Dormouse Method Statement

Transcription

1 , Northamptonshire A Report on behalf of April 2013

2 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this Method Statement 1.2 Site Background 1.3 Dormouse Ecology & Legal Protection 2.0 Methodology 2.1 Tool Box Talk 2.2 Hedge Coppicing & Removal 3.0 Results 3.1 Hedge Coppicing 4.0 Conclusions REFERENCES FIGURES 1 Location of the Five Hedge Crossings APPENDICES 1 Reference Dormouse Photograph

3 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of this Method Statement The purpose of this Method Statement is to ensure that the measures set out within the Ecology Chapter of the Environmental Statement (see Sections , & Table 8.12) are met and that there will not be a contravention of legislation. As stated within the Ecology Chapter (Sections , 8.6.7) a fingertip search is to take place at each of the four hedgerow crossings by a licensed Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius worker, and a to avoid killing and harm and contravention of legislation is to be produced (Table 8.12). As noted within Section 8.26 of the Planning Officer s report to Planning Committee (Application Number: S/2011/1421/MAF), Natural England have raised no objection to the scheme subject to conditions to secure the post construction monitoring and Dormice protection outlined in the applicant s ES. Subsequent to the Planning Officer s report, the scheme design has altered and an additional break of c.8m of a managed flailed hedgerow will be required to provide access. An updated scheme design incorporating this additional cutting is currently before the Council, this method statement will apply to the amended scheme should it be approved by the Council. This Method Statement has been written by Dr John Knight CEnv MIEEM and Dr Tessa Knight MIEEM. Both Dr.s J and T Knight are licensed Dormouse surveyors and have held development licences for this species. 1.2 Site Background An Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey was undertaken on site from 28 to 29 May 2009 and from 13 to 14 April No records of Dormice were provided within the desk study. The nearest NBN Gateway website record of Dormice is within Salcey Forest from 2004, c.2.1km east of the site and separated from the site by the M1 motorway. Construction phase impacts on Dormice are considered unlikely and are limited to five (previously four) hedgerow crossings to provide site access. Recent research has shown that Dormouse are capable of crossing non-corridor habitat, including roads (Chanin 2011). Following discussions of results with Caroline Harrison, Natural England, on 10 January 2011,

4 it was agreed in principle that a Dormouse tube survey would not be required, and as a precautionary approach a fingertip search would take place at each of the four (subsequently increased to five) proposed hedgerow crossings by a licensed Dormouse worker, prior to the commencement of construction. 1.3 Dormouse Ecology & Legal Protection The Dormouse is a predominantly arboreal species that has declined both in range and numbers across the UK, largely as a consequence of habitat loss or fragmentation arising from changes in woodland management (such as the reduction in actively coppiced woodland) and an increase in intensively managed hedgerows. Partly as a consequence of this, the species is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the CRoW Act 2000) and the EC Habitats Directive 1992, which in the UK is enforced by the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (the Habitats Regulations ) consolidates and updates the Conservation (Natural Habitats & c.) Regulations 1994, though the level of protection afforded to Dormice remains the same. Dormouse is a priority species under the UK BAP, and is listed under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act Taken together, it is an offence for anyone to deliberately capture, injure or kill Dormice, and it is an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure used by Dormice for shelter or protection or to disturb an animal whilst occupying such a structure. 2.0 Methodology 2.1 Tool Box Talk At the time of production of this Method Statement, four of the five hedgerow crossings had already been made under the supervision of Dr J Knight. Whilst the probability of recording Dormice within the hedgerows due works is considered unlikely, as a precautionary approach, immediately prior to the works commencing on the four hedges, on site operatives were given a tool box talk by Dr J Knight setting out basic Dormouse ecology, their legal protection within the UK, and what actions should be taken in the event of them being recorded during works. Due to the legal protection afforded to Dormice all works relating to the removal of each of the four hedgerow sections were undertaken on 27 and 28

5 February 2013, under the direct supervision of Dr J Knight, a licensed Dormouse worker (see Section 2.2 below). A tool box talk will be carried out prior to commencing works on the fifth hedge break. The remainder of site works will be contained within either arable or managed grassland and no potential impacts on Dormouse are considered within these areas. However, as a purely precautionary approach, all construction site operatives will be given a tool box talk with regards Dormice, informing them of basic Dormouse ecology (a photograph of Dormouse is included as Appendix 1), their legal protection within the UK, and what habitat is present on site that could support this species and the associated importance of not accidentally impacting on such habitat (i.e. damaging woodland or hedgerows on site). A copy of this Method Statement is to be kept within the Site Manager's office as a reference copy together with contact details for Dr J Knight, and referred to in the extremely unlikely event that Dormice are recorded during any unsupervised works on site. 2.2 Hedge Coppicing & Removal As discussed above, Natural England have agreed that as a precautionary approach, prior to the commencement of construction, a fingertip search would take place at four of the hedgerow crossings by a licensed Dormouse worker. This element of the work was carried out for four of the five hedge crossings on 27 and 28 February 2013, under the supervision of Dr J Knight. Dr Knight undertook a detailed fingertip search of each of the four hedgerows, including their base, prior to works and then oversaw the coppicing (via chainsaw) of each section of the four hedgerows. Following this the base of each coppiced hedge was re-checked by Dr Knight for evidence of Dormice. The results of this element of the work are discussed in Section 3.1 below, though to summarise no evidence of Dormouse was recorded. Each of the four hedgerows were coppiced to a height of 10-15cm in the first instance. This will be followed by the grubbing out each section of hedge at a later stage. The reasoning behind undertaking the coppicing in February 2013, is that it would significantly reduce potential impacts on breeding birds, as it was undertaken outside of the breeding bird season (generally accepted as being from March to August).

6 A fingertip search by Dr J Knight of the base of each of these four coppiced hedge crossings and any regrowth will take place prior to the grubbing out of the hedge base. Precise timing for this element of the works has yet to be agreed. A toolbox talk by Dr J Knight to site operatives will precede these works. The fingertip search method will also allow for the recording (though considered unlikely) of other protected species, namely reptiles and amphibians. No works have yet to be undertaken with regards the fifth hedge crossing (Hedge 5 on Figure 1). A fingertip search by Dr J Knight of the hedgerow and its base will take place prior to the cutting of the hedgerow using chainsaws and the grubbing out of the hedge base using a mechanical digger. A toolbox talk by Dr J Knight to site operatives will precede these works. This method will also allow for the recording (though considered unlikely) of other protected species, namely reptiles and amphibians. 3.0 Results 3.1 Hedge Coppicing On 27 February 2013, Dr J Knight supervised the coppicing of two hedgerows at the southern section of the site (Hedges 3 and 4 on Figure 1) and on 28 February oversaw the coppicing of two hedgerows in the northern section of the site (Hedges 1 and 2 on Figure 1). As discussed above a fingertip search of each section due works was carried out in the first instance by Dr Knight who then gave a tool box talk to site operatives (one worker for the southern two hedges, two workers for the northern two hedges). Following this Dr Knight supervised the coppicing and subsequently carried out a second fingertip search of the base of each cutting for evidence of Dormice. Photographs of each of the four hedges that had sections coppiced are included below, and their locations are shown on Figure 1. A photograph of the fifth hedge that is due works is also included below and its location is shown on Figure 1.

7 Photo 1: Hedge no. 1 pre-works. Photo 2: Hedge no. 1 coppiced.

8 Photo 3: Hedge no. 2 pre-works. Photo 4: Hedge no. 2 coppiced.

9 Photo 5: Hedge no. 3 pre-works. Photo 6: Hedge no. 3 coppiced.

10 Photo 7: Hedge no. 4 pre-works. Photo 8: Hedge no. 4 coppiced.

11 Photo 9: Hedge no. 5 due works (approximate c.8m section circled in red). No standard trees within the hedgerow will require any cutting / clearance. 4.0 Conclusions Given the works already successfully carried out to date, and that a tool box talk to the works team, a fingertip search by a licensed Dormouse worker, and subsequent supervision of all works to the five hedgerows, will be carried out by Dr Knight, it is considered that works will adhere to current legislation, and comply with the agreement reached with Natural England regarding a suitable site works methodology.

12 REFERENCES Bright P., Morris P., & Mitchell-Jones T. 2006: The Dormouse Conservation Handbook. 2 nd edition. English Nature, Peterborough. Chanin, P. 2011: Underpasses for dormice? The dormouse monitor. 12.

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14 APPENDIX 1 REFERENCE DORMOUSE PHOTOGRAPH Dormice can be easily distinguished from mice by its long, fluffy tail (see above photo). Dormice have large eyes and bright golden fur on its back and a pale, cream-coloured underside. Its tail length is approximately 5.5 to 8cm. They are principally nocturnal. This species is fully protected by law (see Section 1.3).