable conservation status of the species locally. 5.2 Where these animals are confirmed as present on land that is to be affected by development guidance recommends that: The animals should be protected from injury or killing during construction operations; and Mitigation should be provided to maintain the conservation status of the species locally. 5.3 Development of the site will include the removal of grassland from the majority of the site to facilitate development although a 5m buffer will remain along the length the eastern boundary which provides suitable habitat for reptiles. This corridor habitat will be retained during the construction of the site to provide a corridor of movement for the local population. 5.4 Further enhancement for the local population of grass snake will be provided along the eastern / southern boundaries of the proposed development area within the proposed area of public open space. These enhancements will comprise the implementation of species rich grassland and hibernacula. The balancing facilities in this area of the site will also be designed to provide marginal shelves and areas of open water. Once formed the marginal shelves and area of open water will be seeded with native species marginal / aquatic planting. The provision of these enhancements will be adequate to maintain the favourable conservation status of the species locally. 5.5 To ensure no grass snake are killed or injured during the works, suitable fencing will be erected on the site boundary and throughout suitable habitats located within the proposed development area. Any grass snake caught over this period will be released into the retained buffer strip on the eastern boundary of the proposed development site. 5.6 The site will then be cleared over a period of 30 suitable trapping occasions over the period of later March to October. Suitable weather conditions and when the daytime temperature is above 10 C. This trapping exercise will be completed over the same period as the GCN translocation exercise that is required and reported separately. On completion of the trapping period and a period of five clear day s suitable area of habitats will be subject to a destructive search. J:\5300\5393\ 7

10 Site Location Mr T.B Brown Land off Turweston Road Turweston, Northamptonshire This drawing is the property of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd and is issued on the condition it is not reproduced, retained or disclosed to any unauthorised person, either wholly or in part without written consent of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Site Location Plan A4 N Figure 1 Ordnance Survey material is used with the permission of The Controller of HMSO, Crown copyright J\5300\5393\Eco app\reptiles\site Location Plan.cdr FPCR Environment and Design Ltd, Lockington Hall, Lockington, Derby, DE74 2RH t: masterplanning environmental assessment landscape design urban design f: e: mail@.co.uk w: ecology architecture arboriculture CAG / KDG

11 Reptile Refugia Location Site Boundary Mark Brown Grass snake Location Land off Turweston Road Turweston, Brackley This drawing is the property of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd and is issued on the condition it is not reproduced, retained or disclosed to any unauthorised person, either wholly or in part without written consent of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Reptile Location and Artificial Refugia Plan A4 N Figure 2 Ordnance Survey material is used with the permission of The Controller of HMSO, Crown copyright J:\5300\5393\Eco\Badgers\Badfer Survey Plan.cdr FPCR Environment and Design Ltd, Lockington Hall, Lockington, Derby, DE74 2RH t: masterplanning environmental assessment landscape design urban design f: e: mail@.co.uk w: ecology architecture arboriculture SJN / CAG