Appendix 8.B Great Crested Newt Survey Report Entec UK Limited
Entec UK Limited
Kelmarsh Windfarm, Northamptonshire Great Crested Newt Survey Report June 2008
Client Job Name Report title File reference E.ON Renewables Ltd Great Crested Newt Survey 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon.doc Signed Name Position Date Originated Susan White Ecologist 30/06/08 Reviewed Carlos Abrahams Principal Ecologist 30/06/08 ISSUING OFFICE: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT TEL: 01629 815544 FAX: 01629 815577 Members: Andrew Baker BSc MIEEM Peter Shepherd BSc PhD MIEEM James Gillespie BSc PGDip MIEEM Steve Betts BSc MSc MIEEM Web: www.bsg-ecology.com Email: info@bsg-ecology.com Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Registered in: Cardiff No. OC328772 Registered address: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT
Report Contents 1 Introduction... 1 1.1 Site Description... 1 1.2 Proposed Works... 1 1.3 Aims of Study... 1 2 Methodology... 1 2.1 Desk Study... 1 2.2 Field Survey... 1 3 Results... 2 3.1 Desk Study... 2 3.2 Field Survey... 2 4 Assessment... 7 4.1 Constraints on Study Information... 7 4.2 Potential Impacts... 7 5 Recommendations... 8 6 Appendix 1: Site Map... 10 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon i
1 Introduction 1.1 Site Description The site is working farmland, located approximately 1.5km south-west of Kelmarsh village in Northamptonshire, centred at OS grid reference SP 719 786. The A14 road is situated adjacent to the northern site boundary. A plan of the site, including the proposed turbine locations and the ponds described in this report is included in Appendix 1. The survey area contains a series of arable fields, many of which have been recently ploughed and re-seeded. The majority have neutral grassland field margins of varying widths with patches of tall ruderal vegetation. A number of permanent grassland fields are also present, which are dominated by perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne with other occasional grasses. Field boundaries are frequently formed by species-poor hedges dominated by hawthorn Crataegus monogyna and with occasional trees. The hedgerows are variable throughout the site, with some being more actively managed than others therefore providing diversity in height and structure. There are a number of waterbodies within the site boundary including ponds, ditches and streams. There are four ponds on the site within 500m of a proposed turbine location. The adjacent land is composed of further arable fields and improved pasture. 1.2 Proposed Works E.ON Renewables Ltd proposes to develop a windfarm of up to seven turbines. The proposed turbine locations are situated towards the north-eastern end of the site. At this stage, the precise layout of the turbines and associated infrastructure is not known. 1.3 Aims of Study Baker Shepherd Gillespie was commissioned by E.ON Renewables Ltd to carry out a survey of four ponds within the study site. The purpose of this survey was to determine the presence or absence of great crested newts Triturus cristatus on the site. 2 Methodology 2.1 Desk Study A desktop study was carried out in October 2007 to determine the presence of any protected species records or designated statutory or non-statutory sites of conservation value (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or Local Wildlife Sites) within a 5km radius of the study site. Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre was contacted to supply this information. 2.2 Field Survey Four visits were made to the ponds during April and May 2008. The surveys were conducted by Ecologist Susan White AIEEM (Natural England great crested scientific survey licence number 20072865) and Principal Ecologist Carlos Abrahams MIEEM (NE licence no: 20071918). Further assistance was given from Ecologist Liz Rose-Jeffreys, who has previous experience of surveying for great crested newts. The ponds were surveyed according to the English Nature Guidelines 1 and included searches for great crested newt, smooth newt Triturus vulgaris, common frog Rana temporaria and common toad Bufo bufo. Each survey comprised an evening visit in which bottle traps were set and left 1 English Nature, 2001, Great crested newt mitigation guidelines. Peterborough 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 1
overnight before being checked and removed the following morning. Additionally, searches were made of aquatic habitat for amphibian spawn and night-time torch searches for adult amphibians, tadpoles or larvae where undertaken. On one occasion searches of terrestrial habitat for adult amphibians was also undertaken. The methods employed for each visit are summarised below in Table 1. Table 1: Survey methods used Visit Bottle Torch count Egg search Terrestrial Netting trapping search Pond Pond Pond Pond Pond A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D A B C D 03.04.08 22.04.08 06.05.08 23.06.08 On the first survey visit each pond was assessed using the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) scoring method 2 which is a means of evaluating habitat quality for great crested newts measured over 10 suitability indices. The HSI provides a numerical index between 0 and 1 where 0 indicates unsuitable habitat and 1 represents optimal habitat. A score of 0.4 is considered indicative that the pond may support a population of great crested newts. 3 Results 3.1 Desk Study There is a record dating from July 1992 of great crested newt occurring in Lamport Station pond (OS grid reference SP751752) which is approximately 3.6km south-east from the Kelmarsh study site. There were no further amphibian records provided. 3.2 Field Survey Surveys were undertaken in appropriate weather conditions, see Table 2. Table 2: Survey conditions Visit Air temperature Weather 03.04.08 11 o Partial cloud, light SW breeze. 22.04.08 10 o Clear, no breeze 06.05.08 14 o Partial cloud, light NE breeze 23.06.08 16 o Clear, no breeze 2 Oldham, R.S. et al, 2000 Evaluating the suitability of habitat for great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). The Herpetological Journal, Vol 10. 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 2
Pond A This pond is located in the north of the study site, approximately 100m from the A14 at OS grid reference SP 714 792. The pond is approximately 5 metres by 3 metres in size. The banks are densely vegetated with bulrush Typha latifolia. Duckweed Lemna sp. covers a large proportion of the water surface, with branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum and broad-leaved pondweed Potamogeton natans also present. Arable habitat completely surrounds the pond. The tall vegetation, rough grassland and arable habitat surrounding the pond has some potential value as foraging habitat and for shelter for great crested newts and other amphibians. The HSI Score for Pond A is 0.69 Photo 1: Pond A Table 3: Survey results, Pond A Method Species Survey 1 Survey 2 Survey 3 Survey 4 Torch count Great crested newt 0 0 0 0 Smooth newt 0 1M 2F 1M 3F 0 Egg search Great crested newt 0 0 2 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Netting Great crested newt - - 0 0 Smooth newt - - 0 0 Common frog - - 0 0 Common toad - - 0 0 Terrestrial survey Great crested newt 0 - - - Smooth newt 0 - - - Common frog 0 - - - Common toad 0 - - - Bottle trapping Great crested newt 0 0 1F 0 Smooth newt 0 3M 2F 0 0 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 3
Pond B This pond is located towards the north of the study site, at OS grid reference SP 719 789. The pond is approximately 8 metres by 5 metres in size. The banks are dominated by great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, with frequent curled dock Rumex crispus, and occasional common nettle and bramble. Willow scrub Salix sp. surrounds the pond. Hard rush Juncus inflexus and bulrush are present at the pond margins, with occasional branched bur-reed. Open water is limited and the pond area is dominated by mare s-tail Hippurus vulgaris. Arable habitat surrounds the pond. The tall herb vegetation and arable habitat surrounding the pond has some potential value as foraging habitat and for shelter for great crested newts. The HSI Score for Pond B is 0.63 Photo 2: Pond B Table 4: Survey results, Pond B Method Species Survey 1 Survey 2 Survey 3 Survey 4 Torch count Great crested newt 0 0 2M 1F 0 Smooth newt 0 1M 1F 0 0 Egg search Great crested newt 0 0 0 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Netting Great crested newt - - 0 0 Smooth newt - - 0 0 Common frog - - 0 0 Common toad - - 0 0 Terrestrial survey Great crested newt 0 - - - Smooth newt 0 - - - Common frog 0 - - - Common toad 0 - - - Bottle trapping Great crested newt 0 0 3M 1F 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 4
Pond C This pond is located towards the east of the study site, at OS grid reference SP 726 786. The pond is approximately 8 metres by 5 metres is size, and is entirely shaded by mature trees, including ash, willow sp. and blackthorn. Floating sweet-grass Glyceria fluitans is present at the margin. The pond was dry at the time of the final survey visit on 23 rd June. The HSI Score for Pond C is 0.54 Photo 3: Pond C Table 4: Survey results, Pond C Method Species Survey 1 Survey 2 Survey 3 Survey 4 Torch count Great crested newt 0 0 0 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Egg search Great crested newt 0 0 0 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Netting Great crested newt - - 0 - Smooth newt - - 0 - Common frog - - 0 - Common toad - - 0 - Terrestrial survey Great crested newt 0 - - 0 Smooth newt 0 - - 0 Common frog 0 - - 0 Common toad 0 - - 0 Bottle trapping Great crested newt 0 0 0 - Smooth newt 0 0 0 - Common frog 0 0 0 - Common toad 0 0 0-3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 5
Pond D This pond is located towards the east of the study site, at OS grid reference SP 729 784. The pond is approximately 5 metres by 2.5 metres in size. The banks are vegetated with willow sp., bramble, common nettle and hogweed. Species present within the pond include floating sweetgrass, branched bur-reed, amphibious bistort and great willowherb. Arable habitat surrounds the pond. The tall herb and scrub vegetation surrounding the pond has some potential value as foraging habitat and for shelter for great crested newts. The HSI Score for Pond B is 0.56 Photo 4: Pond D Table 5: Survey results, Pond D Method Species Survey 1 Survey 2 Survey 3 Survey 4 Torch count Great crested newt 0 1M 0 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Egg search Great crested newt 0 0 2 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 Netting Great crested newt - - 0 0 Smooth newt - - 0 0 Common frog - - 0 0 Common toad - - 0 0 Terrestrial survey Great crested newt 0 - - - Smooth newt 0 - - - Common frog 0 - - - Common toad 0 - - - Bottle trapping Great crested newt 0 2M 2F 1M 1F 0 Smooth newt 0 0 0 0 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 6
Summary of results All four of the ponds surveyed scored >0.4 in the Habitat Suitability Index indicating that they are suitable to support populations of great crested newts. There is suitable terrestrial habitat for the species, including hedgerows, ditches and field margins throughout the site. Male and female adult great crested newts and great crested newt eggs were located in ponds A, B and D. No more than four adult newts were seen in any of the ponds simultaneously. The Kelmarsh site supports a small breeding population of great crested newts. 4 Assessment 4.1 Constraints on Study Information There are not considered to be any particular constraints to the undertaking of this survey. Great crested newts are highly mobile and may colonise a site at any time. Natural environments may change and the survey results reported here will therefore become less reliable as time progresses. 4.2 Potential Impacts Great crested newts and their habitats in water and on land are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000), and by the Habitats Regulations 1994 (as amended 2007). In summary, these make it an offence to damage or destroy, or intentionally or recklessly obstruct any place used by great crested newts for breeding and shelter, deliberately, intentionally or recklessly disturb a great crested newt, or deliberately or intentionally kill, injure or take any great crested newt. The data trawl provided one historical record (July 1992) for great crested newt, located approximately 3.6km to the south-east of the study site. No further amphibian records were provided. Survey of the four ponds which lie within 500m of the proposed turbine locations has identified a small breeding population of great crested newts on the site. The plan of works during the construction phase of the proposed development has not at this stage been provided. Depending on the extent of the proposed works, any works undertaken in close proximity to the ponds could potentially give rise to an impact on individual great crested newts and their terrestrial habitats. Such an impact would amount to an offence under the legislation set out above. Additionally, where suitable terrestrial habitat exists within 250m of a breeding pond, it has the potential to be regularly used by great crested newts. In order to avoid an offence under the legislation, works within 250 metres of a breeding population may need to be covered by a licence issued by Natural England. A licence application would need to include information about the development, the planning background, and the details of the mitigation proposals and would need to be submitted once planning permission has been granted. 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 7
5 Recommendations The method statement included in the EPS licence application would need to set out the mitigation measures that would be put in place to ensure that newts would be protected during the works. The nature of the mitigation measures would depend on the method and location of works related to the turbine construction. If the section of the proposed works that lie within 250m of the known GCN breeding pond can be designed to avoid impacts on newts then it is possible that the need for the licence and extensive mitigation measures could be avoided. At the present time, the Natural England EPS licence applications, once submitted, can take 8-10 weeks to process with the involvement of both Natural England (licensing division) and the local planning authority. Work to prepare the licence application should be commissioned in good time to allow the licence to be processed and any mitigation to be undertaken at the appropriate time. 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 8
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6 Appendix 1: Site Map 3173.01_004_gcnrpt_sw_eon Page 10