Pebsham HWRS Ecology method statement for … for Veolia Environmental Services Ltd Pebsham HWRS Ecology method statement for vegetation clearance works FINAL January 2011Veolia Environmental

Prepared for

Veolia Environmental Services Ltd

Pebsham HWRS

Ecology method statement for vegetation clearance works

FINAL

January 2011


Pebsham HWRS

URS/Scott Wilson Scott House Alençon Link Basingstoke RG21 7PP Tel: 01256 310200 Fax: 01256 310201 www.urs-scottwilson.com

This document has been prepared in accordance with the scope of Scott Wilson's appointment with its client and is subject to the terms of that appointment. It is addressed to and for the sole and confidential use and reliance of Scott Wilson's client. Scott Wilson accepts no liability for any use of this document other than by its client and only for the purposes for which it was prepared and provided. No person other than the client may copy (in whole or in part) use or rely on the contents of this document, without the prior written permission of the Company Secretary of Scott Wilson Ltd. Any advice, opinions, or recommendations within this document should be read and relied upon only in the context of the document as a whole. The contents of this document do not provide legal or tax advice or opinion. © Scott Wilson Ltd 2010

Revision Schedule Ecology method statement for vegetation clearance works January 2011

Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by

01 02/12/10 DRAFT FOR COMMENT

James Wrixon Graduate Ecologist

John Simmons Senior Ecologist

John Simmons Senior Ecologist

02 14/01/11 FINAL Abel Drewett Senior Ecologist

Abel Drewett Senior Ecologist

Abel Drewett Senior Ecologist


Pebsham HWRS

Table of Contents

1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 1

1.1 Scheme background....................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Background to current works .......................................................................................... 1

2 Relevant legislation......................................................................... 2

2.1 Reptiles .......................................................................................................................... 2

2.2 Nesting birds................................................................................................................... 2

3 Summary of proposed reptile mitigation strategy ........................ 3

4 Vegetation clearance methodology ............................................... 4

4.1 Scope of works ............................................................................................................... 4

4.2 Aim of works................................................................................................................... 4

4.3 Timing of works .............................................................................................................. 4

4.4 Clearance of vegetation to 200mm using hand tools....................................................... 4

4.5 Processing of felled material ........................................................................................... 4

4.6 Ecological briefing prior to commencement of works ...................................................... 5

4.7 Check for potential above ground refugia prior to the start of clearance works ............... 5

4.8 Procedure to follow if reptiles are encountered during works .......................................... 6

5 Agreement of relevant parties........................................................ 7

Figure 1 – Area to be cleared of vegetation ............................................. 8


Pebsham HWRS

Ecology method statement for vegetation clearance works January 2011 D130669

1

1 Introduction

1.1 Scheme background

Veolia Environmental Services (South Downs) Ltd. (VES) operates the Integrated Waste

Management Service for East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Council. As part of

this service VES has obtained planning permission to construct a new Household Waste

Recycling Site (HWRS) at Freshfields, Pebsham, East Sussex (see Figure 1). The site will be a

replacement for the nearby Hastings HWRS providing a modern split level facility.

1.2 Background to current works

Survey work in connection with the planning application and Environmental Impact Assessment

(EIA) conducted by Jacobs 20081 indentified that the site of the new HWRS supports ‘low’

populations of common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), slow worm (Anguis fragilis) and grass snake

(Natrix natrix). The site was also found to contain scrub habitat suitable to be utilised by

common species of nesting bird.

Subsequent work conducted by Scott Wilson (now URS/Scott Wilson) during 2009 identified a

suitable nearby receptor site and prior to construction all reptiles will be trapped from the new

HWRS site and released into the receptor. However, the process of removing reptiles from the

new HWRS site can not commence until spring 2011 when reptiles emerge from hibernation.

In order to prevent further delays to programme VES wish to conduct vegetation clearance at

the new HWRS site during January/February 2011, prior to the commencement of the bird

nesting season (generally regarded as March to September inclusive).

As these works will occur prior to translocation of reptiles they will need to be conducted in a

sensitive manner that will avoid adverse impacts on reptiles. As a consequence URS/Scott

Wilson was commissioned to produce the following ecological method statement detailing how

vegetation clearance works will be conducted in order to ensure that the reptile population at

the site is not adversely effected.

1 Jacobs (2008) Pebsham HWRS and WRTS – Final Environmental Statement (dated November 2008). Unpublished

Jacobs (2008) Pebsham waste depot – Reptile Survey Report (dated June 2008). Unpublished


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2

2 Relevant legislation

2.1 Reptiles

Common Lizard, slow worm and grass snake are all afforded partial protection under the

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Under this legislation it is an offence to

intentionally or recklessly kill or injure these species. As such it is necessary for developers to

demonstrate that reasonable measures have been taken to avoid such an eventuality.

In addition all three species have been listed as Priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action

Plan (BAP), however species action plans are yet to be prepared.

2.2 Nesting birds

All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law under Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside

Act 1981 (as amended). Under this legislation if is an offence to injure or kill a nesting bird,

and/or damage or destroy an active birds nest.

Species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981 as amended) are

afforded special protection and for these species it is also an offence to disturb birds while they

are building or at a nest, or to disturb the dependent young of such a bird.


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3

3 Summary of proposed reptile mitigation strategy

Controlled clearance of vegetation at new HWRS site

The controlled removal of vegetation from the new HWRS forms the first step in the process of

removing reptiles from the site. Therefore a controlled vegetation clearance methodology is to

be adopted and conducted during the winter months of 2010/11. The aim of this clearance is to

remove potential nesting habitat during the period when birds are unlikely to be nesting, while

ensuring that works do not kill or injure reptiles. At the time of the proposed works

(January/February 2011) reptiles will be hibernating below ground, or in suitable above ground

piles of wood and rubble.

The works methodology for vegetation clearance is the subject of this document, and details

can be found in Section 4.

Receptor site enhancement works

Following the clearance of vegetation from the new HWRS site works will be conducted during

February/March 2011 within an identified receptor located to the north of the existing Waste

and Recyclables Transfer Station (WRTS) (see Figure 1). These works will be designed to

create a high quality area of reptile habitat suitable of supporting the reptiles which currently

utilise the new HWRS site. Proposed works include:

• Creation of small south facing bunds to enhance the availability of reptile basking habitat;

• Creation of artificial hibernacula (piles of wood and/or rubble)to increase the availability of

suitable hibernation habitat;

• Planting of native scrub species to provide areas of suitable cover.

It is envisaged that some of the cut material from the HWRS will be transferred to the reptile

receptor site an utilised in the creation of the proposed bunds and hibernacula.

Reptile translocation

Following completion of the receptor site enhancement works a reptile translocation exercise is

schedule to be conducted from mid-March 2011 onwards. This process will involve the erection

of temporary fencing around the margins of the site, and the laying of artificial reptile refugia

(squares of metal and roofing felt). Daily checks of the refugia will then be conducted and all

reptiles captured will be moved to the newly enhanced receptor site. The temporary fencing

around the margins will prevent reptiles returning to the site of the new HWRS.


Pebsham HWRS


4

4 Vegetation clearance methodology

4.1 Scope of works

This method statement applies only to the clearance of vegetation from within the site of the

new Pebsham HWRS, as shown highlighted in red within attached Figure 1. This area

measures approximately 0.5ha in extent.

If clearance of any woody vegetation outside of the area shown in Figure 1 is required then an

ecologist must be contacted to assess these additional areas in advance of any proposed

clearance works.

4.2 Aim of works

The aim of the works is to make the site unsuitable for nesting birds by removing all woody

vegetation which has the potential to provide nesting habitat, while maintaining the site’s

suitability for reptile species.

This will be achieved by the sensitive clearance of above ground vegetation to a height of

200mm while minimising ground disturbance. Reptiles will be hibernating at the time of the

proposed works and will therefore be utilising existing piles of dead wood, rubble, cracks in the

ground and mammal burrows. By minimising ground disturbance disruption of these features

will be kept to a minimum. This will allow reptiles to be subsequently removed from the site

when they emerge from hibernation during Spring 2011.

4.3 Timing of works

All works (felling and removal of all brash/chippings) must be completed by 28th February 2011

in order to ensure they are complete prior to reptiles emerging from hibernation. This constraint

will limit the potential of injury/death occurring to individual reptiles that forage within the

grassland and plantation areas when active.

4.4 Clearance of vegetation to 200mm using hand tools

All woody vegetation within the proposed working area must be felled using hand tools only

(chain saw and brush cutters are acceptable) to a height of 200mm above ground level, in

order to avoid potential for disturbance of reptile hibernacula.

No roots, stumps or existing wood piles will be removed as part of the current works as this

process has the potential to injure/kill reptiles hibernating underground.

4.5 Processing of felled material

All vehicles associated with the clearance works are to be wheeled (as opposed to tracked).

Vehicles utilised are anticipated to be a pick-up, trailer and wheeled chipper (if required) only.

All vehicles (including chippers and trailers) will only be allowed to utilise the areas of existing

grassland (i.e. tracks, open area on top of plateau, top of ditch bank, etc).

No vehicles will be allowed to traverse areas which have been cleared of vegetation,

unless otherwise agreed with an ecologist, to avoid damage to potential below ground

hibernacula.


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5

All felled material must be dragged to the nearest grassland area for processing. All woody

material of more than 150mm in diameter should be processed into 1.0m-1.5m lengths and

stacked within the grassland areas. These lengths may be utilised by VES in creating reptile

habitats within the receptor site.

All other cut material must be processed and removed from site by the contractor. If the

contractor intends to chip material then all chipping should be conducted within the existing

grassland areas of the site. All chippings should be removed from site.

4.6 Ecological briefing prior to commencement of works

Prior to the commencement of works an ecologist will conduct an ecological briefing. The

briefing will clarify all the key points of the required working method (as detailed within this

document). In addition it will incorporate details of the legal protection afforded to reptiles, how

to distinguish the species which inhabit the site, and the procedure to follow in the unlikely

event that reptiles are encountered during works.

The contractor should inform the URS/Scott Wilson ecologist (contact details below) of the

proposed commencement of works at least 3 working days in advance to arrange the

ecological briefing. No works can commence until the briefing has been conducted.

4.7 Check for potential above ground refugia prior to the start of clearance works

A walkover survey of the site was conducted by a qualified ecologist on 10th December 2010.

The survey did not identify any above ground refugia (such as log piles, earth mounds etc),

however the site contained a dense bank of gorse which could potential hide refugia from view.

Immediately prior to clearance works commencing an ecologist from URS/Scott Wilson will

conduct a walkover survey to reconfirm the absence of potential above ground refugia. If any

suitable refugia are present then an exclusion zone will be erected around this feature using

hazard tape. If an ecologist considered it necessary vegetation clearance required within this

zone will also be supervised by URS/Scott Wilson to ensure that all measures are taken to

protect the feature from any damage that could consequently harm reptiles utilising the feature.

The contractor should exercise particular care when clearing the dense bank of gorse in the

north of the site due to the potential for above ground hibernacula to occur within this area. Any

existing piles of dead wood or debris located below the gorse in this area should be retained as

it is possible hibernating reptiles will be utilising these features.


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4.8 Procedure to follow if reptiles are encountered during works

In the unlikely event that reptiles are encountered during works then all work in the area of the

site where reptiles were encountered should halt immediately and an ecologist contacted on

the numbers below.

Contractors should not handle reptiles unless advised to do so at the time by a URS/Scott

Wilson ecologist.

Table 1 – URS/Scott Wilson ecologist contact details

Name Position Phone number

John Simmons Lead ecologist (N.B. on annual leave 25/12/10 to 26/01/11 inclusive)

Mob: 07967 321910 Landline: 01256 310362

Abel Drewett Lead ecologist (Only during 25/12/10 to 26/01/11 inclusive)

Mob: 07825 845890 Landline: 01256 310540

James Wrixon Ecologist Mob: 07500 085583 Landline: 01256 310495

Hannah Goddard Scott Wilson Ecology team secretary 01256 310573


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5 Agreement of relevant parties

The undersigned (on behalf of their respective companies) agree to fully implement the method

statement laid out in the above document.

Table 3. 1 – Agreement to adhere to method statement

Name Position Signature On behalf of:

Ecologist

URS/Scott Wilson Ltd


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8

Figure 1 – Area to be cleared of vegetation

Drw:

Chk:

App:

Date: Date:

Rev:

PEBSHAM HWRS

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Contains Ordnance Survey Data© Crown Copyright and database right 2011

This document has been prepared in accordancewith the scope of Scott Wilson's appointment withits client and is subject to the terms of thatappointment. Scott Wilson accepts no liability forany use of this document other than by its clientand only for the purposes for which it wasprepared and provided. © Scott Wilson Group PLC 2011

www.scottwilson.com

FIGURE 11:2,500

WRTS SiteProposed HWRS SitePotential Receptor SiteExisting HWRS Site and Landfill

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Pebsham HWRS Ecology method statement for … for Veolia Environmental Services Ltd Pebsham HWRS Ecology method statement for vegetation clearance works FINAL January 2011Veolia Environmental