ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN...4 Astwick Quarry Proposed Fishing Lake Ecological Management Plan April 2017 2.1.6 This shows that the former Astwick Quarry restoration scheme will support

PROPOSED FISHING LAKE AT THE FORMER ASTWICK QUARRY, CROUGHTON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Report prepared for

Fisher German Ltd

Ecological Planning, Design and Management

18 Fisher Close

Banbury Oxfordshire

OX16 3ZW

April 2017

1

Astwick Quarry Proposed Fishing Lake Ecological Management Plan

April 2017

CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 2

2.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN OUTLINE ..................................................................................... 3

2.1 DEVELOPMENT PLAN .................................................................................................... 3

Nature Conservation Benefits ............................................................................. 3 3.0 BASELINE DESCRIPTION AND APPRAISAL ...................................................................... 5

3.1 OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 5

3.2 ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT COMPARTMENTS ........................................................... 6

Compartment One – Wet Woodland .................................................................. 6 Compartment Two – Northern Grassland .......................................................... 7 Compartment Three – Southern Grassland ........................................................ 7 Compartment Four – Quarry Void ...................................................................... 8

4.0 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION PROPOSALS ........................................................................ 9

4.1 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION - GENERIC MEASURES ........................................................ 9

4.2 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – NOTABLE VEGETATION ................................................. 10

4.3 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BADGERS ....................................................................... 10

4.4 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BATS .............................................................................. 11

4.5 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BREEDING BIRDS ........................................................... 11

4.6 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – REPTILES ........................................................................ 12

5.0 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK ............................................................................... 12

5.1 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................................................... 12

5.2 METHOD STATEMENTS ............................................................................................... 13

5.3 SUPERVISION/SURVEILLANCE ..................................................................................... 13

5.4 PROGRAMME .............................................................................................................. 14

5.5 MONITORING .............................................................................................................. 14

5.6 REPORTING .................................................................................................................. 14

6.0 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE .................................................................................................. 15

APPENDIX ONE – 2016 GREAT CRESTED NEWT ASSESSMENT .............................................................. 21

APPENDIX TWO – ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION METHOD STATEMENTS ................................................ 41

APPENDIX THREE – MONTHLY ECOLOGICAL CLERK OF WORKS REPORT PROFORMA ......................... 44

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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.0.1 This document provides a scheme of ecological protection and management for the

development of a recreational coarse fishing facility at the former Astwick Quarry near Croughton, Northamptonshire. This scheme has been prepared to support a planning application to Northamptonshire County Council for permission to implement the proposed development. The extent of land covered by this scheme is shown in Figure One, comprising the drained and partially infilled basin of the former Astwick Quarry and adjacent woodland and grassland.

1.0.2 The structure of this document is as follows:

• Section 1.0 – Introduction, setting out the general objectives and structure of the Ecological Management Plan;

• Section 2.0 - Terms of reference and objectives, describing the purpose of the Ecological Management Plan;

• Section 3.0 - Development plan outline, describing the key stages in the implementation of development proposals;

• Section 4.0 - Baseline description and appraisal, providing a summary of the ecological character of the development area, identifying a series of compartments for implementation of the Ecological Management Plan;

• Section 5.0 - Ecological protection proposals, describing generic and specific proposals for ecological protection;

• Section 6.0 - Implementation framework, describing the implementation programme and provisions for supervision, monitoring and reporting on progress with the achievement of plan objectives;

• Section 7.0 - Biographical note, providing a summary of qualifications and experience for the author of this Ecological Management Plan.

1.0.3 Where necessary, this plan is supported by plans, figures and appendices. 1.0.4 A previous planning consent for development of a recreational angling facility at the former

Astwick Quarry has resulted in dewatering and partial fill of the former quarry void. This process has been undertaken in accordance with an Ecological Management Plan that drew from a series of existing ecological assessments and was supported by monthly ecological surveillance visits to the site to ensure that features of nature conservation interest are protected from disturbance.

1.0.5 This document provides an update and replacement for the previous Ecological Management Plan to support a revised development scheme and planning submission for the former Astwick Quarry.

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2.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN OUTLINE 2.0.1 This section reviews key elements of the proposed development at the former Astwick Quarry,

with a review of the likely nature conservation benefits that will result from implementation of the scheme. Specific activities that concern implementation of this Ecological Management Plan are described within Section 6.0 of this document.

2.1 DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2.1.1 A development scheme for the proposed coarse angling centre is shown in Figure Two. This

mainly comprises the creation of a single fishing lake that will be formed by the placement and profiling of inert fill material within the dewatered quarry void. Three islands will be formed within the fishing lake. Final profiles will be formed by placement of topsoil to provide a substrate for the establishment of aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation within the fishing lakes. A variety of marginal vegetation types will be introduced to the lake edge, including the development of wet reedbed vegetation, enclosing an area where shallow lake margin habitat is proposed.

2.1.2 Car parking, vehicle access, a facilities building and stock ponds are proposed for an area to the east of the former quarry void, largely at locations presently occupied by soil bunds, access tracks and other infrastructure associated with quarry infill operations. These elements of the proposed development will enable restoration of areas currently affected by quarry infill activities. A small ancillary car parking area is proposed for a location adjacent to woodland at the western end of the site.

2.1.3 Locations within the proposed development scheme are presently occupied by undisturbed

grassland vegetation. Where this vegetation is considered to provide some local nature conservation interest the vegetation will either be transferred to suitable locations within the development site for reinstatement, or will be reinstated through grassland habitat creation measures. Provisions for this aspect of the development scheme are described more fully later in this document.

2.1.4 Elsewhere within the development scheme existing grassland areas are to be retained and

managed to benefit their habitat interest. These measures are described in more detail later in this document.

Nature Conservation Benefits 2.1.5 The final development scheme for the former Astwick Quarry includes a number of elements

that will support objectives of the Northamptonshire local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). The current LBAP was revised during 2008 and provides a framework of biodiversity conservation priorities for Northamptonshire to be implemented by 2015 when the LBAP will be reviewed and new priorities identified for subsequent years. The development scheme and ecological management proposals developed for Astwick Quarry support a number of Northamptonshire LBAP habitat conservation priorities, as summarised in Table One (page 4 of this document).

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2.1.6 This shows that the former Astwick Quarry restoration scheme will support LBAP conservation objectives for wet woodland, lowland mixed deciduous woodland, ponds, lowland meadows and lowland calcareous grassland. In addition, the proposals have the potential to benefit the conservation of several notable fauna species. These include roosting and foraging bats, and ground nesting birds, with the potential for habitat utilisation by reptiles and amphibians.

Table One – Schedule of Northamptonshire local Biodiversity Action Plan contributions from the former Astwick Quarry Fishing Lakes Project

Northamptonshire LBAP Habitat Conservation Priorities

Astwick Quarry Proposals

Wet Woodland

• Sympathetic management of existing wet woodland

• Maintenance of wet woodland as a successional stage between open wetland and drier woodland

• Creation/maintenance of mosaic of sub-habitat and microhabitat features

Retention of existing wet woodland to the west of Astwick Quarry as a non-intervention area will enable the continued development of wet woodland habitat interest through high forest patch regeneration. The position of the existing woodland relative to the adjacent pond habitat creation scheme will place the woodland in a valuable sequence of wetland successional stages. Installation of bat boxes has increased the bat roosting interest of the woodland. This will be further increased by installation of additional bat boxes.

Ponds

• Create a full range of successional stages from open water through marginal and emergent zones to scrub, woodland or grassland

The creation of new pond habitats at Astwick Quarry will support this LBAP objective. In particular, proposals for pond habitats that include the development of margin habitats and pond habitat that abuts the western wet woodland belt will help to provide a locally valuable assemblage of pond and associated habitat features.

Lowland Meadows

• Sympathetic management and restoration of existing sites

The development of tall grassland areas through the adoption of seasonal mowing will replicate traditional meadow management and will help to develop grassland areas with a meadow character.

Lowland Calcareous Grassland

• Management of calcareous grassland to create a habitat mosaic

The retention of calcareous grassland patches along the quarry margin and possible incorporation into long term grassland areas through translocation will help to support this LBAP objective.

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3.0 BASELINE DESCRIPTION AND APPRAISAL 3.0.1 This section provides an overview of the current ecological character and interest of the

former Astwick Quarry. A series of ecological appraisals were undertaken to support the original planning application for proposals to develop a recreational angling centre at the quarry, and a series of monthly ecological surveillance visits to the former Astwick Quarry have helped to update these assessments. In addition, an update Great Crested Newt assessment has been undertaken to inform the present appraisal.

3.0.2 A series of compartments are identified at the quarry that comprise different habitat assemblages, and these are used in later sections of this document to describe the variety of ecological protection and management proposals developed for the Astwick Quarry scheme.

3.1 OVERVIEW 3.1.1 When ecological surveys were undertaken for the previous planning consent at the former

Astwick Quarry the site comprised a flooded quarry void with open water that was believed to be around 8 metres deep. Land abutting the flooded quarry mainly comprised grassland with scattered tall ruderal vegetation and patches of mature and recently planted broadleaved woodland. The flooded quarry was dewatered during late 2013 and presently comprises a dewatered and partly infilled quarry void that has localised areas of standing water. To the west of the flooded quarry is a belt of mature semi-natural woodland that includes areas with a distinctive wet woodland character.

3.1.2 Monthly ecological surveillance visits were undertaken during 2015 that have enabled a

review of habitat condition at the former Astwick Quarry. In addition, site surveys to confirm the status of Great Crested Newt at the site were undertaken during spring and summer 2016. This assessment included flooded areas within the main quarry void, an artificial pond to the west of the development site and areas of shallow water within an artificial wetland habitat area to the east of the development site. No Great Crested Newts were found at any of these locations, as described in the survey results described in Appendix One of this report.

3.1.3 The landscape surrounding Astwick Quarry has an agricultural character, comprising relatively

large fields of improved grassland and arable cultivation. Fields are defined by hedgerows that mainly consist of species poor, structurally uniform Enclosure hedges. Occasional hedges have a more varied structure and composition, including the roadside hedge that abuts the former Astwick quarry to the south. Farmland to the immediate north and west of Astwick Quarry has been created through restoration of former mineral extraction sites to agriculture. A field of improved grassland to the east of the quarry has a wetland habitat creation scheme that was implemented as part of previous quarry development in the locality.

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3.2 ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT COMPARTMENTS 3.2.1 The various habitat assemblages identified by ecological assessments undertaken at Astwick

Quarry have been divided up into a series of discrete Ecological Management Compartments, as shown in Figure One. The following sections provide an outline description for each compartment, identifying key ecological management objectives and actions to be undertaken as part of the Astwick Quarry development scheme. A series of photographs are provided at the rear of this document to show the general character of each compartment.

Compartment One – Wet Woodland 3.2.2 This area comprises two distinctive stands of mature wet woodland vegetation. To the north

is an area of woodland characterised by an abundance of Alder Alnus glutinosa in the woodland canopy, with woodland to the south characterised by an abundance of Crack Willow Salix fragilis in the canopy. The southern section has a patchy herbaceous ground flora, and there is a patchy shrub layer throughout both woodland areas. The general character of this compartment is shown in Plate One.

3.2.3 The woodland has not been recently managed, and a number of large windblown branches

have been retained in situ, providing valuable fallen deadwood decay microhabitat. The woodland has a structurally varied canopy, and includes several mature canopy trees with dense Ivy Hedera helix growth on main stems. These characteristics combine to create the potential for use of the woodland by nesting birds and possibly by roosting bats. The linear nature and wet woodland character of the compartment is likely to provide a feature of value to commuting and foraging bats.

3.2.4 The wet woodland habitats within this compartment are likely to be of county level nature

conservation interest. The general nature conservation interest of this compartment has been augmented by the erection of several bat boxes and the creation of deadwood decay microhabitat features. These are shown in Plate One. Ecological Management Issues

• The considerable nature conservation interest of this compartment should be protected and enhanced

Ecological Management Actions

No. Description

1a. Woodland management will be restricted to removal or ringbarking non-native tree species that might colonise the compartment

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Compartment Two – Northern Grassland 3.2.5 The majority of grassland within this compartment is characterised by an abundance of

coarse, tussock-forming grass species such as False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius and Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata. This grassland also includes a range of tall and short herb species that provides some local floristic diversity. The general character of this compartment is shown in Plate Two and Plate Three.

3.2.6 Grassland within this compartment is currently managed by relatively frequent mowing to

maintain a short sward in order to deter use by reptiles and ground nesting birds while active infilling of the adjacent quarry void is underway. This has the effect of maintaining a structurally uniform grassland sward.

3.2.7 Tall ruderal vegetation is scattered within the grassland, including Creeping Thistle Cirsium

arvense, Common Nettle Urtica dioica and Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. Patches of recently planted trees are also present within this compartment.

3.2.8 The generally species poor and structurally uniform character of grassland within this

compartment is of limited intrinsic nature conservation interest but has the potential to provide habitat of value to reptiles and ground nesting birds.

Ecological Management Issues

• The development of greater vegetation structural variety will help to increase the intrinsic nature conservation interest of this compartment

• The development of greater vegetation structural variety will enhance the potential for use of this compartment by reptiles and ground nesting birds


No. Description

2a. Implement a programme of differential grassland management (mowing and removal of arisings from patches) as appropriate to enable the development of tall grassland areas ensuring no conflict with reptile and ground nesting bird protection objectives

Compartment Three – Southern Grassland 3.2.9 The majority of grassland within this compartment is characterised by an abundance of

coarse, tussock-forming grass species such as False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius and Cock’s-foot Dactylis glomerata. This grassland also contains a range of tall and short herb species that provides some local floristic diversity, indicating the possibility of locally more strongly calcareous grassland character. The general character of this compartment is shown in Plate Four and Plate Five.

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3.2.10 Grassland within this compartment is currently managed by relatively frequent mowing to maintain a short sward in order to deter use by reptiles and ground nesting birds while active infilling of the adjacent quarry void is underway. This has the effect of maintaining a structurally uniform grassland sward.

3.2.11 Tall ruderal vegetation is scattered within the grassland, including Creeping Thistle Cirsium

arvense, Common Nettle Urtica dioica and Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea. Patches of recently planted trees are also present within this compartment.

3.2.12 The generally species poor and structurally uniform character of grassland within this

compartment is of limited intrinsic nature conservation interest but has the potential to provide habitat of value to reptiles and ground nesting birds.


• The development of greater vegetation structural variety will help to increase the intrinsic nature conservation interest of this compartment

• The development of greater vegetation structural variety will enhance the potential for use of this compartment by reptiles and ground nesting birds

• The incorporation of other habitat diversification features will increase the potential value of this compartment to a variety of notable fauna species


No. Description

3a. Implement a programme of differential grassland management (mowing and removal of arisings from patches) as appropriate to enable the development of tall grassland areas ensuring no conflict with reptile and ground nesting bird protection objectives

Compartment Four – Quarry Void 3.2.13 As a result of dewatering and infilling the quarry void generally lacks features of nature

conservation interest. This is shown in Plate Six. Of some value is a strip of retained vegetation at the margin of the quarry void; this includes locations with patches of calcareous grassland vegetation that has developed on areas of bare ground with limestone scalpings at the surface.

3.2.14 These vegetation patches are of some local interest and include a number of plant species

with restricted distributions. These include Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Spiked Sedge Carex spicata and Woolly Thistle Cirsium eriphiorum.

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• The general botanical interest of Astwick Quarry will benefit from the retention of these calcareous grassland patches, with the possibility of translocation to locations within the development area that will remain unaffected by creation of the fishing lakes and associated landscape design scheme


No. Description

4a. Undertake an occasional cut of all vegetation along lake margins prior to flowering and seed set by tall ruderal plant species

4b. At an appropriate stage in the development scheme and where suitable, undertake translocation of any substantive calcareous grassland patches from this compartment

4.0 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION PROPOSALS 4.0.1 This section describes measures for achieving principal ecological protection and

management objectives of the proposed development at the former Astwick Quarry. Several generic ecological protection and management considerations were described within ecological assessments undertaken to support the original planning application for the Astwick Quarry fishing lakes.

4.0.2 These considerations are outlined in this section, with detailed actions described within the Ecological Management Plan Implementation Framework presented in Section 5.0 of this document. Section 3.0 of this document has identified a series of discrete compartments within the development area, and these are used in this section for the description of specific ecological protection and management actions.

4.1 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION - GENERIC MEASURES 4.1.1 The former Astwick Quarry development site contains several habitat types with the potential

for use by protected and notable fauna species. In addition, some areas of grassland conservation interest have been identified within the development area. A requirement of this Ecological Management Plan is the description of measures that will help to ensure that the Astwick Quarry development avoids significant disturbance of these existing nature conservation interest features.

4.1.2 Generic ecological protection measures are as follows:

• Prior to physical disturbance of habitats within the development area, suitable assessments will be undertaken to establish the extent to which notable or protected fauna species are present that could be vulnerable to disturbance;

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• Where appropriate, the implementation of site activities with the potential for disturbing notable or protected fauna species will be restricted to periods of least ecological sensitivity;

• Botanical assessment prior to implementation of the development scheme will help to identify the extent to which areas of particular vegetation interest could be disturbed;

• Where appropriate, translocation of vegetation or individual plants from development areas might be necessary to ensure that loss of botanical interest is avoided.

4.1.3 This Ecological Management Plan identifies a number of specific ecological protection

measures for vegetation and notable fauna species. These are described in the following sections.

4.2 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – NOTABLE VEGETATION 4.2.1 Principal ecological protection measures for notable vegetation mainly concern patches of

calcareous grassland vegetation along the margin of the quarry void. These have been identified during previous ecological assessments, and these have also recognised that retention in situ or translocation are options for incorporation of these areas into the development scheme.

4.2.2 The condition and extent of these potential botanical interest areas will be reviewed through vegetation monitoring. The outcome of vegetation monitoring will support proposals for retention or translocation of notable vegetation patches:

a. Monitor the composition of calcareous grassland patches to identify areas of particular

botanical interest, including locations of notable plant species;

b. Where vegetation patches or locations of notable plant species are found, vegetation management will be undertaken as appropriate to maintain the floristic interest of these features;

c. If appropriate, vegetation patches or individual plants of notable species would be

translocated from the quarry void margin.

4.2.3 Vegetation assessments undertaken through implementation of this Ecological Management Plan will confirm the location, character and condition of notable grassland vegetation types within the proposed development area.

4.3 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BADGERS 4.3.1 Principal ecological protection measures for badgers mainly concern the identification of

situations where the development scheme could create a risk of disturbance to badger setts. Ecological surveillance at the site has not identified any Badger setts, but the following measures will be adopted as a precautionary measure:

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a. Monitor progressive completion of development operations to identify any significant changes to the current footprint;

b. If development operations extend towards any probable badger sett locations identified

during ecological surveillance of the development appropriate measures will be undertaken to avoid significant disturbance of badgers.

4.4 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BATS 4.4.1 Principal ecological protection measures for bats mainly concern the identification of changes

to the development scheme that could create a risk of disturbance to trees that could be used as bat roosting habitat:

a. Monitor progressive completion of development operations to identify any significant

changes to the current footprint;

b. If changes to development operations create a requirement for tree removal this would be preceded with an assessment of the affected trees for their potential to be in use by roosting bats;

c. If roosting potential is identified, tree removal would be avoided or supported by

appropriate measures to avoid significant disturbance such as the engagement of an ecological watching brief during tree removal.

4.5 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – BREEDING BIRDS 4.5.1 Principal ecological protection measures for breeding birds mainly concern the identification

of changes to the development scheme that could create a risk of disturbance to trees, shrubs or grassland that could be used as bird nesting habitat:

a. Monitor progressive completion of development operations to identify any significant

changes to the current footprint;

b. If changes to development operations create a requirement for tree or shrub removal or encroachment onto grassland areas of potential interest to ground nesting birds this would be preceded with an assessment of the potential for disturbance of nesting birds;

c. If nesting potential is identified, removal of trees, shrubs or grassland would be avoided

or supported by an ecological assessment to establish that use by nesting birds has finished.

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4.6 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION – REPTILES 4.6.1 Principal ecological protection measures for reptiles mainly concern the avoidance of harm to

any reptiles that might be present within the development area. Ecological surveillance at the site has not identified any reptiles, but the following measures will be adopted as a precautionary measure:

a. Any habitat within the working area such as coarse grassland or accumulations of rubble

that might be of potential interest to reptiles will be hand-searched by a suitably qualified ecologist immediately prior to works starting;

b. The ecologist will then undertake a watching brief of the works. They will be in constant

communication with any machinery operators (who will have been adequately briefed on the task) and will ask them to stop periodically to check the working areas for reptiles;

c. Any other animals found during the operations will be transported to a suitable receptor

area on-site (but over 50 m away from the working area).

5.0 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK 5.0.1 This section identifies key personnel and procedures that will ensure that provisions of this

Ecological Management Plan are implemented at Astwick Quarry. Provisions for specific ecological protection measures are described, with a framework of ecological supervision, monitoring and reporting.

5.1 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 5.1.1 A variety of organisations and individuals are involved in delivery of the Astwick Quarry

Ecological management plan. Contact details for key organisations and individuals are provided below:

Role Principal Contact

Contact Details

Client (for earthworks phase of development)

Karen Henson/ Graham Churchill

Churchill Waste Management Ltd Winterhills Silverstone Towcester Northants NN12 8UG

[email protected] 01327 857246

Ecological Clerk of Works

David Broom EPDM 18 Fisher Close Banbury Oxon OX16 3ZW

[email protected] 07813 955119

mailto:[email protected]


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Role Principal Contact

Contact Details

NCC Ecologist Tina Cuss Northamptonshire County Council Planning Services Guildhall Road Block County Hall Northampton NN1 1DN

c/o [email protected] 01604 368534

NE office Natural England, Apex Court, City Link, Nottingham, NG2 4LA

0300 060 1111

5.2 METHOD STATEMENTS 5.2.1 A series of ecological protection method statements have been prepared that will be followed

during implementation of the Astwick Quarry development scheme. These are presented in Appendix Two and draw from provisions for ecological protection described in Section 4.0 of this document. In the event that surveillance undertaken by an Ecological Clerk of Works (See Section 5.3 below) identifies a contravention of ecological protection method statements, method statement clauses will be used to report specific contraventions and to prioritise any remedial action that might be considered necessary.

5.3 SUPERVISION/SURVEILLANCE 5.3.1 All aspects of this Ecological Management Plan will be overseen by an Ecological Clerk of

Works who will undertake site visits on a regular basis to review progress with the development scheme focusing on operations that might have implications for ecological protection. The Ecological Clerk of Works will undertake monthly surveillance visits to the entire site, with additional visits as necessary to monitor specific site activities.

5.3.2 The scope of responsibilities to be performed by the Ecological Clerk of Works is as follows:

• To ensure that the objectives, purpose and requirements of the Ecological Management Plan are communicated to all site operatives;

• To undertake monthly surveillance site visits with supplementary site visits as necessary;

• At each site visit to review progress with quarry infilling and other operations against the development programme and to confirm the anticipated short term programme and activities;

• To review the general ecological condition of the development site, focusing on features identified in the Ecological Management Plan of potential vulnerability to adverse effects of the development scheme;


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• To review the need for application of specific Ecological Protection Method Statements;

• To review progress with the application of Ecological Protection Method Statements as appropriate;

• To undertake ecological monitoring as necessary;

• To compile a summary report for each monthly surveillance visit and for any supplementary site visits that may be undertaken. The monthly summary report will be compiled utilising the standard proforma presented in Appendix Three of this document.

5.4 PROGRAMME 5.4.1 A notional programme identifying key actions for implementation of this Ecological

Management Plan is shown in Table Two. This describes key actions for the period ending April 2018, and will be revised as necessary to accommodate detailed provisions for implementation of the proposed development.

5.5 MONITORING 5.5.1 As stated in Section 5.3 above, the general ecological condition of the development site will

be reviewed and recorded as part of the monthly surveillance visit by the Ecological Clerk of Works.

5.5.2 Where vegetation monitoring is considered appropriate to support specific objectives of this

Ecological Management Plan appropriate standard vegetation survey and assessment protocols will be used for data collection and analysis.

5.5.3 Detailed proposals for the final restoration and occupation phases of the proposed

development will be confirmed at the end of the earthworks phase. This will ensure that provisions for on-going ecological monitoring fully consider any specific measures for ecological protection and management that might arise during final stages of fill and profiling within the disused quarry. In particular, this will ensure that appropriate measures are incorporated into implementation plans for landscape design proposals.

5.6 REPORTING 5.6.1 As stated in Section 5.3 above a surveillance report will be prepared by the Ecological Clerk of

Works immediately after each monthly site visit. This report will be circulated to the Waste Planning Authority within seven days of each surveillance visit for comment and record.

5.6.2 In the event that supplementary site visits are undertaken to review implementation of the

Ecological Management Plan a summary report will be prepared immediately following the site visit and this will also be circulated to the Waste Planning Authority within seven days of the supplementary site visit for comment and record.

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5.6.3 In the event that additional ecological assessments are required to support implementation

of Ecological Protection Method Statements, these assessments will be recorded as necessary in stand-alone reports for circulation to the Local Planning Authority for comment and record.

6.0 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 6.0.1 This document has been prepared for Fisher German Ltd by David Broom, Consultant

Ecologist. David holds Undergraduate and Postgraduate qualifications in Environmental Science and Ecology from the University of Bradford and the University of London, and holds a Certificate in Environmental Impact Assessment from Oxford Brookes University. David has worked as a consultant ecologist for over 25 years, and for over 15 years has held a post as sessional lecturer in ecology, restoration ecology and Environmental Impact Assessment within the schools of Plant Science and Biological Science at the University of Reading.

6.0.2 David has a long track record in ecological assessment for the waste management, mineral

extraction and mining sectors, having undertaken full ecological assessments and developed detailed ecological restoration schemes for a substantial number of sites both within and outside the United Kingdom. This work has included the implementation of ecological protection and management schemes, through the development of Ecological Management Plans, mine closure plans and Biodiversity Action Plans for waste, mineral and mine site restoration programmes. These have typically included schemes for the protection and enhancement of sensitive wildlife habitats and notable wildlife species.

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Table Two - Key EMP implementation Tasks for the period May 2017 to April 2018

Month/Year

Task 05.17 06.17 07.17 08.17 09.17 10.17 11.17 12.17 01.18 02.18 03.18 04.18

1. Monthly surveillance visits and report (Ecological Clerk of Works)

2. Woodland management within Compartment One (if necessary)

3. Grassland management within Compartment Two and Three

4. Treatment of tall ruderal vegetation within Compartment Four

5. Vegetation Monitoring

6. Monitoring Badger activity during monthly surveillance visits

7. Monitor nesting birds during monthly surveillance visits

17

Compartment Two: Northern Grassland

Compartment Four: Quarry Void

Compartment Three: Southern Grassland

Compartment One: Wet Woodland

Figure One

Ecological Management Compartments

April 2017

18

Figure Two

Astwick Quarry Development Scheme

April 2017

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Plate One – Compartment One showing Willow carr character of wet woodland towards the edge of the former quarry void and bat boxes with bat droppings at the box entrance indicating use by roosting bats

Plate Two – Compartment Two showing the structurally uniform grassland from the eastern end of the compartment

Plate Three – Compartment Two showing the structurally uniform grassland and association with adjacent compartment one woodland from the western end of the compartment

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Plate Four – Compartment Three showing the structurally uniform grassland and association with adjacent compartment one woodland at the western end of the compartment

Plate Five – Compartment Three showing the structurally uniform grassland and association with adjacent woodland patch at the eastern end of the compartment

Plate Six – Compartment Four showing the arrangement of activities within the quarry void: the access ramp, infilling (top right of picture), dewatering pump and sump containing residual water. The fringe of patchy vegetation around the quarry margin is also visible (September 2014)

TT1950-ASTWICK QUARRY 21

G REAT C RESTED N EWT S URVEY R EPORT

APPENDIX ONE – 2016 GREAT CRESTED NEWT ASSESSMENT

Astwick Quarry

Great Crested Newt

Surveys

Prepared for David Broom

June 2016



TURNSTONE ECOLOGY

Project Number

TT1950

Title

Astwick Quarry Great Crested Newt Surveys

Document Number

R01-Astwick Quarry-GCN Survey Report-Rev00

Client

David Broom

Issue Date

17/06/16

Prepared by:

Approved by:

Gareth Blockley

Senior Consultant

13/06/16

Tristan Evans Director 16/06/2016

This report has been prepared by Turnstone Ecology Limited, with all reasonable skill,

care and diligence within the terms of the Contract with the client.

We disclaim any responsibility to the client and others in respect of any matters outside

the scope of the above.

This report is confidential to the client and we accept no responsibility of whatsoever

nature to third parties to whom this report, or any part thereof, is made known. Any

such party relies on the report at their own risk.



Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 23

1.1 General Introduction .................................................................................................................. 23

1.2 Ecological Context ...................................................................................................................... 24

1.3 Legislation .................................................................................................................................. 26

2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 26

2.1 Background Information ............................................................................................................ 26

2.2 Survey Methods ......................................................................................................................... 27

2.2.1 Habitat Suitability Index .......................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Presence/Absence Survey ....................................................................... 28

2.3 Survey Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 29

3 Results ............................................................................................................................................... 30

3.1 Background Information ............................................................................................................ 30

3.2 Survey Personal and Timing ....................................................................................................... 30

3.3 HSI .............................................................................................................................................. 30

3.3.1 Pond 1 ..................................................................................................... 31 3.3.2 Pond 2 ..................................................................................................... 33 3.3.3 Pond 3 ..................................................................................................... 34

3.4 Presence/Absence and Population Assessment Surveys ........................................................... 35

4 Evaluation and Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 35

4.1 Evaluation ................................................................................................................................... 35

4.2 Proposed Mitigation and Enhancement .................................................................................... 36

4.2.1 Mitigation ................................................................................................ 36 4.2.2 Enhancement .......................................................................................... 37

5 References ......................................................................................................................................... 37

5.1 Printed Reference Works ........................................................................................................... 37

5.2 Web-based Resources ................................................................................................................ 37

6 Appendix 1 – Full Results of Great Crested Newt Survey ................................................................. 38

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Introduction

Turnstone Ecology Limited were commissioned to carry out surveys for Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) at Astwick Quarry, near Croughton, Northamptonshire. The surveys were required to support a new planning application for works associated with infill, reinstatement and landscaping work at the quarry.



1.2 Ecological Context

Astwick Quarry is located to the north of Astwick Farm, which is approximately 2 km west of Croughton (OS Grid Ref SP 565 335). The proposed work involves the infill of an existing quarry void, reinstatement and landscaping work. Terrestrial habitat around the quarry will be reinstated and landscaped following completion of the infill of the quarry void.

There are three waterbodies (Ponds) on site that were surveyed. Pond 1 is a wet flush to the east of the quarry that was created as compensation for loss of wet grassland habitat prior to other quarrying activity near to the site. The site has been unmanaged for a number of years and the main quarry void (Pond 2) had been left to fill with water. Prior to surveys the void had been drained of water and partially infilled, however since work had stopped it had partially filled with water again. Pond 3 is an old smaller quarry void to the west of the quarry that has filled with water.

The ground around the main quarry (Pond 2) is mostly bare, with scattered ruderal vegetation. South of the main quarry void, between the quarry and the road, is improved grassland and some thick scrub. To the north of the quarry is sheep grazed grassland that has been reinstated after other old quarry voids have been infilled. The area to the east of the quarry, around Pond 1, is reinstated wet grassland which has a culverted stream running through it. This area floods during the winter and dries up during the spring and summer. It has patches of Reedmace (Typha), Sedges (Cyperaceae) and Rushes (Juncus) with other wetland species. The area to the west of the quarry, around Pond 3, is grassland with Sedges and scattered scrub.

There are a further four ponds within 250 m of the site, two to the south west and two to the south of the site. Access to these ponds was not possible and as such they were not surveyed to see if they are suitable habitat to support Great Crested Newts and were not subject to presence/absence surveys.

Figure 1 shows an aerial view of the site and Figure 2 shows the locations of the surveyed ponds. Figure 1. Site Plan (site boundary in red)



Figure 2. Ponds located within 250 m radius of the centre of the site (blue = surveyed, orange = not

surveyed)



1.3 Legislation

Great Crested Newts are protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and extended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This legislation makes it an offence to:

• intentionally kill, injure or take a Great Crested Newt

• possess or control a Great Crested Newt

• intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to a resting or breeding

place used by a Great Crested Newt; and

• intentionally or recklessly disturb a Great Crested Newt whilst is occupies such a place.

Great Crested Newts are also European Protected Species listed on The Conservation

Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended). This legislation makes it an offence to:

• deliberately capture, injure or kill a Great Crested Newt;

• deliberately disturb a Great Crested Newt (in such a way as to be likely to significantly

affect, (i) the ability of a significant group of Great Crested Newt to survive, breed or

rear/nurture their young; and (ii) the local distribution or abundance of the species

concerned);

• damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of a Great Crested Newt; and

• possess, control, transport, sell, exchange a Great Crested Newt, or offer a Great

Crested Newt for sale or exchange.

All resting and breeding places of Great Crested Newts receive legal protection even when Great Crested Newts are not present.

Where it is necessary to carry out an action that could result in an offence under Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (as amended) it is possible to apply for a European Protected Species (EPS) licence from Natural England. Licences are only issued where Natural England is satisfied that there is no satisfactory alternative, works are for overriding reasons of public interest and that the favorable conservation status of Great Crested Newt populations will not be detrimentally affected.

2 METHODS

2.1 Background Information

Information relating to designated sites, sites where European Protected Species (EPS) Licences have been granted between 2010 and 2015 (only available in England) and historic records of protected species within 2 km of the proposed development site will have been obtained from Magic (www.magic.gov.uk) and other freely available information on the internet, such as planning portals.

Specific background information relating to nearby records of Great Crested Newts has not been obtained from the local records centre.

http://www.magic.gov.uk/





2.2 Survey Methods

2.2.1 Habitat Suitability Index

Water features were assessed to determine whether they were suitable for Great Crested Newt using the HSI developed by Oldham et al. (2000), which is a derived from systems developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a numerical index, between 0 and 1, where 0 indicates unsuitable habitat and 1 represents optimal habitat. The HSI for the Great Crested Newt uses ten factors (suitability indices (SI) 1 to 10), which are thought to affect Great Crested Newts as follows:

• geographic location (SI 1);

• surface area (SI 2);

• hydrology (drying) (SI 3);

• water quality (SI 4);

• shade (SI 5);

• presence of water fowl (SI 6);

• presence of fish (SI 7);

• number of adjacent water features (SI 8);

• terrestrial habitat (SI 9); and

• macrophyte cover (SI 10).

Each factor is scored using field and desk-based survey. These ten scores are then converted to SI scores using a scale from 0.01 to 1 from graphs given in Oldham et al. (2000) and a HSI result is calculated using the following formula: HSI = (SI1 x SI2 x SI3 x SI4 x SI5 x SI6 x SI7 x SI8 x SI9 x SI10)1/10

Further research by Brady (unpublished) has developed a system for using HSI scores to define pond suitability for Great Crested Newts according to the following categories:

HSI <0.5 = poor

HSI 0.5 – 0.59 = below average

HSI 0.6 – 0.69 = average

HSI 0.7 – 0.79 = good

HSI > 0.8 = excellent

HSI cannot guarantee the presence or absence of Great Crested Newts however, there is a positive correlation between HSI scores and presence and abundance. Generally, ponds with high HSI scores are likely to support larger populations. The relationship is however not sufficiently precise to conclude that any pond with a high HSI will support newts in high populations, or that any pond with a low score will support low numbers of newts or no newts at all.



2.2.2 Presence/Absence Survey

Surveys to record presence or absence were carried out in accordance with English Nature survey guidelines (English Nature 2001) which are outlined below:

• four survey visits between mid-March and mid-June;

• surveys in suitable weather conditions;

• two of the four survey visits between mid-April and mid-May; and

• surveys using at least three of four methods – egg searching, netting, torching and

bottle trapping.

Where no Great Crested Newts are recorded in the surveys, it is considered sufficient to prove (as far as is reasonably possible) that Great Crested Newts are absent. If Great Crested Newts are found in ponds, then two additional surveys will be needed to make a population estimate.

• Low Population = <10 individual adults recorded during a single visit

• Medium Population = 10 – 100 individuals recorded during a single visit

• Large Population = > 100 individual adults record during a single visit

Egg Search

Egg search involves searching both live and dead submerged vegetation for Great Crested Newt eggs. The eggs are characteristically laid in a folded leaf, and the large size and yellowish/white coloration readily distinguishes the eggs of Great Crested Newts from those of smaller species. Eggs are unwrapped from folded leaves to confirm identification, and the developmental stage of eggs is noted. Once a Great Crested Newt egg is reliably identified, the search is terminated because this method does not give any meaningful quantitative information on population size and can harm the eggs.

Torching

This technique is carried out at night, when newts are most active, and negative results are only meaningful when survey is carried out under suitable weather conditions. Ideal weather conditions are:

• a night-time air temperature of more than 5˚C;

• little or no wind; and

• no rain.

The margin of the pond is walked, slowly checking for Great Crested Newts with a torch (Clu-lite, 1,000,000 candle power) where access and safety permit. Great Crested Newts can be easily identified and counted in clear water. The technique is less successful in thick weed or turbid water, but can still be used. Bright light may cause newts to seek cover where they will be undetected, but the technique is appropriate to establish presence and for estimating populations. The highest number of male and female newts recorded during a single walk around the pond is taken as that night’s peak count for each pond.



Bottle Trapping

This method is reliable for detecting the presence of Great Crested Newt, and is especially useful in weedy or turbid water where water visibility is poor or the vegetation is too dense to give good results from torch surveys. However, it holds inherent risks as there is the potential for newts to suffocate even when care is taken and traps are not used when overnight temperatures are predicted to fall below 5˚C.

Netting

Netting can be undertaken both day and night. This method is less effective than torching or bottle trapping for determining the presence of Great Crested Newt but it is a useful technique when searching for larvae. Netting is undertaken from the shoreline of the pond using a long-handled dipnet with a mesh of 2-4 mm. Every 50 m of pond perimeter is netted for 15 minutes.

2.3 Survey Limitations

Surveys were undertaken at the correct time of year, using an appropriate number of survey methods during each visit that were appropriate for the ponds being surveyed. The methods were chosen based on best practise guidelines associated with temperature at the time of survey and forecast overnight temperatures during proposed trapping nights.

Pond 1 is a shallow wet flush that dries up through the spring and summer. It was too shallow during the first three surveys to use bottle traps and to net it and it was dry by the fourth survey. Accordingly, only two survey methods were used: torching and egg searching.

Pond 2 is a large open water body with steep unstable sides or with soft mud at the edges. Accordingly, due to health and safety policy only one survey method was used: torching.

Pond 2 also had Little Ringed Plovers present and, although it was not definitely confirmed, they were almost certainly nesting. As Little Ringed Plover are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and to ensure they were not disturbed, survey of Pond 2 ceased after two surveys. This is not considered to be a major constraint to survey data as Pond 2 lacks suitability for use by Great Crested Newt (see Section 3.3.2 below).



3 RESULTS

3.1 Background Information

There are no sites where EPS mitigation licences have been issued (2010-2015) within 2 km of the proposed development location and no freely available data confirmed presence of Great Crested Newts within 2 km of the site.

3.2 Survey Personal and Timing

Turnstone Ecology surveyed three ponds on and adjacent to the development site. Presence/absence surveys were led by Gareth Blockley, Simon Parker and Tristan Evans of Turnstone Ecology Ltd, who are all registered on the Natural England class licence to survey for Great Crested Newts. The surveys were undertaken in May and June 2016 and the details of the visits are provided in Table 1.

Table 1. Details of survey visits.

Visit Dates Weather

Visit 1 09/05/16 Cloud – 8/8 (Octas). Light ran throughout with some heavy patches. Air temp. 15°C.

Visit 2 12/05/16 Cloud – 6/8. Wind – NE – 3 (Beaufort scale). Warm evening and dry. Air temp. 17°C.

Visit 3 16/05/16 Cloud – 1/8. Wind – W – 1. Warm and dry. Air temp. 13°C.

Visit 4 01/06/16 Cloud – 8/8. Wind – 4. Light Rain during day. Air temp. 9°C.

3.3 HSI

In May the ponds were subject to a HSI assessment. The results of the HSI are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. HSI results for Surveyed Pond

Pond 1 Pond 2 Pond 3

SI1 – Location 1 1 1

SI2 – Pond Area 0.8 0.8 0.9

SI3 – Pond Drying 0.1 0.5 0.9

SI4 – Water

Quality

0.67 0.33 0.67

SI5 – Shade 1 1 1

SI6 – Fowl 0.67 0.67 0.67

SI7 – Fish 1 1 0.01

SI8 – Ponds 1 1 1



Pond 1 Pond 2 Pond 3

SI9 – Terrestrial

Habitat 1 1 1

SI10 - Macrophytes 1 0.3 0.6

HSI Score 0.72 0.70 0.54

Pond Suitability Good Average Below Average

3.3.1 Pond 1

Pond 1 is a shallow wet flush to the east of the main quarry void. It is fed by a culverted water course that floods during the winter. In the spring it has a series of shallow open water pools connected by channels of flowing water. Later in the spring the flush dries out completely and by the fourth survey this year it was dry. There is lots of vegetation and invertebrate life, it is not shaded and has minimal use by wildfowl. Pond 1 is shown in Plates

1 to 4.

Plate 1. Pond 1


April 2017


Plate 2 Pond 1

Plate 3. Pond 1


April 2017


Plate 4 Pond 1

3.3.2 Pond 2

Pond 2 is the flooded main quarry void. After extraction ceased at the quarry it was left to fill with water. Prior to surveys the pool had been completely drained and was in the process of being infilled. When infilling stopped (earlier in 2016) water was allowed to pool in the quarry again. The banks and substrate are bare mud and there is very little vegetation or invertebrate life, it is not shaded and has minimal use by wildfowl. Although the HSI assessment for this pond results in ‘Average’, there is really very little suitability for use by Great Crested Newts. Pond 2 is shown in Plates 5 and 6. Plate 5 Pond 2

Plate 6. Pond 2


April 2017


3.3.3 Pond 3

Pond 3 is a smaller old quarry void to the west of the main quarry void. It is fed by a flowing water course and it appears to be permanently full. It is a deep pool with mostly steep sides but there are some parts with shallower gently graded banks. The pool has been stocked with course fish (including carp (Cyprinidae) species, Perch (Perca fluviatilis) and Gudgeon (Gobio gobio)) and there are American Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). There is a reasonable amount of vegetation and invertebrate life in Pond 3, it is partially shaded by scrub on the southern bank and has minimal use by wildfowl. Pond 3 is shown in Plates 7 and 8. Plate 7. Pond 3


April 2017


Plate 8. Pond 3

3.4 Presence/Absence and Population Assessment Surveys

Great Crested Newts or their eggs were not found in any of the ponds. Smooth Newt (Lissotriton

vulgaris), Common Toad (Bufo bufo) and Common Frog (Rana temporaria) were recorded during the surveys in Ponds 1 and 3 but no amphibians were recorded in Pond 2. The full results of the surveys are detailed in Appendix 1.

4 EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS

4.1 Evaluation

Three ponds were identified as requiring Great Crested Newt surveys, with Pond 2 being directly affected by the proposed work. There are a further four ponds within 250 m of the proposed work that were not surveyed and are not separated from the development site by major barriers to movement such as roads or rivers.

Based on the results of the Habitat Suitability Index assessment two of the ponds were assessed as being of Good (Pond 1) and Average (Pond 2) suitability for Great Crested Newts. The remaining pond (Pond 3) was assessed as being of Below Average suitability for Great Crested Newts.

Four presence/absence surveys were completed in suitable conditions during May and June. Surveys followed recommended guidelines with appropriate survey methods (torching, bottle trapping, egg searches or netting) for each pond undertaken during every visit.


April 2017


Pond 2 was only subject to two surveys, so that nesting Little Ringed Plovers were not disturbed. Although only two surveys were undertaken it is very unlikely that if Great Crested Newts were present in Pond 2 that they were not detected. The first two surveys were undertaken at the peak time for newts to be in ponds and the water at the edges of the pond was clear, therefore if they were present they will have been seen.

No Great Crested Newts were present during any of the surveys and it can be concluded that they are not present in the three ponds surveyed and that it is unlikely they are on site. It is possible that Great Crested Newts are present in the ponds to the south that were not surveyed. However, due to the distance between those ponds and the site, and the habitats present around those ponds, it is unlikely that they will be present in terrestrial habitat immediately around the quarry. The English Nature

Research Report 5761 states that within literature it is considered that “a maximum routine

migratory range has been estimated as approximately 250m from a breeding pond (Franklin, 1993;

Oldham and Nicholson, 1986; Jehle, 2000), whilst Jehle (2000) determined a terrestrial zone of 63m,

within which 95% of summer refuges were located. In addition, following the breeding season, (Jehle

and Arntzen,

2000) recorded 64% of newts within 20m of a pond edge.”

Populations of Smooth Newt, Common Toad and Common Frog were also found to be present in Ponds 1 and 3.

4.2 Proposed Mitigation and Enhancement

4.2.1 Mitigation

Great Crested Newts were not identified as being present on site and it is unlikely that if they use other ponds nearby that they will be found on site. Therefore, specific mitigation for Great Crested Newts is not required for the work to go ahead. However, if at any stage a Great Crested Newt is found on site work in that area must stop immediately and an ecologist contacted for advice. In this instance, an appropriate mitigation strategy will be designed and put forward to the council and Natural England for approval.

Common Toads are present on site and are recognised as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity under Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006. The proposed work will not have a direct effect on the ponds used by Toads and there will be no habitat fragmentation. The work will be undertaken in a way that is sympathetic to the habitat requirements for Toads and refuges will be left undisturbed and open excavations (if required) will not be left open overnight or will have graded banks or suitable ways of Toads exiting them.

1 English Nature Research Report 576. Creswell, W & Whitworth, R. 2004. An assessment of the

efficiency of capture techniques and the value of different habitats for the great crested newt Triturus

cristatus


April 2017


4.2.2 Enhancement

The proposed work will involve infill and reinstatement of the quarry void and it will become a fishing lake. This habitat is unlikely to become a valuable habitat for amphibians, but will provide some habitat for some species (e.g. Common Toads). Consideration will be given to creating smaller shallower pools in the area that will be more suitable for use by amphibians, that will not be stocked with fish.

The habitats around the quarry will be reinstated to grassland with scrub, which will have limited management and will be suitable for use by terrestrial amphibians. Consideration will be given to allowing some areas, particularly near to ponds, where the habitat will be allowed to become more ‘wild’ with less management and for the creation of refuges using stone and old wood that are suitable for use by amphibians.

5 REFERENCES

5.1 Printed Reference Works

Baker, J., Beebee T., Buckley, J., Gent, A. and Orchard, D. (2011). Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bournemouth

English Nature (2001). Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines – Version – August 2001. English Nature, Peterborough.

Langton, T.E.S., Beckett, C.L., and Foster, J.P. (2001), Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook. Froglife, Halesworth.

5.2 Web-based Resources

Natural England. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

NBN Gateway https://data.nbn.org.uk/

UK Biodiversity Action Plan. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5155

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5155





April 2017


6 APPENDIX 1 – FULL RESULTS OF GREAT CRESTED NEWT SURVEY

GCN = Great Crested Newt. SN = Smooth Newt. M = Male. F = Female.

Visit 1 – 09/05/16

Pond

Number

Details Torch Survey Bottle Trap Egg Search Summary (Peak

Counts)

1 Shallow flush – torch and egg search only 2 SN (1M and 1F) - 0 0

2 Main quarry void – torch and egg search only

0 - 0 0

3 Small quarry void – torch, bottle trap and egg search

0 0 0 0

Total GCN 0


April 2017


Visit 2 – 12/05/16

Pond

Number

Details Torch Survey Bottle Trap Egg Search Summary

Counts)

(Peak

1 Shallow flush – torch and egg search only 2 SN (2F) - 0 0

2 Main quarry void – torch and egg search only

0 - 0 0


0 0 0 0

Total GCN 0

Visit 3 –

Pond

Number

Details Torch Survey Bottle Trap Egg Search Summary

Counts)

(Peak

1 Shallow flush – torch and egg search only 0 - 0 0

2 Main quarry void – Not surveyed - - - -


0 0 0 0

Total GCN 0


April 2017


Visit 4 –

Pond

Number

Details Torch Survey Net Survey Egg Search Summary

Counts)

(Peak

1 Shallow flush – Dry - - - -

2 Main quarry void – Not surveyed - - - -

3 Small quarry void – torch, net and egg search

1 SN (1F) 0 0 0

Total GCN 0


April 2017

APPENDIX TWO – ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION METHOD STATEMENTS

ASTWICK QUARRY FISHING LAKES ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION METHOD STATEMENT

MS1 GENERAL SITE PROVISIONS April 2017

MS1a. All operations associated with the Astwick Quarry development scheme will be confined

to working areas as agreed with the Ecological Clerk of Works MS1b. Access to and from the infilling areas by HGV vehicles and earthmoving plant will be

confined to constructed haul roads at all times MS1c. Refuelling and servicing of earthmoving plant will only be carried out on hardstanding

areas to avoid accidental spillages of fuel oil, hydraulic oil and other contaminants affecting adjacent vegetation

MS1d. Refuelling will be undertaken by a mobile bowser that will leave the site immediately

after refuelling


MS2 NOTABLE VEGETATION April 2017

MS2a. Undertake botanical monitoring as appropriate within calcareous grassland patches MS2b. Undertake vegetation management as appropriate within areas of notable vegetation MS2c. Translocate vegetation patches or individual plants as appropriate


MS3 BADGERS April 2017

MS3a. Monitor development operations for changes to the current footprint MS3b. Monitor habitats within development area for evidence of change in badger activity MS3c. Undertake appropriate impact mitigation measures in the event that any active badger

sett is approached by development works


April 2017


MS4 ROOSTING BATS April 2017

MS4a. Monitor development operations for changes to the current footprint MS4b. Undertake bat roosting assessment as necessary for trees within modified development

footprint MS4c. Undertake appropriate impact mitigation measures in the event that any tree bat roost is

approached by development works


MS5 BREEDING BIRDS April 2017

MS5a. Monitor development operations for changes to the current footprint MS5b. Undertake bird nesting assessment for trees, shrubs or grassland areas within modified

development footprint MS5c. Undertake appropriate impact mitigation measures to avoid disturbance of nesting birds


MS6 REPTILES April 2017

MS6a. The working area will be hand-searched by a suitably qualified ecologist immediately prior

to works starting MS6b. The ecologist will then undertake a watching brief, stopping the works periodically to

check the working area for animals MS6c. Any reptiles found during this operation will be transported to a suitable on-site receptor

area MS6d. Works will then proceed immediately


April 2017


MS7 INVASIVE AND NOTIFIABLE PLANT SPECIES April 2017

MS7a. The presence of invasive or notifiable plant species will be reviewed during monthly

surveillance visits by the Ecological Clerk of Works MS7b. In the event that invasive or notifiable plant species are identified, appropriate measures

will be taken to ensure their removal from site MS7c. Where necessary, the provisions of MS7b will be agreed with the Environment Agency,

with eradication measures supported by appropriate licenses as necessary


MS8 GENERAL ECOLOGICAL MONITORING April 2017

MS8a. Where special ecological protection measures are implemented, appropriate

arrangements will be put in place to monitor their effectiveness MS8b. Detailed ecological monitoring procedures to be adopted will be identified as necessary

to adequately reflect the purpose of specific ecological protection measures MS8c. Specific ecological monitoring reports will be prepared as necessary


April 2017

APPENDIX THREE – MONTHLY ECOLOGICAL CLERK OF WORKS REPORT PROFORMA

ASTWICK QUARRY FISHING LAKES DEVELOPMENT MONTHLY ECOLOGICAL CLERK OF WORKS REPORT

Ecological Clerk of Works: Report Month:

Comments:

Details of EMP Non-compliance:

Action taken/proposed:

Date: Signature:

Documents

ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT PLAN...4 Astwick Quarry Proposed Fishing Lake Ecological Management Plan April 2017 2.1.6 This shows that the former Astwick Quarry restoration scheme will support