Ecological Assessment

20 15 /01{9
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
February2015
PteliminatyEcologicalAssessment
(Extended Phase1 Ecological Survey),
Land rear of the Homestead,Main Road,
Austfey
DocrrmentPreparedFebruary2015
SupervisingEcologist Dr. Stefan Bodnar MCIEEM
Planning Coneultanc
Simon Cheshire
On behalf of clients:
RECEIVED
Repon Autlror:
Dr. StefaoBodnarBSc (Hons)PhD MCIEEM
35 Post Offrce Road
BaddesleyEnsor
Warrvickshire CV9 2DD
Email; stcthn.lrodnar{
)1(ri)ucxrglcrna
,c<-tn.r
0 I MAil?0i5
Ncrtl i \''.la| ;,,ickshiro
survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
February2015
Contenta
1.0.Inuoduction
1.1.Background
1.2,Site Location
1.3.Site Description
1.4.Brief Deectiption of Ptoiect
1.5.Data Searches
1.5,1,Statutory Nature Coneervation Sitee
1,5,2.Non Statutory Coneervationdesignatione
1.5,3.Protected SpeciesRecords
1,5.4.Interpretation of available biological data
2.0. Survey Methodology
2.1.Site, Iacation and Access
2.2. D*e and Time
2.3. Weather Conditione
2.4, Methodology
2.5.Fauna
2.6. Conrtrainte of Survey
3.0. Survey Results
3.1.Disuibution of Habitats
3.2. Ptotected and Notable Species
4.0, Discuesion
4.1. Conservation Context
4.2. Conclueion
5.0, Recommendations
5.1.Enhancing and Protecting the Ecological Value of the Site
5,2. Opportunities for enhancement
APPENDICES:
Appendix tPhase 1 Habitats
Appendix 2: Photographs
Appendix 3: SpeciesLists
Appendix 4.11:Palette ofwildlife friendly plant species
appendix 12: Grcat Creeted Newt Ecology
3
3
3
4
5
5
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t2
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t9
t9
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T2
Homestead,Phase1 Ecological
survey
Februarv
2015
1.0.Inroduction
1.1,Background
At the tequest of Simon Chcshite, a Ptelirninary Ecol<>gicalAsscssmenr (Extcndcd Phase I Ecological Sun'ev
)uas carded out at land ar the reat of The Homestead, \{ain Road, Ausuel to et'aluate rbe habitars, descdbe
any further sun.eys requircd and indicare the level of rc<luired miugation/ compensation/ cnhancement in
telation to thc proposed development of the sire. It excLudesthc garden arca of the main building
1.2, Site Location
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survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
February
2015
1.3,SireDescription
Thc' site ties '$.ithin the village of -,\ustrev ,.\ustre\'is a village and civil parish in the North
Varu,ickshire District of Wanr.ickshire, England. and rhc villagc hcs at the northem exttemio of the Countv*.
The sire compnses an extended garden ro the rear of the Homestead. Nlain Road, rvhich is not included in the
develoPment ProPosal.
'Ihe
land is sloping ro the nonh, and comprises a meadow/grassland. v-ith remnants of a planted otchatd, a
'erboretum'. The w-oodcd elements cover nearh' half
pool, and a range of landscapetrees, planted as a form of
of the site. There are natile hcdgerows on the \''estem. eastern and southem boundanes'
Landscape impacts: Habitat connecdviq' end bamers
o Habitat connectir,in ftom thc Site rvas considered aterage. *'ith some dispening animals likelv to be
dercrred bl the human int-luencero rhe immediate sorrth and east q,ithin the village of Ausucl,
o 'lhe Site rvas set u,irh a rural landscapc of pastoral ficlds. Thcse pastoral ltelds were consideted to be
connccted br- a good netu'ork of hedgerou's.
-l'he
lvl-12motor\trav, $,hich lay some 900m ro the north of thc Sire, may havc created a nraiot bartiet to the
dispersal of animals ftom this direction and onto the Stre.
o
-l
he data search rcvealed no sratuton dcsignated sitesvlthrn the l km search radius hos'evcr Austret
Churchvard. Ecosite, was locatcd some 50m from thc Site
.
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
Februarv2015
SeePhotogra.phs(Appendix 2). A full specieslist of vascuJatplants is included at the end of this report
(Appendix3). Appendix 1 showsthe Phaset habitatmap.
1.4.Brief Description of Pmiect
The areais subject to a plannrng development (refer to planning applicetion).
1.5.Data Searches
Information was gathered from a number of soutcesinduding Nature on the Web (Irlatural England Website),and a rangeofother soutcesof web.baseddata.
The data seatchcoven the following areas:
o
Speciesof particular note
o
Local NatureReserves
.
Protected species@adger,grasssnake,great cresrednwvts, otter, water vole and bats
1.5,1, Statutory Nrone ConEervation SirEs
Statutoty Nature Conservation Sites (this includes Sitesof SpecialScienti6c Interest, Local Nature Reserves,
SpecialAreas of Concern)
2015
February
survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
'fhere
are no StatutorvNature Consen'ationsites'*'ithin Zkm of the site,and the sitelies oursideandl' SSSI
imPactzones.
1.5.2.Non Statutory Consewation designations
There is one non-sratuton designatedsitesrv-ithinlkm of the site,-\ustrel Chutch Ecosite,rvhichlies a
short distanceto the south,
1,5.3.Pmtected SpeciesRecorde
In relationro protectedspeciesthe follou'ingwererccordedand are presentedherewith rhe approximate
distancesof the nearestrecord.
Bat Species
Species(Latin Name)
Common Name
Ilyotit duubentonii
I{1oth ry1ti:anat / brandli
Daubenton's bat
\\"his kered,/Bra n d ts bat
Nwta/n no"tula
Nocrule
Pibitt?ll r ripirtultt!
Comm<>npipistrellc
Soptano pipistrelle
Brown long-eared bat
Pibi ftlht.t
eflaesr
Eblesiu: semtinnt
Serodne
Approximate distance of nearest record
from the survev Bite (km)
-lkm South,3 km S\\'
1()km SW
?lunS
3kmS
lkm S
-l km S\I'
9 km S\X-
Other Species
Species(Latin Name)
Common Name
Me/esnelet
'I-/irary.t
,irtdtrr
Badger
Great Crested newt
Apptoximate distance of nearest record
from the survey site (km)
.tkmS
3kmE
Bird Species
Species(Latin Name)
Common Name
Approximate distance of nearest recotd
from the survey site (km)
Tyto ulba
Bam owl
Breedinq 3.5 km S (aurhors own records)
The Local Biologrcal Records providcd the followhg records uithin a I km radius. Onlv speciesscoped h to
the sun'ev, rvhere records exist, are commented on w'i*rh the speciessection
Terrestrial l{ammals Indeterminate pipistrelle (lipistrellus spp.)
..\mphibians none
Reotiles none
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
February
2015
1.5.4Interpretation of avail,ablebiologicd deta
The availabledatasugests that thereis no evidenceofprotected speciesutilizing d1gsite,though a pipisrelle
specieshas been tecorded r ithin 1 km. In addition, discussionswith local residentsindicate th atb^dgr. Meles
mehs,ete presentrn the areain addition to bat speciesChinpha lp.. There are also unvedfied records of gteat
ctested newts Tittrffi LriJlqtuJ.
It conftrms that no Statutory designatedsites are adjacentor close to the site and that the dwelopment will
haveno impact on thoseat further distances.There is one non-Statutorysitevery closeto the development,
any potential impacts on which will be assessed
in this report.
February
2015
2.0. Survey Methodology
2.1, Site I-ocation and Accese
Austre;-,\Varmckshire.
Land at the Flomestead,
All areasof rhe sitervereavailablefor access.
2.2, Date and Time of Suwey
The sun'eyrvasconductedon 10th February2015
2.3, Weather Conditions
The weatherconditionsduring the sun'eywererainv and ovcrcast.
2.4. Methodology
The sun'evwas conductedbv carrvingout a s)'stematicwalkoverof the sitebv Dr. StefanBodnar NTCIEEM
ro recordhabitars,species,and any notablefeanrresof interestu'rth regardto flora & Fauna.This is in
accordancewith standardPhase1 suweytechniquesandis a methodologyrecommendedbv the Instituteof
EnvironmentalAssessment(1995),and more recentguidancefrom CIEE\I (2013).
2.5
Fauna
Dunng the sun'ev,emphasiswasplacedon seatchingfor evidenceof and potenualof habitatsand
feanuessupporringprotectedor notablespecies,especialll'thoselistedundet the Consen'ationoI
Habitatsand SpeciesRegulations2010,the V ildlifc & Countrl'sideAct 1981(asamended),the List
of Species& I{abitatsof PrincipleImpottancefor Consen'ationof BiologicalDiwersityin Wales
(\\'alesBiodir.ersitlParmership,200f and in local Biodiversitl Action Plans'
T}e rangeof methodsusedwereas follows:
Great Crested Newt HSI
Habitat Suitability Index (Assessment)
SeeAppendir 12 for generalguidanceon Great CrestedNewt ecolog'l'.
The surveymethod emplotedis determinedby NanrralEngland'sStandingAdr.icefor Great CrestedNewt
TitkB! nirtata (referto Natutal Englaodweb-site),recommendsthe following genericadvice:
An initial sun'e1'ofrhe terrestrialhabitatsand qualig'of the ponds *ithin, and adiacentto, the development
'Ihis
shouldideallvfollow the Habitat Sr.ltabilin'Index (HSI) methodologl'
footprint is a usefulstartingpoint.
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
February
2015
developed by Oldham et al. 2000 whjch looks at a number ofvariables including pond size, terresttial habitat,
pond shading and w-ater<lualityto derive a probabili$ o[ newts being prescnt uithin a pond. Thrs is a helpful
tr:ol for large schemes as it may help to ,rscope out" some ponds for more detailed sun'eys. Pleasenote thar
HSI assessmenrsare nor an altemative to carrying out a morc detailed sun'ey should onc be required
Habitat Suitability Asses6ment
Any ponds werc tien assessedfor habitat suitabilin for great ctested new'ts,utilising the modificd Grear
Ctested Newt Ilabitat Suitabrhq.'Index (Oldham ara/, ?000). The habitat suitabilio index provides a means of
evaluating habitat quality.'Ihe Habirat Suitabiliw Inde:< (IJSI) is a numerical index benveen 0 and 1, where 0
indicates suitable habitat and 1 represents optimal habitat.'I'hc HSI score is thcn utilised to define the
suitabiliry of the pond on a categorical scalc (fable 2.1). The system is not precise enough to allow rhe
conclusion that a pond r.r,itha high score u'ill supporr great crested ncwts whilst those with a low score will
not. See ApPendix 7 fot reference document of the Grear Cresred Nest Habrrat Suitabiliry Index.
HSI Score
Pond Suitabilit_v
< 0.5
Poor
0.5- 0.59
Below avetage
0,6- 0.69
,\verage
o,7- o.7,
Good
> 0.8
F|icellent
Table 2.1:HSI scoring for pond suitability
Bats
'I'he
trees within the sire rvere appraised for rheir potential surtabrJrtyto suppott bteeding, resting
and h.ibemating bats in accordance with sun'el methods documented in the Bat Sun'eys: Good
-frust
Ptactice GuideLines(Bac Conservation
2(112),I.eatures o[medium and high potcntial for bats
were searched for signs of use bv bars, such as droppings, urinc sraining and scratchesaround
entranceholes etc,
,\ r.isual inspection of the trees from ground level with rhe aid of binoculars was undertaken to
search fot evidence of acrual bats as well as signs of bats (droppings, feedhg remains. udne
staining, scratch marks. noise and rhe remains of dead bats erc.). In addition, the trees were
assessedfor the presence of fean-rreslikelv to be attractive to roosting bats, such as cavities or rot
holes in the rrunk ot branches, splits in the tinber, delaminating bark. decp bark cre'vices,dead
brancbes and dense iw cover etc. In accordancc s,ith the methodologv out[ned in the Bat
February
2015
survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
(lonsen'adon Trust's Bat Surtel's: Good Practice Guidelines (2012) trees u'ere assignedto the
following categories:
.
Known or Conftmed
Roost - signs of bats (droppings, erc) or actual bats recorded; or
prerious records of bats in uee
r
High (Category li
- trees with multiple, highly suitable features capable of supporting
large roosts
r
Medium
(Category 1) - a tree with dehnite bat porential; fewer feanres than category 1'
or potential for single bats
r
Low (Category 2) - No obvious potential, although tree of size and age that elevated
sun'evs mav result in cracks/crevices being found; or tree has some features which haqe
limited potential to support bars
.
'the
Nil (Category 3) - no potent.ial to suPPort bats
site was also assessedfor potential bat foraging areasand commuting routes.
Feanues of medium and high potential for bats were searched for signs of use by bats, such as
droppings, utne sraining and scratchesaround entrance holes ctc. T'he site was also assessedfor
acmal and potential bat foragurg areasand cofiunudng routcs.
There is a single building on site, and this was assessedextemallv for fieir suitabfitY to provide bat
roosting features,in accordance uith the methodologr- oudined in the Bat Consen'ation Trust's Bat
Sun'e1's:Good Practice Guidelines (2012)
Reptiles
The site *.as assessedfor its suitabiliry to supPort reptiles based upon the abundance of suitable
habitats such as smrcturallv diverse habitats, hedgerows, scrub, rougb grassland w'ood piles, n:bble,
banks and compost heaps etc. The site was assessedu'ith resPect to its potential for use fot
hibemation and spring/summer use based on guidance provided in the Herpetofauna workers'
Manual floint Nanue Consen'ation Comminee,2003) and the Reptile Nlanagement Handbook
(Edgar. Foster & Baker 201l).
Badgets
The whole site was searchedsystematically,with panicular attcntion being paid to features likelY to
support ba+er setts (e.g. earth embankmenis, s'ooded copses etc.). The location ofall badger
signs such as runs, dung pits, prints, hair, foraging snuffle holes found during the sun'ev were
10
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
February2015
mapped and all setts characterisedas either main, anner, subsidiar;'or oudiers in accotdancevrith
guidancegiven in SurveyingBadgen (Harris, Cresswel.l&JeFfedes, 1988).
Birds
All birds obserreddwing the Freldsuweywere recorded,in additionto featurescapableof
supporting oesting birds (e.g.uees, hedgerows,buildings, bmmble beds,ruderal vegetation and
roqh grasslandetc).The siteswasalsoassessed
for its acnraland potentialsuitabilitvto support
Schedule1 and BiodiversityAction PIan prioritv species.
Othet Species
The site was also assessedfor its actual and potentral suitab ity to suppott other protected or
notable fauna in accotdancewith the Guidelines fot Pteliminary Ecological Appraisal (Chanered
Instinrteof Ecologr and EnvironmsntalManagement,2013).
2.6. C.onetraintof Sunrey
Owing to the time of vear the initial suwey took place it can be considered to provide a reasonable,though
not exhaustiv€Plantlist- In particulatthe gtassland/meadowareaclassificationis tentative,and should ideally
be tevisited in the spting to confirrn the classiEcation.This sun ey noted the habitat types on the site, and the
dominant vegetation at dre time of the survey,which is likely to be constanr and a fair reflection of the habitat
qualitypresent.
11
Februarv
2015
survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
3,0, Survey Reeults
3.1. Distribution
of Habitate and Site Description
The site comprises an extended gatden to the rear of tle Homestead. Ir{ain Road, which is not included in the
development proposal.
The land is sloping ro rhe nonh, and comprises a meadow/grassland, u'ith remnants of a plaoted orchard a
'arboretum'. The rvooded elements covet nearly half
pool, and a range of landscape trees, planted as a form of
of the site. There are native hedgerows on the westem, eastem and soutlrem boundaries.
Nativc hedgetows:
The hedgerows are a misture of hawth om Crataegusmorcg'na, elder SambaLvtnigm, andbranble Rfunt
ptetdoplzlanut, silvet birch Benla pendala, aod
.frulinns.Therc are in-hedge uees of svcamore -4 tur
horsechestnut -,leghalus hippocalarcr mOrchatd
A small area dominated bv mature apple vees Malu sp.
Improved gtascland atea
Improved grassland, dominated by Annual meadowgrass Poa aantaa,rough meadowgrass, l>oatittial*,
percnnial negrass, L.okua pennne, Cocksfoot Dacgtb glomerata.Yorkshite fog, HoLw larutas and Creeping
softgnss Hoftw mol/l Common hetbs present include ribwon planrain Ptanlagohnceolutu,and Creeping
butlercup (RananrulasnPeu).
Woodland/Arboretum
atea
A wide range of mature and semi-mature uees of a varieq' of speciesrncluding Chile pine, weeping ash,
Horsechesmut, Silver birch, Tibean birch, Chery, Blue Fir, Eucahpnrs, weeping beech, Scot's pine, Beech,
Cedar, N{agnolia and Goat willow.
Pond
The pond is butyl lined, and approximately' 200m in area. It is shaded ro around 700loand most of the surface
is covered in emergent vegetation Gllveria maxina, and pwple loosestrife Libnm vlinria.
(SeePhase 1 Habitars, Appeodix 1), and Photographs (Appendix 2). A full spe<ieslist of vascular plants is
included at the end of this teport (ApPendlx 3).
72
Februarv
2015
Homestead,Phase1 Ecological
survey
3.2. Protected and Notable Species
Badger
Duting the survey a number of mammal pathways were obscrved throughout the sun'ey site. Thesc w-ete
possiblv attdbutable to domestic car (Fe/i^- donutiar) ard fox (l'apu ralqn) bur also badger (illelu nelu).
Snuffle holes \!ere apparent in some areas of the site. In terms o[ badgers, it can be confirmed that at the
time of survey there appear to be no evidence of badgcrs on site, including nrnways and droppings, and no
setts or possible sctts were noted either within the proposed development sites or within 30m of these site
boundaries. there are signs of bx l.'u/pet ulpet including recent signs of a blackbird kill. Badger runs \r:ere
noted from thc nearb_vEcosite.
Bats
It is possible for the site to have some potential as bat foraging site and the manrre hedgcrorx'sand tlees as
bat commuting routes. None of the on-site trees have features thar could be utitzed by roosting bats.
Other species
The site has some Potential fot other species.Nfammals recorded included molc (falpa eumpea)and field vole
(Minvlat agre it).In terms o[ reptiles, thc site is suitable only for grass snake Na/z.v rulix. though there are no
oearbv records of this species.
Birds
A small number of common birds werc acnrall)' recorded on rhe sire itself, and a number of othcr species
rverc noted rvirhin the surrounding areas and habitats and thesc are lilielv to forage within the site. Some of
the scnrb/slrub areas and trees within tl're sun'ev site also provide suitnble nesting habitat fot a number of
common bird specieslisted below.
The birds noted during suwev included blackbird ('htrdu.tnen/a),6lue rir (Cyunittescaenleut),goldhnch
(Cardtelir urdueli,r),jackdaw (Conat nontdula),b<''ustspar':, ru (/),r,.,,,r'
,/azrr,l,zr,),collated dove (Sneptopelia
denttlo), magpie (Pira pira), duntock (Pnnel/u no&tlait), grcefftnch (Cnduelit thkrit), $e t ut (Patur mEb4,i^y
Canlar glandariat starlitrg 1rlizrzz' rz,q,ai,1. song thrush ('l ur&t plti/onelot), mallatd ,4nat plu\rlTnthot, pheasart
Phainu.r cvhhiat tobin (Eithaur rabualu) carrior' crow ((nntat nrute), pied wagtai-l (hIot,t,i//a alba yaere/h1,
greater spotted '*oodpecker De mropn najot lesser spottcd woo dpecket Derdmtuputminor, woodpigeoo
(Colanba paknbat), raven Conw ,vrax and wren (Tryqk{te! ln-qhbtci). a former nesr of a song thrush is
apparent in one of the on-srte rees.
Given the development sites location, sittratcd within an irrea of predominarely agricultural land use it might
also be appropriate to assume that there could be speciessuch as chitTchaff (l)l1ylosrEtrn//yhita,1,, blackcap
(Slhtia atrinpi//a),Buzzard. (llrnt /r,r,tz;. whitethroat (-fyhiu ,vnntnit), chaf5nch (l-rirgilb toclz/L).sparowhawk
(,.laipinr nirar), swallow (Himndn ras#ia/,house martin (De/ithon urbiu), swift (-'1pusapat), feral pigeon Cohtnba
litiu uar., mistle thnsh (Tardat tduonir), T'awny owl (.lrnx d! Lo).and long-tailed tit (,,lgi nlrr uudalar) which
may utilize and breed on this site.
Invasive plant species
13
February
2015
survey
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
None are prescnt.
Great Cr€Bt€dNewt
In tems of habitas for great crestedne\F't(fiturur iritrortrl the habitatshave some potential,The nearest
k-oownrecordsare near, it is considereda requirementfot this speciesto be consideredfurther here,and a
Habitat SuitabiliryAssessmentwasundertaken.
Great Crested Newts
Gteat crestednews are protecteduoder Schedule5 of the Niddlifc and Counwside Act (1981)asameoded
and Schedule2 of the Conservadon$iatural Habitatsetc)Regulations1994S.egulation38).Becauseof their
rarity they are alsoprotectedunder AnnexesIla and IVa of the Habiuts and SpeciesDirective and under the
Beme Convention.In 2007,the ConservadonQ',laturalHabitatsetc)Regulatioos199'{was amended
particularlvin relation ro designatedEuropearProtectedSpecies(EPS)which includesgreatcrestednewt and
under the Conservadonof Habitatsand SpeciesRegulations(2010).In
this was further strengthened
particular,recentamendmentsremovethe requirementfor actionsto be intentionalor recklessin ordet for
an offenceto be committed,
Langton etalia(2001)makethe point that:
'Taken togetlur,rhe.4el andlhe Regt.lationr
"Thewordiryin tbe 1981.4 and 1994P,egtlatiouit tlight!1diflerent."
(bllovingthcCROV ,4d 2000) nske it ilbgal to:
Intentiorul!1or dzliberah$t:aptarcor kill, or intentione$injan Sndt Lwtedttuh.
. Dcliberaxlyditurb greotdvlted,,eptror inhntionalfior rctklest! + di urt then in a pku uvdJor thelnr orpmtection.
. Damogeor delml a bnedingsiteor ntingplarc.
. lntentiorulll or rcckler:l!dana3e,furlmJor obrhrd ac.vlrto aplacemd.lbr thelterorpftrediott
. PoJte$agj,tatouhd n€pr,or aa^pltrl oJir, rnhst acquindlaw[a$'.
, Se//,banenexfiaageor lranqtorTor oficr./brule 3nat nzrhd ntprr 0/ Pdrlr of rhem.
*Rttktut ofeatesweeaddedb1theComrTsideandNght of lVa1,'4tt 2000, a)hichuPplies
on! to Enghada
On-site water featuree
sizedpool within the surveysire.this is evaluatedaspool 1 Qelow).
Thereis a moderatel,v
14
Vaht".
February
2015
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
Pool3
Pool1
Pool2
Pool4
'l'hcre
ate -1pools and rvacerbodics locared widrin 5(X)nrof rhe site, shou'n on rhc annorared aerial
photograph below. in addition to rhc on-sire pool. sho\ur below:
_t)
survey
Homestead,Phase1 Ecological
Pond I
HSI lndlcq!
Attrlbuto
Scor€
Pond2
Attrlbut€
Scoro
Pond3
Attrlbute
Score
Pond4
Attrlbuio
Score
GridReference
sr1-
Geographic
location
,1
1
I
I
Sl2 - Pondarsa
to near€st
50m?(m'?)
150
Sl3 - Pond
oryrng
(frequency)
Sl4 - Water
quality
Sl5 - Pond
shading(%)
0.0s
0.3
48
0.05
500
1
1
N6vea
09
Never
0.9
Sometimes
0.5
0.67
Moderate
0.67
Moderate
0.67
Pooa
0.33
700k
0.7
s0%
1
500/o
1000/"
o.2
Minor
0.67
Absent
1
Absent
Maior
0,01
Absent
Moderate
N€ver
500,6
Wat€r
SI7 - Fish
Abs€nt
1
Minor
Minor
Absent
SIE - Pond
density
1
1
st9Surrounding
tenestrialhBbitat
Modeiate
Good
s t t 0-
0.67
Moderat€
Good
0.67
Mac.ophyte
(aqualic plant)
density(%)
20%
HSt SCORE
CATEGORY
0.5
0.737
Good
400/o
OYo
0.378659
Poor
0.7
0.67989
Averaq6
10%
0.4
0.598787
Below Averags
The sun ev concluded that all of thc nearbr saterbodies are of tlle belorv averageor poor categon for great
cresred newts, rith the exception of pool 1 (oo-site) rvhich has a good categon and pool 3 (reported as gteat
crested newts Dresent)which is averaqe,
lo
0.:
2015
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Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
The survev concluded that all of rhe nearbv warerbodies are of the below averageor poor category for gteat
ctestedne$ts, E-ith the cxception of pool 1 (on-site)which hasa good categon and pool 3 (reponed as gteat
cfestednefis pfesent)which is avetage.
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Pool 3 (rvithin 10m of site)
Pool 2 (within lOm of site)
Pool 4 (150m from sire)
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2015
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Pool 5 (400m ftom aite)
Conclueion
The surr.el,concluded that all of the nearb,vwaterbodiesare of the below averageor Poor categotl
for greatcresrednewts,with the excepdooofpool 1 (on-sire)which hasa good categoryand pool 3
(repofiedasgreatcrestednewtspresent)which is average.
o
tool, it is likelvthat greatcrestedneu/tswill be impacted
Using Natural England'sRapidassessment
b1'the development.
I
There may be a requirementfor licensing,dependanton the further survevsin resPectofgreat
crestednep1s,
r
A oumber of sitecautionsarerecommendedduring the constructionphase'
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2015
4.0. Diecussion
4.1. Conservation Context
The site basicallyconsistsof five elements(Appendix 'le):
o
r
o
o
o
'fhe
Natir'-especiespoor hedgerow-s,
somes.ith maturein-hedgetrees
Improved grassland
Orchard
Pond
Woodland/arboten:m
value of the site in terms of ecological value ro 'w.ildlifeis generally moderare.
The retention and prorection of the maturc uees and cohancement of the hedgerows and the trees of good
<1ualiftas kev boundaq and site landscape fearures are importanr in rcrms of mainraining connectirr feaures
of the site and screeuing of anl dewelopment.
Separatedetail has been prepared section 5.0 Recommendations in respect of protection and enhancement of
the Eees and hedgeror*'su'ithin the site. Species should be selected, rbat are both rvildlife friendly and are
sympatl,edc to its rural setting, focusing on measures to encoulage farmland birds and foraging bats,
wherever possible.
4,2. Conclusion
'fhis
Phase1 Ecologv Report conFrrmsthat the ConsrnrctionZones are of 'lorv ecologicalvalue'consisting
primarily of grazed improved lfassland, long grass and native hedgerows. The following
obseryadons/recommendations
are made:
r
IlLd nesting season:clearancerxill have to be outside mid \{arch to midJulv as tie areav'ill have
substantive numbers of bteeding birds ptesent.
o
I'hete are no Statutory or Non-Starutorl Designated Narure Consen'ation Sires within the ste or
that will be impaced by this developmenr.
.
From the Biologrcal Data Scarch no protected species were recorded wirh.in the site, and the
€xteoded Phase 1 Ecobgv suwey concludes that there is at least one Protected species (great crested
newt) liliely to be impacred by developmenr of rhe area.
r
The close proximitv of some bat rccords and thc maturc hedgerows, &ee-lincs and $crub areaswirhin
the sire indicatc that these elements mav have signiEcancefor bar foraging and commuring.
F'urther survers are recommended to determine the likeh presence ofgreat cresred nest, via a field suncy for
the spec-ies,as foll<.rws:
'I'he
survev method emploved is determned by Natural England's Standing Advice for this species (refer to
Narural England rveb-site). recommends the follouing generic advice:
1.4 Fieldsunry
An initial stnnl ol n temstial habitatsandqaalityol'theplndr uilbin, andddjutentto, thedewlopnert.footpint
i a xseJulstadingpoint.TbisshouldidealfifollowtheI'labitat SaitabiliryIndex (HSI) nethodology
denlopea
a1
Oldhan eta/. 2000 whih looksal a nunberoJaaiabhsintludingpondiry, Ienwtial habiraLpondshadingantl
19
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1 Ecological
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beingpnnntwithina pond.Thisis a helpfultoolJbr laryenbenesasit
vaterqualiryto deriwa pnbabiliy oJ'newts
arvnolan alknatiw
nE hefi to ,smpeotrl" romepondsJornon futailedunrys. Plearcnulcrhat HSI atse$menls
be
nqaind.
d*aibd nnrl shonldone
lo tdrDtingouta ,110n
1.5 Pnsenu/ Dke! Abnna Sunel Efort
Pondt
h)
'Muhod:
Thnenng ncth\h (fthttedJrvnnettin&torcbstmgs, eg seanhetandbottblrapping)fioall be
enploydPcr tuit.
Effurt:1 tisilr in s itahh nnathetnndilioat.
airi* thirg nid-.4priltonid-ME andtlxtctho d bcrpnad
frning aid-Marchtonid-lnne, vitb at hatt tuooJthese
tbmryhtbenng periodtomaxinintfu chanuoJf ingzeat if theJdn Lringtheplt'd(r)'
.
A pre-conrmencement badger survey is recommended and carefrrl site clearance of scrub undet an
agteed method statement.
o A further check on tle status of the grassland is recommended betweeo April and August to confirm
'lmproved' that has been made.
the initial assessment of
r
A 855837:2012 Pre-dwelopment tree suwey is recommended'
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February
2015
5.0.Recommendations
It is importanr that this Pmposed development Ehould demonstrate no net los6 of biodiversity from
the 6ite' This is a dun placed on Local Authorities in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act
'Ihete
2006, Secton 40.
atc requirements noted for this under thc Nadonal Planning policy framework (2012)
rvhich refers to compensarion/ mitigation, Ir is confirmed rhat the enhancement. mir(ation and
compensation within ttris section rvill compl.v with all the relevant UK and LIU legrslauon relating to
ptotecuon and enhancement of ccologr,-.
This section states how rhe negative impacts ofdevelopment can be addresscd.
5,1. Protecting the Ecological Value of the Site.
1'he hedgerow and marure trees that exist'qiithin the development areas should be retained and enhanced.
Following the built developmcnr there will be opportunities for enhancemcnr of the sitc's ccological value bv
'fhis
landscaping measures designed to encoutage wiJdlife into the site.
is covered more in section 5,3
Trees and Scrub
AII effort should be made to retain the maure trees wirhin the plans especially those on the site edges.
Scrub and tree lines on the site contributc to co unurcr routes and foraging areas for local bat populahons
and these fearures should thercfore be protected as mucb as p<tssible.Si?rerc trees are unavoidablv lost to
accommodate the scheme. suitable compensation planting should be carried out. As bats react advetsely to
intense lighting. extemal lighting provision within the dcvelopment should bc a possible, bearing in m:nd rhe
safetr requirements of the occupiers of the building. Erremal slighting should be da directional downLighters,
of low lux and where possible, on dmers to ensure as htde light spill as possible from thc developmenr.
the
hedgerows and scrub on site arc particularh suitable for breeding birds and potentiallv will have a
number of nests during the breeding season.Therefore, all site clearanceshould ideally rake place ourside of
the bird breeding season.Bird bteeding season is between mid Match and mid July, although certain species
can breed outside these months and if breeding birds are found then work should ceaseand the advice of an
ecologrst sought. If clearance is undertaken within thc bkd brceding season then all site fearures should
prefetably be checked immediatelv prior to clearancebv a suitablv qualified ecologist.
Badgers
A further bat sun'ey is recommended prior to cofiunencement of works to ensure no badger setts have been
formed on site.
Follot'ing the advice below will help der.elopers to avoid comrnirring offences. In accordance qith the
Protection ofBadgers Act (1992) precautionarr'-meAsuresthat should be taken ro minimise disturbance and
interference with badgers include;
.
Drsturbance in the vicinity ofa setr vhere breeding is conftrmed or expected is to be avoided during
1" December - 30th-lune. Badgers are panicularlv wulnerable ar this time of year and sett interference
can result in dependent cubs being abandoned. ,\ protecuon zone is to be establishedat 30m radius
around used setts.
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a
a
a
a
a
Distubances,suchasloud noisesor vibrations,that might agitatebadgersoccup;ing a sett shouldbe
avoidedor limited to ateasrvellawayfrom the sen.
Noise in rhe viciniq of protectionzone is to cease2 hours beforesunset'
Badgertunnelscan exrcndto 20m &om the entranceholesand are locatedbetween0.2 ald several
metersdeep,dependingon the soil topography.Excavationwork and heaq'machinerysbould be
kqrt well awar ftom whereit could result in damageto the sett or disturbanceto an;-badger
occupyingthe sen.
Anv securiry)ighnngis to be directedawayfrom setts.
Firesand chemicalsshouldnot be usedrvithin 20 metresof sett.
Trenchesand exca$ationsare to be cor'eredar the end of eachworking da,r,or includerampsasa
meansof escapefor any-animal ialling in.
Any temporarvexposcdopen pipe systemshouldbe cappedro prevenrbadgersgainingaccess.
Gteat Crested Newt
Furrhersurveysarc recommendedto determinethe lilielv presenceof greatcrestednewt,via a fie1dsun'ery
for rhe species,as Follow-s:
The surr-eymethod employcdis determinedby Natural England'sStandingAdvice for this sPecies(tefer to
NanrralEnglandweb-site),recommendsthe following genericadvice:
4.1 Field sm'cy
An inirial sanel oJ'thehflertial babiatr and qualiri ol thepondsvithin, and adjun to, the deaelopnentJoorpint
is a aselultaing point. Thit shoutdideatllfoltow the Habitat Suitabilig Index (IISI) netlndolog dnehped b1
Oldban et al. 20(i0 ubich looks at a nunberoJ uriables intludingpond siie, temrtial babitat,pond adingand
as il
uarcr qaaliA to deit7 a pnbabiliry oJ'newt:beingpnnnl vitbin a pond. Thit is a hePJaltoolJbr laryt scbemes
8n
altenatite
ng^ heh to ,,Jtnpenat" nme pondsJormon dctaibd sangt.r.Phasenoturhat HSI ariellmefllsan no!
to L:anJittgo t a mlle drtdiledrrnEJ sbo d onebe nquirud
1.5 Pnsenn/ Likef Absenn Sung Eibt
(al Pondt
]llethod: Thne vnel nethldr (relet'ted
Jivlrt nelting torchsunE:, eg seanhesand hottlettapfiry) thould be
enployd per uisit.
ElIltl: 1 uiitr in suitabh uealbercondilinnr.
'I:iniry
viritr dtring nid--'lpil to nid-trtE andtbev shorldbespnad
nid-hIanb to nid- urc, witb at h,rt tt'o oJ'rhe:e
lhmaghrbeuncy periodta natinit tberhanrvoJfndingnwtt il thel ar uinlthe pond(s)'
5.2 Oppomrnities for enhanc€ment:
lie in threeateas:
T1reopporruniticsfor enhancement
e Retentionand enhancementof valueof existingmature treesand hedgerowsand the on-sitepool. To
include Supplemenraq'plantingwith native specieswithin the boundarl hedgefeatr:res,panicularly
where there are gapswithin the hedge-lineto increascthe areaoF this valuableand prioriry habitat
and to improve connecrivitt for wildlife. Inuoduction of bat and bird friendly native planting
schemes,hibemacula,and wildflower hedgerou'edgemix seediog'
22
H o m e s t e a dP, h a s e1 E c o l o g i c saul r v e y
F e b r u ray 2 0 1 5
o Irrrroductiorroil)at an(l brd ltorcs rxr suitaltlcrrces.
o Sclcctiotroi r,,ildlitc-iiiendll plrnting specicsai
l)^it ()[ rhe terrcsrrirl lnndsorping schcnrc r'"'ithinthc
de. clopnrcnt.
5.2.1.Details of Ecological Landscaping
'lhc
spccitrcattortshould incltrdc 5 clcnrcnrs of lanrlsc:rpingtlctails (tirrthcr iltonrrarion can bc k:Lrnd rrr
,\l.rpcndiccs{,I l):
o
-l
o
rcc specrcsro ltc planlctl as speclmcn5.
Shrrrl>/plan
Lingnrixnrrcs
o
\\ iklflorver sccclingareas
o
Bircl ncsting [>()\cs1rndl)it lroscsatrachcclro the rctrrinedn]ltturc lrees.
.
Rclcnti()nand cnhnncemcntoI on-sitc ;to,rl tor grcat crestcdt]c\\'r.
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AppendixI Phase1 Habitats
.t1
.a
(l0vr
ah
t\
\Jr'
-wir.../-/,'
rd
.,,''.
,,4,
@H;
24
February
2015
H o m e s t e a dP, h a s e1 E c o l o g i c saul r v e y
Appendix 2 Photographs
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Appendix 3 Specieslists
FloraspeciesList(woodyl
Commonname
scientificname
Ash
Froxinusexcelsior
Apple
Molussylvesttis
Leyland
cypress
Cupressocyporis IeyIondii
Lawson
s cypress
Chomoecyporis Iowsoni oni i
Blackthorn
Prunusspinoso
Elde
r
nigro
Sombucus
Hawthorn
Crctoegusmonogyno
Sycamore
Acerpseudoplotonus
Goatwillow
Sdlixcopreo
Holly
llex oqulifolium
Weepingbeech
FogussylvoticoPendulo
Weepingwillow
Solixx bobylonico
Weepingash
Froxinus excelsior PenduIo
Chilepine
Aroucorioourucono
Tibetanbirch
Prunusserrula
Bluefir
Piceopungens
Eucalyptus
sp.
Eucolyptus
Beech
Fogussylvoticd
cedar
Cedrussp.
Magnolia
Mognoliosp.
Scotspine
Pinussylvestris
Bluefir
Piceopungens
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2015
Norwaymaple
Acerplotdnoides
Fieldmaple
Acer compestre
Hazel
Corylusovellono
Cherrysp.
Prunussp.
Wildcherry
Prunusovium
Specieslist (non-woody|
Commonname
Scientificname
Annualmeadowgrass
Pooonnuo
Roughmeadowgrass
Poo triviolis
Bramble
RubusJruticosus
ogg
Bluebell
Hyacinthoides
sp.
Barberry
berberissp.
Broadleaved
dock
Rumexobtusifolius
Cleavers
Goliumoporine
Commonbent
Agrostiscopiloris
Commonragwort
jdcobeo
Senecio
Commonmouseear
Cerostium
fontonum
Commonfieldspeedwell
Veronicopersico
Commonvetch
vicio sotivo
Cocksfoot
Dactylisglomerota
Cowparsley
Anthriscussylvestris
Creeping
buttercup
Ronunculus
repens
Creeping
thistle
Cirsiumotvense
Herbrobert
Gercniumrobertionum
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Cutleavedcranesbill
Geroniumdissectum
Dandelion
Toroxicumolficinole
Daisy
Bellisperennis
Dogrose
Rosoconino
Fieldhorsetail
Equisetumsp.
Falseoatgrass
Arrhenothorumsp,
Groundsel
Seneciovulgotis
Greaterwillowherb
Epilobiumhirsutum
Herbrobert
Geroniumrobertionum
Hedgegarlic
Alliotio petioloto
Hedgebindweed
Colystegidsepium
Hogweed
sphondylium
Herocleum
Lordsandladies
orummoculotum
lvy
Hederohelix
Meadowbuttercup
Ronunculusocris
Redclover
Trifoliumprotense
Reddeadnettle
Lomiumobld
Perennial
ryegrass
Loliumpercnne
willowherb
Rosebay
Chomerion ongustifuli um
Ribwortplantain
Plontogolonceoloto
nettle
Stinging
Urtico dioico
Spearthistle
Cirsiumvulgore
Snowdrop
Golanthussp.
Softrush
Juncuseffusus
Sunspurge
Euphorbiohelioscopio
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Smoothsowthistle
Sonchusoleroceous
Whiteclover
Trifoliumolbum
Woodavens
Geumurbonum
Yarrow
Achilleomillefolium
Yorkshire
fog
Holcuslonotus
Creepingsoftgrass
Holcusmollis
Cyclamen
Cyclomensp.
Primrose
Primulosp.
Purpleloosestrife
Lothrumsolicorid
Reedsweetgrass
Glycetiomoximo
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Appendix 4
'0tqi_u
/,1 --.
gmlh
'.dirE Ta€ea- XrmrE
r|d Gaorig
cdEldL
Tob.|!|
Oitrs.
ttr Erd
d.i-.Itr.l
r
b ffidd.g.a
-r
tqln
atr{
. m
rtdlt
d nlrr|g
(*
@Ert
Jt
lr.d
Buddleia X weyeriana cultivats
you car planr the orange-flou,ered B. X rveveriana h1'brids *ith a clear conscience as thet'don't aPPear to
procluce r.iable sced, thcv also atracr a broad spcctrum of insects including both burtertlies and bees, and thes
'Lochinch' with silver leaves is
flotver late into the seasonwhen oectar is scarce.'l'he beautifirl B. x fallowiana
aruactive to burrcrflies and is also said not ro produce seeds. The orange ball Buddlela @. globosa) ftom
South America seems to atract bees rather rhan buderflies
Bupleutum ftuticoeum ('Shrubby Hare's Ear')
A shrubbv evcrgreen umbcllifer from Sourl,em l'iurope, where it is otieo culdvated. It has leat]rerv aromaric
foliage and umbcls of vellorrish floT 'ers, a bir likc rhosc of Fennel' that are verl' attractilc ro hoverflies and
other small insects. \\'ell wonh grou'ing for this reason.
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Ceanothus X 'Gloire de Versaillcs'
Ceanothuscome from the lV-estemUnited States,N{osrCeanothushave bunchesof very small florversthat
don't seemven'attractiveto insects.'Gloire de Versailles'ho,r'everis a hvbrid with loosebunchesof paleblue
tubular flor*'ersthat are verr-artractivero butterfliesand bees.
Caryopteris X clandonensis 'Kew Blue'
A deciduous shrub from China for a sunny posidon, has small rubular blue flowers attractive to insects.
Clethra alnifolia (rSweet Peppet Bush')
A deciduous shrub from the Eastem united Staresthar lilies damp, acid or *'oodland soil.
Has spikes of small scentedvhite flowers attracrive ro moths and butrelflies.
Hebe X'Great Orme' and H. X rMidsummer BeauN'
IJebes are close relatires of the herbaceous genus Veronica, and come from New Zealand. Some are much
more atttactive to insects than othels. 'Gteat Orme'is a medium-sized hybrid with pale pink flowers thar are
atuactive to burterflics, It is a distinctive cultivar and available true ro name in the nurserv trade,
'N{idsummer
Beauq,' seems to be more of a gencric namc for a serieso[ large shmbs with
blue or grev blue flowers irr long spikes, attracti'e to borh bees and bunerflies. There are a number of other
blue and white flowercd Hebes thar seem very popular s,ith bumblebces.
Myrtus communis
(rEuropean Myrtler)
An attractive evergreen shrub from the South of Francc and Spain with small evergreen
aromatic leaves.It has been grorvn io our gardens for cenruries, but is susceptible ro hard
frost and prefers a site against a wAlrn sunnv wall, Fluffr white flowers in early summer are bumblebees'
heaven. Purplish berries follos'later which are stripped bv blackbirds in
January.
Amelanchier epeciee(rShad Bush')
Shrubs urth white chern-lilie blossoms earlv in rhe vear, followed by blackish bcrries in late summer.
Valuablefot the berriesasa sourceof food for bern -carhg birds rvhenmosr orher bcrricsarenot yet ripe.
Edca terminalis('CorsicanHeath')
'lhe
A shmbby heather-Like
plant popular utth bumblebees.
Comish l{eath, Erica vagans,from the Adantic
fringesof Europe is alsoa good beeplant. Edca manipuhflora,from
33
Phase1 Ecological
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SouthemEurope,and its h.vbridErica X griffithii havefragranrllorverstlat attractbutterflies.
Eupatorium ligustrinum
A late-floweringevelgreenbush that looks vert' like a privet, but has bunchesof wtute fluf$' flowers in
Septemberaod Ocrober.Theseflou'ersseemven attracdveto rangeof insects,especiallyhoverflies.
Ribes sanguincum ( Flowering Currant)
It is a ven. good early florver f<.rrbumblebees,as indeedare thc flowers of the closelvrelatedblackcurrants
and gooseberriesAppendix 6: Plants good fot moths. with sPecies of moth they encourage beside
Bird's Foot Ttefoil (lotus comicula tus) - BaneL Belnd Beanty,C)hilk Carpet,l-n iud Heather
tsladdet Campion (silene mlgaris)- Carnpion,lvlarbhd (onnet, itietth Pag ltIarthd Cloaer,Dark Bmtade,
,fandy Carpet
Botagc @otago officinalis) - Cinson Spetkled
Chives (allium schoenprasr,rm)
'fvirqot
Carpet
\?ild Clan (salvia horminoid es) Birrg Stonecrop (sedum acre) \illow Nngcd CarPel,Notlben Il rli'
Cou'slip (primula vens) - Plain Clary, Nortben Rttti'
Daisy - BordendStraw
Dropwon (fiLipendulahexapetala)- Salr Pug
Evemng Pnmrose (oenothera biennis) - Ekphanl tlawk
Field Scabious ftanutia an.ensis) l\lursb Fitt/k1y, Narmw BordendBeeHau,k, L)ne SpeckPag Sbaded
Pug
Foxglove (digralis purpurea) - Itsser \\llow Lindenting,I;o.xg/otePtg
Golden Rod (solidago) - Linc .Spe&Pug BhathedPug, Co/den llod, LY/onn*nodP4g L/ Pu3
Greater Stitchn'on (stellaria holos rea) - Dart, \'e/lou l.l ndetwing,l4arsh Pag Plain Clary
Hedge Bedstarv (galLium mollugo) - fuiddy Carpel, RoTallllantk, C)onnon Carpet' Iy/00dCarper,Water
Carpel, Buth Greet Carpcl, llolthd Gn1, Gnen Catpel
Hedge Woundwon (stach,vssylvatica)- Roy fuislir',Plain Golden\', S -angledlV'arc
Hemp Agrimon,v (eupatorium cannabrnum) - l%omunodPzg L' Pug,I)ne Spuk P4, |+[arshPag,Cm,
SLurL:c
B rniJhed
Herb Bennet @eum urbanum) - Nhand Waue
Hetb Robert (geranium robenianum) - Bamd Carpa
Hollyhock (akhzea rcsea) - itlal/ow
Krdney Vetch (anthyllis r'r,rlnerana)- 6-hlted (hanatng
Ladv's Bedstrarv (gallium verum) - Hmningbird Llawk, Snall [lleS>bantl-lawk, Calliun Carpet,Plain
Vatc, Nband llj'arc, BedstrawHavk, tTrcher't Dat7, I*d Clxtnat, fudd1 Carpet,Rolal Man e, Common
Cdrpel, Ilrakr CarryL Bnth Gnen Carfet. RedTvin,fpot Carpct, ll''ood CurPet,i otlhd Cn-1, Gnen Carpet
Ladr"s lr{ande (alchernilla molts) - RedCarpel
Lcsser Knapweed (centauea niga) - Sihar\', I-ine SpetkPtg Satyr Pag
Lesser lUeadorv Rrse - Marsb Carpet
Nlaiden Pink (dianthus deltoides) - i\larbhd Comnet
Nfaqoram (majorana orignaum) - Sfu-anghdll'aue,Itn Border
N{arshmallop-(althea officrnalis) - lllarbnallow
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tr{eadow Clary (sah'ra pratensis) - Bman Spot Pinion, I lebna CLard er, Poadtt4edpaaker, Enpenr
i\'Ieadowswect(fiIipendula ulmaria)
Mwllen - Mulhin, Stnped\1 tnis
Navelwott (umbilicus rupestris) - lVeaaer'.r
l{/ne
Pnk - Hauk
-L-nP/c
Ptimrose (primula !rulgarit - l>earlBordend Yellow ('nderuing Doabh Squan Spot, Gnen Athel
SPottedClary, IngrainedClary, Silaer Gnand Carptt
Purple Loosestrife (lythrum salicana) - Enpemr, Snoll Elepbant Hawk, Powdend.Quake
Ragged Robin (,u-chmsflos cucult) - Canpion, Lythnit, Twin-got Carpet,Marbkd Clowr
Red Campion (melandrium rubrum) - Rirult, Campion,Ljhni4 Twin-.y>otCarpet,.f andyClarpat,Mafiled
C/awr
Red Clover (trifolium pratense) - l-attttud Healb, Cha/k Carpet,BeId Bcauty,ltfothr Skipton,.f baded
Bmad Bar, Nanta'bordercd f-rpo! Ban er
Red Valenan (centranthus rubct) - Elepbant Hawk
Rock Rose (lrclianthemum mummularium) - Annlet, Ciin Fonster,.lilky W'ate,,'Lhaofth'r llrlrtiL,
'ffuer,
Atgtl lVood
Northem Bmpn
Rosebav \Willowh erb - Twin-.pot C)arpet,Snall Phoen\, ly/hite Bandtd Carpet
Small Scabious (scabiosacolumbaria) - L)ne S4e& Pa.g,ShadedPnj
Soapwort (saponariaofficinaLis)- Marb/edClouer
StJohn's Wort - Tnbh Bar
Sweet Rocket (hesperismatronalis)
Sweet Violct (r'iola odorata) - Bmad Bordend Ye/loa l:nderuing, ltxer Bmad Bordend Yelloa Llndeping
Tansy (tanacetum r'-ulgare) - Ijs*^- Emerald
Tbrift (armena mariuma) - Analet, leathtnd Rantnt us, Thnli Chantiry, B/a& Banded
'l'ltyne
Thvme Pry, Sajr Pag Larc Border
Toadflax (inaria r.ulgaris) - Toudlax Pug Mafiled (lorcr
Valerian (valeriana officinalis) - l/ahian Pug l-.ts.ter(.nam W'atv
Viper's Bugloss (echrum vulgare)
\{trite Campion (silcne larifolia al6a) Marlthd (onnL t\,larhledCloter, SandyCarpc!
WiId Basil (chnopodrum vulgate)
Wild Clematis (clemans vrtalnba) - I)ne,fpetk Prg, I laworth's Pug,Snu/l Enerald, Tlte Pem, Prctl Cbulk
CaQet, l,.ean Carpet, Pag Cbalk Carpet,Snall ll/awd [:mber
lfhite Clover (uifolium repens) - C/oud-ylVing Skipptr, Orange,Clonded.fn/pfur
Wild Pansv ('i<>latncolor) l>lawa
Wild Strawbetry (fragarra vesca) - Annkt, \i//ow.f hr//, BeauttJulCur/>et,Dark Marbled Carpet
lt/ana Carpel
Wild Wallflower
Wormrvood (artemesiaabsrnthium) - WormwoodPuq
Yarrorv (achillea m lefolium) - E.rrx Emerald, Iine .fpnk Pag Strav Belh, WonnwoodPug fuibl Ttgen
Yarnw Pug L/ Pa,q Suxe.xEmerald, Gn1 Pag 7-awn1.tpcckledPa3, (.ommonPug ll hin lt'ate
'
Itllow Flag Ins (iris pseudacorus)- BeltedBeaary, der Ermint
-fis.rue,
Barberry - .furn
Vheul
Blackthom/Sloe - lvlanlt, CommonEmenld, Uttle llneral.d, Mottkd Pug, lreatheredTbon, Onnge, Scalloped
l Iaryl, Sulloped Oak, Aryrst T.hon, Bimstone.Ear/y'l'hon, Pah Bindhd Beaaty,Blm BordendCarpet,
Bmken Bamd Carp:|, Nowmben lhle Norcmben Uzinter.SloePug,Gnen l'u.g Sharp,,7ng/edl'earotk, Tbe
llagtn
Btoom - Crast Emetald, Tbe Stnak, BmonJip, Ltad lltlh, SpanishCarpet, I.mtud \bl/ow
Dog Rose - L' Pag L)nle'fhon, .fhould* Stipe, Baml Ycl/oa, .ftrcanter
Hawthorn - Marh, CommonI'jnera/d, Utth Emerald, Nonmher, l>aleNoumher, lVinlen 140/thdPu& Pinion
February
2015
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
survey
BnndhdBcaul, PaleBindled Beaury.FearhendTlnn, Snlloped
Spotted
P4, Connon Pug Gry Pug Peppend,
Haiel,'f heMagpte,Snlbqxd Oak, Lzryr Thom,Early'760-, Oak Tne l>tg, Bnken Bamd Carpu
CloadedBordenBamd Linben Winhr, PaleNouember
Hazel - Oak Beaat;y,
Snall W'hin IVaw.TheA4agpte,
Oak Beang,Bindhrt Beaug,PaleBindltd Buury,
Ozk - BindledPug Oak Tnc Pug,.flting LlshenPePPend,
Parplt'|bon, SmllopedHai.el,SullapedOak,
Featbend'fhon,
Orange,
Ittnar'l'hon,
Sna// Bindled Bear4,
.leptemberTbon,
PahNoaember
WinnnMarb,
SwnhedWing Lzry: Tbon,Atgust Thom,Noaember,
Emerald,Unle Enerald, Iialv A4otha,il'laiden'tBlult, Alarthd ng Rcd-gyen
B/otthedEnerald,Common
Carper,Bnken Bamd Carpet
Rowan - OrangeLtndewingWelthlVaw,tr4otthdPag,kd-gnu Cultel
Stibed, \'ellowBamd Bindh. Snall Bloodtryin
Wild Pnvet - Iilat Beauh,Bamd Tootbed
Appendix 7: Plants and habitats to anract bats
Flower Botderc and Las'ns
Lan'ae and adults of many insects s'ill be catered for br introducing a wide range of food, in the
form of nectat, seedsand fruit as well as r-egeation.
.
Grow nrght scented flowers. These anract moths and other night flyrng insects of
particular importance to bars.
o
Plant herbs and old fashioned conage-gardenannuals attractive to insects.
.
Leave part of vour law'n un-morvn from about mid Nfav to encourage insect lan'ae
*hich feed on grass.Allou'to seed before cuning, and rake up the hay afterq'ards.
.
Sorv sild flower seedcollections in your borders.
Ttees and Shrubs
At voodlaod edges space and sunshine combine with the $ees to gi\.e shelter and varmth, and
insects rvill concenuate there. So er.en in the smallest garden trv to har.e at least one uee ot shrub.
Native uees are more attracdl'e to insects than foreign species.
If space is limited, silver btch and goat willorv are quick grorving and are host to many insect
visitors. With a litde more space, rv to make a bank of vegeation to give vow garden a woodland
edge strucrure.
Shelter Belts
Rows of bushes or rrees can be created or improved, encouraging concentradons of insects and
providing a feeding area for bats,
.
.
Plant up gaps in narural hedges,
A row of fast-growing clpress can be yaluablc.
JO
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
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February
2015
.
Tiain climbets using battens agarnst a wall or fence, to provide possible roosting
sltes.
.
Cteate a sheltered comer by using any combination of walls, fences, hedges or
woodland edge at two angles.
Scented hetbs
Chives, Borage, Lemon balm, Ma{oram, Mint - many varieties Night
border (in apptoximate order of flowering)
Ecented flowerc
for the
Beddiag Plante
Nottingham catchfly
Silenenutans
Night-scenredcatchfly
S. noctiflora
Bladdercampion
S, v-ulgaris
Night-scentedstock
Matdriola bicomis
Sweetrocket
Hesperis natronalis
Evening prirnrose
Oenotherabiennis
Tobaccoplant
Nicotianaafhnis
Heliotropun x hybndurr
Soapwott
Saponariaofficina.lis
Climben
Europeanhonevsuckle
Lonicera captifolium
July-November
Italian honepuckle
L. etruscasupetba
July-August
Japanesehoneysuckle
L, japonicahalliana
August-October
Honeysuckle(native)
L. pedclyrnenum...
Julv-August
White iasmine
Jasminium otiicina-le
Dogrose
Rosacanina
Sweetbdar
R, rubiginosa
Fieldrose
R. arvensis
h1
Hedera helir
37
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2015
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Homestead,Phase1 Ecological
Bramble- many species
Large tees. smzll ttees znd shrubs
Oak
Quercusrobur & Q. petrea
.\sh
Frarinusexcelstor
Silverbirch
Benrlapendula
Field maple
Acet campestre
Hawthom
Crataegusmonogvna
Alder
Ainus glutinosa
Goat willow
Sali-xcaprea
Guelderrose
Vibumum opulus
Flazel
Con llus avellana
Blackthom
Prunusspinosa
EIder
Sambucusnigra
Buddleiadavidir
Rock plaats for walls
h-l-leavedtoadflax
Cvmbanamwalis
Vall pennl'wort
Llmbilicusrupestris
Stonecrop
Sedumacrebertianum
Appendix
9: Plants to feed birds.
N{anv shrubs, climbers, uees, garden and'*-ild' plants provide food, direcdv ot rndftecdy, through
berdes, seedsor the insects thev aruact.
Berry ot frutt bearing trees and shn:bs will attfact members of the Thrush familV, Blackbird,
Fieldfare, N{istle and song Thfush, Redwing and Robin. Also Stadrngs and, in some winters,
Wa-xwing and er.en some Varblers, e.g., Blackcaps who eat berries ur the earl,l'auturnn before they
migrate. Llnlessmentioned, the berries attract aU the abor-c buds plus others as specified.
Shrulrst ttb llcrrics,
.
.
.
Arorua arbutifolia ff,ed Chokeberry) : bright red fruits
Betberis: most forms have black/putple berdes, especiallyloved bv Blackbirds.
'Profusion':
brieht violet coloured berries.
Callicatoa
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2015
Comus pogwood): blue tinted white berries (not C.N{as).
Cotoneaster : prolifrc red, orange or 1'ello'*'berries - birds often choose red fust, through
otange to vellow last. (..lote bernes are poisonous to humans).
Euonymous eutopaeus (spindleberrv: large bright red fruits which open to emit orange red
seeds.(I.,loteberries are poisonous to humans).
Ilex (Hol!): red, orange or r,-ellou'benies - red berries preferred (need parmer to fruit).(ltJote
berries are poisonous to humans).
I{ahonia: decomtive black berries.
Rosa rugosa : large red hips, particular\' attractive to (ireenfinches u'hich pick out the seeds.
Sambucus (Elder): ted or black berdes - over 32 spccies rcported eating them, especi.ally
Blackcap and, occasionallv,Collar Doves.
Vibumum opulus (Guelder Rose) : translucent bernes
Viscum album @{isdetoe): famdiar white globular bernes of this parasite that grorvs in trees,
especialh'apple, are a good food source for Blackbitds.
(.lirrrl>crs\\'ith llcrrics.
.
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'I
rcesrvith llcrrics or l rr.rirs.
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Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince/Cydorua): r\urumn Quinces.
Hedera (Ir.n) : shiny.'black berries
Lonicera (Honeysuckle: tcd or black beries attact Thrushes plus Bullfinches and IUa$h and
Willow Tits. Q',loteberries are poisonous to humans).
P,viacantha(F'irethom) :ted, otange or vellorv berries - choose red for the birds to eat before
Chnsmras usuallv with orange or vellorv to follow in a hard winter.
Clematis r-italba (Old Nlan's Beard): seed heads are enjoved b,v manv brds.
CrataegusmonoBrna (Hau'thom : red berries.
lValus (Ctab Apple: red fruited varieties are best for birds.
Prunus (Cherries): frurts quickly picked off.
Sorbus aucuparia (,\{ountain Ash/Rorvan) :red, onnge or pink flushed r-hite berries. 'lhe
darker the fruits the mote attiacdve they are to birds. Occasionall,vbring Spotted Flycatchcts
to the garden.
Taxus ft"ew): spatse red berties attracr a wide range of birds. Atttactive also to
Badgers.(f.,loteberries arc poisonous to humans).
rccs rvirh Scccl(-,rncs.
.
.
Alnus glutinosa (Alde!, and Betula (Birch): seedsfrom cones enjoycd by Goldfinches,
'I'its.
Greenfinches, Redpolls, Siskins and
Pinus s,vlvestris(Scotspine) : pine cones from which Crossbills arid Great Spotred
Woodpeckers ptise seed.
39
February
2015
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Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
'l
recs* ith llL rssotrr.
Although not alwavs welcome, Bullfinches stip the buds of fruit tlees in late wintet and
eadY sPring'
.
( iartlcn l'lrrnts.
.
Crocus: vellow and orange flowem are atuactive to Sparrows because they contain yellow
catotene to brighten up their plumage for the breeding season'
pigment
-Ec-hinops
nuo (Globe Thistle: seed heads are eaten by Goldfinches end flower heads attract
insects.
Helianthus (Sunflower: seed heads afe eaten by Green6nches. The necar attracts a wide
.
.
tange ofinsecrs.
Lavandula pavender): flowers going to seed aie attractive to Gold6nches'
Primula @olyanthus/Primtose): vellow and orange flowets are atEactive to Spartows,
.
.
Wilcl l)lanrs.
to
you can ptol.ide a haven for wild plants to exist in their own right recteating a wild
.meadow
'u/ild'
nursery
giown
Plants
atftact in;ects rvhich, in tum, atract birds and other wildhfe. We sell
of
garden.
srild
in
a
comer
vout
can
go
so
tlat,r'ou
throughout the 1'ear
.
.
o
.
.
Berony.
Bird's Foot Trefoil.
Common Poppv - seedsare favourite food of Finches.
Field Scabious.
Great€r Knapweed.
.
r
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
N'IeadowCranesbill.
lvfusk l[al.[ow.
Ox Eye Dars)..
Oxlip.
Pdmrose.
Rough Harvkbit.
Self Heal.
Teasel - seed heads are a favourite food of Goldfinches.
Wild Srawberry
l hc i-arvrr.
This is one of the principal soutces of food for birds '*'ho enioJ- feeding on insects including-:Ants
eaten by Gteen woodpeckets; Leatheriackets b,v Starlings; Snails by Song thrushes; Slugs by Toads
and Worms bv Blackbirds, Robrns and Thrushes.
(,rlvcr ancl l)rotcctl<ltt.
40
Homestead,
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survey
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2015
By suttounding yow garden by thick and often pdckly hedging and dotting suitable shtubs around,
you cao provide safe lgsdng b4vens that ate protected &om manuding cats and even the
unwelcome .ttention of rmftiendly hurans.
The most successfulshrubs and trees for this purpose include:.
o
o
r
o
o
r
e
r
Conifets especiallychamaecypads,Taxus Sew) and Thuja Placaa.
Crataegus.
Eleagnus.
Hedem (Ivy) up a ree.
Ligustrum (Privet) especiallyfor Blackbirds.
LonicemftIoneysuckle).
Pittosporum.
Salix caprea(!?eeping Kilmamock Willow).
Vibumum.
Appcndix 10:Native Plane for Bees
Nativeplantsshouldbe -r'ourfusr choiceto hc"lporrrnativcbees.Listedbelorvaresomeplantsthataregrod
sourcc'sofncctar or pollcn tor bccs. Iloth thc commor ;rnd l,adl oamcs of rhc plant gr:nus arc giren. This list
is uot cxhauslivei there are rnanl o rer plarrts grx;rl tirr bces. lodividLral spccies have not been induded
becausc rte hope the list rvill be useful across the Ll.S. N<.rtall ol these gcnera vilJ hare spccies in vour local
area, bur thev do rcprescnt planm rhar vrll grov,' in a varie$' of cnviroruncnts. LTsea wildfl<ru,'crguide or
contact local nursc.dcsto fird 1.out local spccies.
.
r
.
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e
e
o
o
.
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Astcl.'l,r/rr
Black-c)-edSusan Pslbe,kia
Caltrop K itnvcmia
Creosetc bush lr.tza
Cun'ant lUluer
El<let.fumhuuu
(loldenrod.tofidu.g
Ilucklcbctt I ittrinitn
Joe-p1.e rveed linpatoiam
I tpine l,.u|iat.t
Otegcnr grape l3ethait
Penstemot Pet unot
Purplc cotefl<twcr L:,thiaaqu
Rabbir-brusb ( )I4,.,otlutnrul
Rhotfodcn<lron Ntododendnt
SzBe Sah'id
Scorpion-w'eed ltltuc/ir
Snou'lxn)' -lyntphaiuryo.t
Strnccrop .f,,y',azr
Sunflr>rvcr Llelitntltut
\\rild buckvheat fiiagonun
\t ild-lilac Ciuttotltu
4T
February2015
survey
Phase1 Ecological
Homestead,
\\illorv
.l',/rt
Garden plante fot beee
l,brvcr beds in gardens,businesscampuses,and parks are gteat placesto have bee-tricndll'planrs' Native
plauts s.ill createa beautifulgardenbut somepeopleprefcr "grclcn" plants.Ir'lanvgardenplantsate varieties
of native planrs,so this lisr on\- includesplants ftom other countries-"exoiic" plants--andshould be usedas
a supplementto rhe nariveplanr lisr.-\s uith the natir.eplants,this list is trot exhaustive.
.
.
r
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tsasil Odnrun
Cotoncasteraolo|?tl rr
English lavender lzuttdula
Giant hyssop.'lqxlache
Globe rhistlc lihitoPt
Hvssop Ff r:raPr*
ltlatioram Orilunan
Rosemag.Ronniwt
\\!allflo'*'er F'4imtn
Zinnia Zimia
Appendix 11 Othet rccommended epecies
Stendrd aative tlece
Field maple
Field maple
AErMnFtln
Comrnon Alder
Silvet Birch
Aliutt glttirrota
Betrlapndilz
ptfusnrs
Bctula
Catpint bclaltt
Dowrry Birch
Hombeam
SweetChesmut
Beech
Ash
Ash
Common Walrut
Comrnon Larch
Amcarrrm
Ca$ancasatitta
Fagn ghntica
Fruttittrc cxnltior
Frwcinu cxekior
Black Mulberry
ScotsPine
Wild Cheny
Jaglawngia
I-4ix d.ddu
Mons gra
Pin* ghuttrit
Pmnxsavfum
Bird Chetry
SessileOgrk
Pnrr i Padar
ptmttptmea
Peduncllate Oak
Common Whitebeam
paawrnfur
Sorfuiana
Rowan
SorbwaauParit
Sotbtsfuaettiu
ServiceTree
42
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Wild ServiceTree
\0fych Elrn
February
2015
Sorbrctominatit
Ulnn glabm
Native hedgerow
Hawthom
Guelder Rose
Hazel
Cmteagatmongna
VibernunopaLu
Corylas
awllana
Netive Shrubs
Barberry'
Dogwood
Ber*ert aalgdrit
Hazel
Comutungaizea
Corylatanllaru
Ivlidland Hawthom
Cmtacgus
lawigtta
Ha.*thom
Broom
Crataegrcmomgna
Cjtitrcwpius
Spindle
Eaonlmu ewupaeat
Prangtlaalnrc
Hanalus lnPdn
Alder Buckthom
HoP
Holly
Common Pdvet
Honeysuckle
Ilcx aqnJolian
Blackthom
Buckthom
Pmnrctptnota
Field Rose
Dog Rose
Eldet
Rosaamensi.t
Rotarzaiaa
Sanbucarnigra
Ulex ermpaus
Gorse
Wayfaring Trce
GuelderRose
Lignstmn aulgn
Ladinra peritlmewn
Rhamntlscathartica
Vibanam la am
Vibnun opalut
Fruiting rees
Apple'Btamley'sSeedling'
'Cox's
Apple
Self Ferule'
'Early
Apple
Victoria'
Apple James Gneve'
Damson'Merr'.weather'
Mahssp.
Malu rp.
Malartp.
Malasg.
Malu g.
Malu sp.
P*nussp.
Pnansr
darnertita
rp.
Plum Victotia'
Pnut
Peartseth'
U*ttp.
Apple l-arton's Superb'
Apple 'Spartan'
Cherry 'Stella'
domeslitatp.
4t
suNey
PhaseI Ecological
Homestead,
'Conference'
Fig
U*t tP.
Fiac caim
Apricot
Prarut amte au
Almond
Pmnu d$bir
Pear
The above is a sugested list, there may be other varieties.
Fruiting shrubs
Blackcurant
Nbu nigan
Blackberry'
RtbasJfttimra sP.
Nbesutrip
Gooreberry
Raspber4'
Redcurrant
St!a$/berry
Rrfut idacut
Nbcsrubmn
Fmgariax ananara
The above is a sugested List,there are many other altematives'
Ornamental Shrube
Aucubajaponica'Ctotonifolia'
Amelanchiet Canadensis
Buddleia altemifolia
Cdlistemoncittinus'Splendens'
Camellia'Inspiration'
'Alba SimPlex'
Camellia japonica
Blue'
clandonensis'Heavenly
Car,vopsis
Ceanothus'AurumnalBlue'
'Blue Mound'
Ceanothus
Ceanothusthrysifloms rePens
'Aztec Pearl'
Choisya temata
Cistus x corbatiensis
'Si.lverPink'
Cistus
Comus Canadensis
Daphne x butkwoodii
Escdlonia'CdmsonSpire'
'Silver
Euonymus fortunei
Queen'
japonica
Fatsia
Garria elliptica JamesRoof
Hebe x franciscanaBIue Gem'
Hebe 'Mrs li'inder'
Hebe rakienss
'Blue Wave'
Hydnngea macrophvlla
'G
Hy&angea paniculata randiflora'
February
2015
Homestead,
Phase1 Ecological
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February
2015
l{vpericurnx moseranurn
LavandulaangustifoliaVera'
kvcesteria Formosa
Lonicetanitida'Maign-rn'
Ivlahoniaaquifolium
Ivlahoniajaponica
Oleria x haastii
Perovskiaatriplicifohatslue Spite'
Philadelphus'BelleEtoile'
Philadelphus'BouquetBlanc'
'Red
Potentilla
r\ce'
Prunusx cistena
Pytacantha'Orange
Glow'
Pyracantha'So[eld'Or'
RosmarinusofEcinalis
Rubusoderah.rs
Rubusphoenicolasius
Sarcococca
confuse
Skimmiajaponica'Foremanii'
Skimmiajaponica'Rubella'
Spireax bumalda 'Goldflame'
Sl'mphoricarposx chenauldi'Hancock'
Viburnum bodnantense'Dawn'
Vibumum x butkwoodii
Vibumum davidii
V'ibumumopulus'Sterile'
\ribumum pLicatum'Mariesii'
I'ibtnan tinrs
l/ibsnan tinh 'Eve Price'
Wildflowet seeding areas: seed mixtures, Landlife 'Country Lane' mixture and Landlife 6Butterfly
borded mixture. Theee to be supplemented by plug planting of the speciesdefined below.
Landlife Butterfly mixture:
Birdsfoot trefoil
Comflower
Eveningprimrose
Field scabious
Ladysbedstmw
Lesserknapweed
Ox-eyedais.v
Red campion
Foxglor.c
Vipers bugloss
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2015
Landlife Botder mixture:
Agnmon,v
Cow parslev
Foxglove
Hedgebedsrau'
Hedge garlic
Lesserknapweed
Nleadowsu.'eet
Oxevedaisy
Netde leavedbellflou'er
Red campion
St.Johnswort
\\' od avens
Plug plants; 50 each of:
L,esser
knapweed
Kidney vetch
Birdsfoot trefoil
Appendix 12:
Great CreetedNewt Ecology (A Summary)
Like all Bnush amphibians, grent crested newts relv on waterbodies for breeding but other*ise tbey spend
much of their Liveson land (see F-igure1: The ne.r.t year). Some adult great crested ne$Is corunence
mrgration to rheir breeding ponds as earh' as the Frrstfrost-free davs in lateJanuary',but most move later, v'ith
rhe majority reaching rhe ponds by mid N{arch.This mosement, Iilie most ovedand dispersal in the great
crested neul is influenced by a range of factors, notablv evening temPeraturesand rain. Great crested newts
are ectotherms (ie thcy re\.on extemal heat sources to raise their bod1.'temperature to a level that allows
actiriry) and have permeable skins, so most movement occuls when the air tempelatute is above around 5oC
and there is, or has recendy been, rain. Nfovement at night ma'1'reducepredation risk, and certainlv makes
desiccation (dehvdration) lesslikel,v.T'his gradual migration to the breeding pond is in conuast to the shonet
period of mrgration to ponds observed in frop and toads.
'I
he peak coutship and eggJaving period is normallv from mid-lvlarch to rrud-N{a1'.During this time, adult
'dance', w'hich mav result in the female taking
males attract females bv undertaking a compLicatedcourtship
up his sperm (in the form of a packet called a spermatophore) into hcr cloaca. Following this, the female lays
eggs individually. mosdv on r}e leavesof submerged plants. She mav lay'around 200 eggs Per season,ove! a
period of severalweeks. The larvae hatch out after around 3 weeks, and then take another 2 to 3 months to
complete lawal der-elopmeot. Dunng this rime they feed on a range of pre,v,including small crustaceans,fly
larvae, frog and toad tadpoles and othcr newt larvae.
.{dult nests generallv leave the breeding ponds ftom late NIay onrvards, dris dispersal being gradual arrd
ne$ts may ren11noccasionally to feed. Adult males tend to remain in the pond for longer than females.
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Phase1 Ecological
survey
February
2015
Once the lan'ae haue completed metamorphosis (the traosition &om aquatic lan'ae to land-adapted juveniles,
also called efts), thev emerge from the pond This emergencegenerally begins in eatly
August and lasts for around two months. lt then takes between 2 and 4 vears ro reach sexual maturity, during
rvhich rime the immature newts *'ill be largely teffestrial @asedon land). Adults and immature newts spend
the wioter in places that afford protection from frost aod flooding, often underground amongst tree roots, in
mamrnal burrow's, or abor.e gtound under suitable refuges like deadwood or rubble piles. Hibemation may
lasr from October to Februan'.
!(trilst on land and outsideof the hibemationpetiod, geat crestednews requirerefugefrom exttemesof
weathet,meaningthat during the day theywi.[ rest in dcnsevegeration,undet refuges,or undergtound.Thev
will also fonge on land, rakinga rangeof invcrtebrateprcv.
For their size, great crested ne$ts are relatir'-elyIong-Livedanimals. There is often a high monality during the
egg and lan-al stage (indeed, 50o..i'of all cgp dic before hatching due ro a chromosome abnormality), but once
on Iand year to year sun-ival is relatively high. Post meranrorphic grear cresred newts have to{ns in their skins
u'hich make them unpalatable to maov predators, and this mav aid sunival. Exceptionally, adults can live for
over 15 vears, but the majotity will sun-ivc onlv a few rears past sexual maruriry..[uvenile and immatue
animals normallv outnumbet adults considerably, *rough someumes a cohort (the collectivc name for all
animals hatched in a single vear) may be reduced or absent becauseofpoor sun'ival, perhaps due to earl.r'-
ponddrying.
Great crested newts in a given area often form a metapopulation, ie a series of sub-populatioff that are linked
bv dispersal of individuals. This ststem often applies to specieswhich depend oo habitats which var;. rn
qualirl,-over rime, aod n'here the disttibution of suitable habitats mav change. Great crested nesits ofte o
inhabit ponds that are part of a 'pond clusrer', and individuals (and hcnce genes) may movc befween ponds
with raning ftequencl. This ability to shift between locations is beneficial, for example, if a pond were ro
become less suitable for breeding through prolonged droughq as grear crested nerr.tsmav move to newly
created or restored ponds. Small, isolated populations based on a single pond are normallv less lkelt'ro
persist in the long tcrm.'I'o some extenq the merapopularion concept complicatcs the srudv and conse.\,'atron
of this species,since impacts on a single pond may have knock-on effects on ncw'ts in nearby ponds.
Though adult newts often rerum to rhe same breeding sitc. they may also move beween differenr
ponds both within and between years.Adults mav occasionally skip a reproductive seasonin order to mol.e
to a nerv pond. Dispersal to new sites mat thus occur br- both adult and immaturc netts.
However, it would bc wen- unusual for a given pond thar rvas previouslv the centrc of breeding actir.iry for a
r.iablepopulation, ro suddenly'bse'its ncwts (unlessa major catasrophe occutted,such as predatory fish
2015
February
survey
PhaseI Ecological
Homestead,
introducrion). Even if orhcr, good qualiw sites u'ere crcated nearby'it is likell' that a population would remarn
ar rhe original sire, but rhat some dispersa.lwould occur tesulting in brecding in the new ponds.
Great crested neuts har.e been found to move over considerable distances (up to l.3km from breeding sites).
However, the vast majoriq,' of newts urill inhabir an area much closer to the pond, and the exact distribution
and migration pattems of oewts on land depends on a varieh o[ facton. The qualiry of terresuid habitat near
to breeding ponds is imporrant, as are the lack ofbarriers to dispersal (such as fast-flowing rivers, or very
-fhe
distriburion of ponds and hibemation oppom.rnities mat' also influence movements. Onlv
busy roads).
deta.iledsunev at a given site will rel'eal the direcdon and amount ofdispenal that occuts, Several studies
har.e been conducted $'hich reveal a grear deal of variation, but gleat crested newts commool-v move bet*'een
ponds that arc u'ithin around 250m of each other.
To summarise habitat requiremenrs, great crested newts require u'aterbodies to be able to reproduce
effectively, and these are Spicallv ponds. Various tvpes of ponds are used; most cornmonl1 medium sized
ones, such as field ponds, clav pits, mad pits, moats, Iarge ditches and quarrl'ponds. Great ctcsted nevts are
mosr commonlv fourrd in lowland. neutral ro high pl I ponds, v'hich are rvell-vegetaredand not too shaded
Ponds that occasionally d4. our in summcr, even if this kills lan'ae, mav still be suitable The presence of
predatorl Esh and a high deosity of warerfowl reduces the value of ponds, often to the point where they will
not be used for breeding. Ponds not used bv great crested neu'ts for breeding can still be of importance for
the population as thet ma,vsupport prel (for instaoce, temporan: ponds uscd bl frogs mav be visitcd b,vadult
ncwts). Terrestrial habitats are required for feeding, dispersal and hibemation, and trpicallv this would include
'wasteground' or quarn' floors. The kev factors seem to be the
grassland,scmb, \loodland. hedgerou's,
ar.ailabilin of ptev speciescombined with the presence of dense gound vegetation or voids in tle substrate
ro allor.refuge; shelters on t}te surface, such as logs and rocks, are also valuable. Great crested newts often
occur in metapopuladons, so connecdons betw'eenponds (and betwecn populations more distant) are also
uTrPorranr,
Note rhat populations will be influenced by factors such as altirude, \,eather, geology, vegetation aod
disrurbance. For instance, it is knovn that at some sites, low numbers of adults remain in the pond to over
vinter, and that i1 some populations (particularly in cool, upland, low nutrient areas)lan-ae regularly
overwinter, ro emcrge the follow-ing spnng
The upper r\a.odiaffams show the changesin the numbers of nerts found in dre breeding pond
and in the surrounding rerresrial habitat. The thickness of the bar indicates the proponion of individuals; a
tlotted line indicates that small numbers of individuals follow this pattem at some sites.The lower diagram
illusyates the riming of key actir.itiesin the ne*t life clcle based on npical, lowland, central England activiry.
Figure t
Upper two diagrams modified after BHS (1996).
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2015
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Phase1 Ecological
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FEB MtR IPR N.iTYJUN JUL tUG SEP OCT NOV OBC
POI{D
EOGS
LARVTE
I I\4IIATURES
AI'IJLT'
LAIID
JW!+ \4113
ADULTS
KEYACTIVITIES
I
||ltiianqr
lclJll
atlli6Ela
E.
loa-laYltl6
UtvAL ciswl|{ +
D!VELO"CNT
at!!l
r,iEaallorl
Fio$ tot{o
iflltiattFlF]!r
JUrt||LtgaeRAno{
JAN FE MARAPRT,IAYJUTIJUI AuG 6EP OCT NOVOEC
(tinglish Nature, (20()l) (irear Crcsted Net't Nfitigation (iuidelincs)
49