ECOLOGY REPORT Land around Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs … · 2017. 9. 20. · CEP/Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs/Ecology Report /21.4.2015 Anwylfan Croesor Penrhyndeudraeth Gwynedd

CEP/Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs/Ecology Report /21.4.2015

Anwylfan

Croesor

Penrhyndeudraeth

Gwynedd

LL48 6SS

[email protected]

07760 909574

ECOLOGY REPORT

Land around Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs

21.04.2015

.

Report by: Kate Williamson: Anwylfan, Croesor, Penrhyndeudraeth. LL48 6SS. 07760 909574

[email protected]

Chris Hall: Llwyn-y-Gell, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, LL41 3HU. 07765 254035

[email protected]

Client: Grwp Cynefin, Ty Silyn, Penygroes, LL54 6LY

Planning

Authority: Gwynedd Council

Grid

Reference: SH 618 668 (Approximate site centre)

mailto:[email protected]




CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Survey Limitations

4. Site Description

5. Habitat Evaluation

6. Species Evaluation

7. Recommendations

8. Legal Implications

9. Photographs

Figure 1: Location of survey site


ECOLOGY SURVEY REPORT

Land surrounding Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Club

Bethesda

Gwynedd

21/04/2015

1. Introduction

Eryri Ecology (Cambrian Ecology Ltd) was commissioned by the client, Grŵp Cynefin, to

carry out an ecological survey of the land surrounding Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs’ site

prior to redevelopment. The site currently consists primarily of buildings and hard standing in

the form of a large car park surrounding the building. There is however a small triangle of

broadleaved woodland in the north-west corner where Japanese knotweed; (Reynoutria

japonica) and Montbretia; (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) are present, both of which are listed

as Invasive Non-Native Species under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. Other non-native

species include butterfly bush; (Buddleia davidii) and winter heliotrope; (Petasites fragrans).

The relevant planning authority is Gwynedd Council.

The approximate centre of the site is located at Grid Reference SH. 618 668.

2. Methodology

Habitats

The Phase 1 Habitat survey was carried out on 21st April 2015 by ecologist Chris Hall (Chris

Hall Ltd). The survey took the form of an extended Phase I survey and identified baseline

ecological conditions, as well as any important or notable habitats. All habitats within the

proposed development site were classified and mapped as accurately as possible, using target

notes to identify features of particular ecological interest. Species lists were drawn up for

each habitat type identified and the habitat condition was assessed. In the context of this

report, important or notable habitats are considered to be those which are of a sustainable size

and which meet any of the following criteria:

Habitats which have a high intrinsic ecological value, i.e. they support a diverse range

of vascular plant and/or faunal species;

Mature or semi-natural habitats in built-up areas;

Any UK BAP priority habitats;

Local BAP (Natur Gwynedd) habitats considered to have a significant extent and/or

ecological interest.

All habitats considered to have the potential to support rare, protected or otherwise notable

species of flora and fauna was noted, as were any direct signs of these species. Where

possible, habitats were cross-referenced to any relevant UK priority habitats or local habitats

adopted by Natur Gwynedd, Gwynedd Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan.

Species

The site was also assessed on its potential to support any protected or important species.

During this survey, a search was made for field signs of protected or notable species and

assessments made of the potential of habitats to support these species. In the context of this


report important or notable species are considered to be those that meet any of the following

criteria:

Species protected by British or international law

UK BAP priority species or local BAP (Nature Gwynedd) species

Nationally rare or scarce species

Species of Conservation Concern (e.g. JNCC Red List, RSPB/BTO Red or Amber lists)

Potentially Invasive Non-Native Species

3. Survey Limitations

Field signs for protected and important species are often difficult to find or absent from a site.

For this reason, the site and its habitats are assessed on their potential to support these species.

4. Site Description

Habitat

The Habitat on the proposed development site primarily consists of a large building and hard

standing in the form of the surrounding car park. There is only a small triangle of broadleaved

woodland in the north-west extremity of the site.

Along the north-west of the proposed development area lies a steep bank which is now almost

devoid of vegetation due to the attempted eradication of the Japanese knot weed and butterfly

bush. This eradication appears to have only been partially successful. This must be taken into

consideration if the development site results in any works that affect this embankment.

The surrounding habitat is dominated by the town of Bethesda to the north and east but to the

south and west lie the more productive habitats of the riparian zone of the Afon Ogwen and

adjacent woodlands.

Please see the Phase I map in Appendix 1 for habitat distributions

A. Broadleaved Woodland (A1)

There is a small area of broadleaved woodland within the survey boundary in the north-west

corner of the site. This comprises two semi-mature sycamore; (Acer pseudoplatanus), four

small semi-mature oak; (Quercus petraea) and one willow; (Salix caprea). Most of these trees

are multi-stemmed due to having been managed in the past.

Present in the ground-flora in this woodland are Japanese knotweed, (Target Note 1) winter

heliotrope, (Target Note 2) and Montbretia, (Target Note 3). Other species include rosebay

willowherb; (Chamaenerion angustifolium) bramble; (Rubus fruticosus), nettle; (Urtica

dioica), broadleaved dock; (Rumex obtusifolius), ivy; (Hedera helix), herb Robert; (Geranium

robertianum), cuckoo pint; (Arum maculatum), fox glove; (Digitalis purpurea), creeping

buttercup; (Ranunculus repens), hogweed; (Heracleum sphondylium) germander speedwell;

(Veronica chamaedrys), cleavers; (Gallium aparine), ribwort plantain; (Plantago lanceolata),

dandelion; (Taraxacum officinale), and hedge bindweed; (Calystegia sepium).

Butterfly bush is also present and provides a partial shrub layer.

B Bare Ground (4) Hard Standing


This ‘habitat’ comprises the tarmac hard standing in the form of the car park which surrounds

the building.

C Buildings

A full description of the buildings and associated protected species issues will be given in the

bat survey report. However, in the main it is a rendered, brick construction, with a series of

flat roofs. There are no internal loft spaces but extensive exterior timberwork, with gaps

between the timber and the external walls provides excellent bat roosting opportunities (see

Appendix 2)

Figure 2: Aerial photograph

5. Habitat Evaluation

All of the habitats present display a relatively low level of species diversity and all are

considered to be of relatively low ecological value with the species present being common

and widespread.

The exceptions to this are the Japanese knotweed and Montbretia, both of which are listed as

‘Invasive Non-Native Species’ under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. These species

have the potential to cause a negative impact on the ecological value of the site and also have the

potential to have a negative impact in the wider landscape if allowed to spread off-site.

Two other non-native species are also present, winter heliotrope which has the potential to be invasive

in some situations and butterfly bush.

6. Species Evaluation


Apart from the building, the site has very limited potential to support any protected species

other than the possibility of birds nesting in the small triangle of woodland. Any clearance of

this scrub/woodland will need to be done outside of the nesting bird season or under the

supervision of an experienced ecologist, to prevent any disturbance to nesting birds.

The building has the high potential to support roosting bats behind the exterior timberwork on

most elevations. There are gaps between the timber and the walls, in some places extending

up to a metre or more, as well as behind more conventional fascia boarding. A full bat

emergence survey will be needed to fully assess the use of the building by crevice-dwelling

bat species. This will enable an adequate mitigation strategy to be written in the event of bats

being present.

7. Recommendations

7.1 Habitat

Due to the low botanical value of the habitats present on the site, no recommendations are

made. It would however be desirable to retain the trees if possible due to their value as a

nesting habitat and their landscape value.

7.2 Nesting Birds

It is recommended that any vegetation clearance that could have an impact on nesting birds is

carried out outside the bird nesting season, recognised by RSPB as 1st March – 30

th

September. If this is not possible a thorough search for active nests must be carried out by a

suitably experienced person prior to clearance commencing. If any active nests are found

work must be delayed until such time as the young have fledged.

7.3 Invasive Non-Native Plant Species

It is recommended that professional control measures for Japanese knotweed, Montbretia and

winter heliotrope are introduced at the earliest opportunity. Due to the legal implications of

causing or allowing the spread of the former two species off site, the building contractors

involved in the proposed development must produce a method statement detailing how they

will prevent this from happening during the course of the works. This method statement must

also take into account the fact that the roots of the Japanese knotweed will probably have

spread under tarmac of the adjacent car park

Japanese knotweed can be spread from very small particles of root and/or stems, Montbretia

through the distribution of corms and winter heliotrope from the distribution of even very

small sections of rhizome, (this species does not seed in this country due to the female being

absent). It is therefore recommended that all material from the woodland corner is assumed to

be contaminated and treated accordingly.

If the proposed development involves any works affecting the embankment on the south-west

boundary of the site, all material from this embankment must also be assumed to be

contaminated with Japanese knotweed. Although this embankment currently appears to be

outside the development boundary, it is likely that the roots from the plant may also have

extended under the tarmac of the adjacent car park.

7.4 Bats


There is high potential within the building proposed for demolition to support roosting

crevice-dwelling species of bats. A full emergence survey, utilising an adequate number of

surveyors to cover all aspects of the building, during appropriate environmental conditions,

will need to be carried out. A report from this survey will be required to be submitted along

with this report for any planning application to develop the site. The results will enable a full

mitigation strategy to be compiled along with any necessary license application to Natural

Resources Wales.

7.6 Recommendations for development

The design of the site plans should take protected species issues into account, but also aim to

enhance the site for Biodiversity where possible.

Habitat enhancement for bats

Although the development is situated within the built up area of Bethesda, there are areas of

scrub, mature trees and rough grazing grassland in the vicinity of the site. It is likely that some

species of bats are present in the area. All bat species are listed on Section 42 of the NERC

Act, which is the list of species of Biodiversity concern within Wales, as well as within ‘Natur

Gwynedd’. It is likely that suitable habitat features provided for bats will be used. The

following measures should be adopted:

1. Bat bricks or tubes included within the structure of the new buildings

2. The inclusion of basic crevice-dwelling bat species mitigation within the fabric of the

new buildings such as access to boxed soffits, (see diagram below), as well as raised

ridge tiles. These small holes cut into the soffits of the new buildings can be placed on

either gable ends or other elevations. The important factor is that the hole is flush with

the wall of the building, allowing the bats to land on the wall and then crawl into the

space via the hole.

3. Planting of native shrubs/trees immediately adjacent to the suggested bat habitat

enhancement features for the new buildings.

All these features should be shown clearly on the architect’s plans and situated in consultation

with the site ecologist in accordance with lighting and planting plans.


Native plant species of benefit to wildlife and, where possible, of local provenance should be

included within the site planting scheme. The site ecologist can assist with species lists, but

plants should include a range of the following:-

o Fruiting trees

o Shrubs producing berries for birds

o Plants producing high quantities of nectar for butterflies

o Night-scented species for the benefit of moths

Siting of nest boxes for birds

The current condition of the building offers opportunities for nesting birds both within the

area of scrub, but also behind the wooden panelling on the exterior of the building. A

variety of different boxes can be erected on the new buildings and any boundary features

in order to help maintain local populations. Key nest box types should include:-

1. Single entry boxes suitable for species such as tits and pied flycatchers

2. Open entry boxes suitable for species such as robins

3. Communal boxes under the eaves of new buildings to encourage house sparrows

4. Boxes suitable for siting under the gable eaves of the new buildings, suitable for

house martens or swallows

8. Legal Implications

8.1 Nesting Birds

Under Section 4 of the 1967 Act, any person who wilfully disturbs any wild bird included in

Schedule 1 of the 1954 Act, while it is on or near a nest containing eggs or unflown young,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution. It is also an offence to disturb the

dependent young of ‘Schedule 1’ species after they have left the nest. With the introduction

of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all nesting birds received even greater protection

under the Act. Once a bird places a single piece of material into place it then constitutes a

nest. The nest is then protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act which makes it an

offence to cause damage to the bird, nest, eggs or chicks and immediate habitat which is

likely to result in damage by causing the bird to desert its nest.

In 2001, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW Act), was made law strengthening

the legal protection for many species and introducing ‘reckless disturbance’ as an offence.

8.2 Invasive Non-Native Plant Species

Japanese knotweed and Montbretia are included in the list of alien invasive species covered

by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Under this legislation, the introduction of any of the

species listed, or allowing them to spread into the wild could constitute an offence.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and associated regulations define Japanese Knotweed

and Montbretia contaminated soil or plant material as controlled waste and make provisions

for their treatment and disposal

8.3 Bats

Bats are protected under UK law by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and also

under European law by the Habitat and Species Regulations 2010. Under these laws it is an offence

to deliberately kill or injure a bat, to disturb a bat or to damage, destroy or block access to a roost.

Bat roosts are protected under these laws whether the animals are present at the time of survey or

not. Under both laws Natural Resources Wales are empowered to issue licences to carry out work

to bat roosts for reasons of overriding public interest.


9. Appendices

9.1 Phase 1 Map

9.2 Photographs


Japanese knotweed

Winter heliotrope


Front elevation


Potential bat roosting areas behind exterior timberwork

Small area of woodland


Majority of the site is hard standing

Documents

ECOLOGY REPORT Land around Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs … · 2017. 9. 20. · CEP/Bethesda Rugby and Bingo Clubs/Ecology Report /21.4.2015 Anwylfan Croesor Penrhyndeudraeth Gwynedd