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Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan
(BEMP)
Partner Construction
Report EE-P-005-01
November 2014
Report Title:
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan (BEMP)
Report Reference:
Revision number
EE-P-005-01
Written by
Peter James Brooks BSc (Hons) MA MCIEEM CEnv
Director
Technical review:
Robert Weston BSc(Hons) MSc MCIEEM
Director
Approved for issue
Robert Weston BSc(Hons) MSc MCIEEM
Director
Date
10.11.14
Ecological Estates Ltd
Unit A, 1 Station Road, Guiseley,
LEEDS LS20 8BX
Phone 01943 879129 Registered in England Number 899701
VAT 181351325
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
2
Contents
Introduction 3
Aims 4
Responsible Parties 4
Period 4
Objective 1 - Protection of hedge and grassland areas 5
Objective 2 - Successful reinstatement of moved section of lane side hedge 6
Translocation Method statement 6
Objective 3 – Managing the lane side hedgerow for wildlife 9
Objective 4 – Wildflower meadow creation and management 10
Timescale ________________________________________________________________13
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Introduction
This document is produced to assist with the discharge of condition 21 for the proposed
development of Land at Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester. A landscaping (habitat creation and management) scheme shall be submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for
approval in writing, subsequent implementation in full and maintenance thereafter. The scheme shall demonstrate
compensation for losses of wildlife habitat, and shall include retention and/ or replacement of native hedgerows (to be
managed for the benefit of biodiversity), sufficient provision of replacement bat habitat (including replacement foraging
habitat and roosting opportunities), the provision of replacement bird nesting habitat and details of the translocation of
great burnet.
Ecological Estates is a Specialist Ecological Management Company (SEMC) run by highly
experienced professional ecologists with over 40 years cumulative experience of habitat
enhancement design, management and monitoring.
Ecological Estates has been set up to provide confidence that habitat enhancement schemes -
central to sustainable development, can be delivered. Ecological Estates has the expertise to
design and manage appropriate schemes and crucially to monitor results, allowing for
appropriate and timely intervention where objectives may not be on track.
Documents referred to
This report refers to:
• Jennings Design Associates Drawing 808 A 003
Aims
To re-instate sections of roadside hedgerow affected by development, and ensure all
hedgerows are managed to the benefit of wildlife.
To maximise the long term value of wildflower planting both in terms of floral diversity and
attendant invertebrate and bat foraging value. To make an attractive habitat enjoyed and
valued by the owners.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Responsible Parties
In-perpetuity: Habitats within the site: Registered Provider’s (RP)
Road side hedge: Registered Provider’s (RP)
Establishment period (five years): Registered Provider’s will be responsible of the establishment
of habitat at the site, in delivering and demonstrating this they are likely to employ a SEMC
approved by RVBC.
/
Period
This plan covers a 5 year establishment contract. It is designed to be adopted and continued in-
perpetuity by the RP.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Objectives
Objective 1 – Protection of retained hedges
Prior to site clearance and construction hedgerows to be retained will be fenced to
BS5837:2012. The fence identified by a red dashed line below will be retained until construction
is complete. An existing wire stock proof fence will be retained to protect the recently planted
existing hedge on the northern boundary.
Figure 1 fencing location
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Objective 2 - Successful re-instatement of lane side hedge
January-March 2015
The lane side hedge will be removed to create required visibility splays. This will be cut down in
the dormant season. Selected sections of round timber will be retained on site to create dead
wood habitat. The brash shall be chipped for use on site as a fungi habitat around the hedge
base.
Soil from the hedge rhizosphere will be mounded around a planting trench created for 'Ready
Hedge'.
The hedge specified is http://www.readyhedgeltd.com/readybag.htm
• 50 % Mixed Hedge (Thorn/Sloe/Spindle/Hazel/Maple) and
• 50% Hawthorn.
Planted in alternating blocks.
This will be planted in the prepared trench and the soils backfilled and firmed. The hedge will
then be watered to field capacity and a final raking of soils be carried out. The hedge will be
staked according the grower’s recommendations.
The hedge will be protected behind post and rail fences fitted with rabbit proof fencing.
The hedge will be regularly watered over the first growing season, sections of hedge failed due
to drying shall be replanted in the first winter after the death of plants has been confirmed.
Where individual plants have failed bare root 1+1 transplants will be used.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Once the hedge is in place, a 30cm deep trench will be dug 500cm in front of it. This will assist
with drainage and create a differing hedgerow base niche, suited to moisture loving plants
invertebrates and amphibia.
Soils in land between the newly planted hedge and the lane will be re-levelled and cultivated,
then seeded with Emorsgate seeds EH 1 or approved equivalent.
Sections of timber from the removed hedge will then be placed the rear of the hedge to create
a dead wood habitat, a 1m wide strip under the planted hedge will be mulched with the
chipped wood.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Objective 3 – Diversifying retained hedges
Retained hedges will be ‘gapped up’ and diversified by planting a standard staggered double
row hedgerow comprising:
Hazel (Corylus avellana), Alder (Alnus glutinosa), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), honeysuckle
(Lonicera periclymenum) and dog rose (Rosa canina).
To facilitate successful establishment overhanging mature vegetation on the retained hedge
will be ‘sided up’ to allow light into the gap compartment.
The planted sections will be protected by rabbit proof fencing and be subject to standard
establishment management of glyphosate or hand weeding.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Chipped material from the road side hedge shall be spread on the ground beneath the hedge
and seeded with:
• Red campion (Silene dioica)
• Cowslip (Primula veris)
At 2g per m2
Deliverable 1 - Hedgerow protection / re-instatement completion certificate to RVBC
Objective 4 – Managing hedges for wildlife
Re-instated Hedge year 1 to 2
The hedge will be managed according to the supplier’s instructions over the first two years.
Re-instated Hedge year 3 in perpetuity
The hedge will be left to grow to full height to reinstate the former wildlife corridor.
The lane side shall be cut so as to maintain safe sight lines avoiding the main bird nesting
season (March to July)
Retained and enhanced hedges
Access to manage these hedges is not possible due to them falling within garden boundaries.
Each home owner will however be given a letter setting out how to manage the hedge for
wildlife. This letter is presented in appendix 1 of this report.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Objective 5 – Establishing a Burnet Meadow
To create a small area of meadow with showy wildflowers once typical of this area - identified
below.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Winter 2015
As works are due to commence in winter 2015 the great burnet on site is not likely to be visible
and available for rescue. However an attempt to locate it will be made by a skilled ecologist.
Where they are found they will be lifted in hand cut turves and removed for propagation
through division in spring. The plants will be cared for by Ecological Estates Ltd or approved
SEMC until the landscaping plot is available to receive the plants.
Should it be evident that the plants cannot be found 50 pot grown plants of UK provenance will
be sourced.
Autumn 2016
To ensure that the landscaping plot is enjoyed and engaged with by the site users it will be
diversified through the partner seeding of showy flowers suited to the local conditions with a
range of flowering times:
• Melancholly thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum)
• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
• Water avens (Geum rivale)
• Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
• Greater birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)
• Oxe eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
• Bistort (Persicaria bistorta)
• Meadow rue (Thalictrum flavum)
• Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratensis)
Sown at 5g m2 on ground cultivated to a fine tilth, raked and rolled.
The plot will be protected from accidental damage by a low bird mouth rail or equivalent
visually permeable barrier.
Deliverable 2 - Meadow planting completion certificate to RVBC
Management during establishment to year 5
Unless the SEMC monitoring suggests otherwise, herbicide will not be used in these areas but
management shall comprise hand weeding or topping of none target weed species, or
competitive native species which are a threat to the initial establishment of the flora. Species
to be removed include grasses and forbs listed in Table 1 below:
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
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November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Table 1: Competitive weeds to be controlled during establishment Scientific English
Cirsium arvense Creeping thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear thistle
Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay willowherb
Arctium spp. Burdock
Chenopodium vulgare Mugwort
Senecio jacobea Ragwort
Galium aparine Cleavers
Urtica dioica Nettle
or as determined by appointed SEMC
Cutting
The meadow will be left uncut until early September when the arisings will be raked and
removed from site.
Habitat Monitoring
Twice - yearly monitoring visits will be carried out in year 1 and 2 to assist with the targeting of
variations to management. Annual visits will be applied in years 3-5.
Monitoring will be carried out by Ecological Estates or the approved SEMC. The professional
ecologists employed by them will be able to make a qualitative judgement as to the need to
vary management to suit the objectives stated above.
Triggers for variation in management include the;
• proliferation of scrub and competitive weeds in non-target areas;
• reduction in the diversity of the habitat
• failure of sown and planted stock
Deliverable 3 - End of 5 year establishment period
There will be a report by the SEMC setting out the condition of the features subject to this
plan in Year 5. This will aim to show the successes of the work and if necessary be candid
about where things have not gone as well as anticipated, setting out what lessons can be
learned for other similar sites and setting out what the HOMC needs to do with the site at
handover.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Summary of Dates / Sequence of Events
January 2015
1 Pre-start great burnet survey/ rescue
2 Pre-start hedgerow protection in place
3 Plant lane side and gap up retained hedges
4 Seeding of hedge bases
5 Deliverable 1 issued to RVBC
March/April 2015
6 Divide and propagate rescued great burnet
7 Water and weed the re-instated hedge
Spring-Summer 2015
8 Water and weed the re-instated hedge
Autumn 2015
9 Cultivate seed and plant the ‘burnet meadow’
10 Plant great burnet
10 Erect bird mouth rail of equivalent barrier
11 Deliverable 2 First monitoring report
Spring 2016
12 Weed treatment to hedges and 'burnet meadow' 3 visits April-May
Summer 2016
13 Weed treatment to hedges and 'burnet meadow' 2 visits June-August
Autumn 2016
14 Cut burnet meadow rake and harrow.
On (relevant) plot occupation
15 Provision of homeowner letter (see appendix 1)
Spring-Autumn each year to 2017-2020
16 Monitoring visit, weeding as necessary and restocking if viable
17 Deliverable 3 to RVBC and handover.
If start dates changes get an SEMC to review dates and sequence and shape to fit.
Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester
Partner Construction
November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd
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Appendix 1 - Homeowners' Hedgerow Letter