Rising Sun, Scaffold Hill Great Crested Newt Report

Transcription

1 Rising Sun, Scaffold Hill Great Crested Newt Report April 2011 Final

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3 Client Job Name Report title File reference Northumberland Estates Rising Sun, Scaffold Hill Great Crested Newt Report _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Signed Name Position Date Originated Kate Kennedy Ecologist 29/07/10 Reviewed Steven Betts Partner 05/08/10 Revised Steven Betts Partner 13/04/11 ISSUING OFFICE: The William Elder Building Castlegate Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1JT TEL: FAX: Web: Offices in: Bakewell, Oxford, Berwick-upon-Tweed & Monmouth Registered in: Cardiff No. OC Registered address: Arden House Deepdale Business Park Ashford Road Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1GT Members: A list of members is available at each office.

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5 Report Contents 1 Introduction Site Description Proposed Works Aims of Study Methodology Desk Study Field Survey Survey Methods Survey Areas Habitat Suitability Index Habitat Assessment Results Desk Study Field Survey Torch Survey Egg searches Bottle Trapping Survey HSI Assessment Population Size Class Assessment Habitat Assessment Assessment Constraints on Study Information Legislation Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Potential Impacts Habitat Loss Habitat Gain Proposed Mitigation and Compensation Mitigation Compensation Summary of Habitat Losses and Gains References Appendix 1: Plan of bottle trap locations for each pond _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc i

6 1 Introduction 1.1 Site Description Scaffold Hill Farm and associated land is situated to the north and west of the Rising Sun Country Park visitor centre. The site for the proposed works (outlined in blue in Figure 1 below), is situated to the east of the A191 at Benton, north of the A1058 from Battle Hill and south west of the A19 at Silverlink. The site is accessed via a road that leads south-east off the A191 and which terminates at the Rising Sun Country Park s visitor centre. The central grid reference for the site is NZ Figure 1: Proposed development site. Ordnance Survey Crown copyright All rights reserved. Licence number: _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 1

7 1.2 Proposed Works The proposed development site at Scaffold Hill is currently at the masterplanning stage. The emerging masterplan includes the following core elements: A new area of development in the northern half of the site. A new County Park in the southern half of the site. A green network that links the two areas and provides further green links that extend beyond the site boundary. The new area of development will comprise a village green hub with residential areas around this. A linear park will run from north to south through the middle of the residential area, and this will provide a link with the Country Park to the south. Proposals for the southern part of the site include a garden centre in the south-west corner, a camping and caravan site, a formal play area, a pony trekking centre and a sculpture park. A significant proportion of the Country Park will be given over to habitat enhancement and creation to provide an area that supports diverse biodiversity interest. This area will be designed to accommodate some of the species that have been found within the site during the various baseline surveys that have been carried out. 1.3 Aims of Study Baker Shepherd Gillespie has been commissioned by The Northumberland Estates to undertake a great crested newt Triturus cristatus survey of the ponds within the proposed development site at Scaffold Hill. The aim of the study is to determine the presence or likely absence of the species and, if present, to undertake an assessment of population size. The results of the surveys have been used to assess the potential impacts that may arise from the proposed development and hence to determine whether a European Protected Species Licence will be required for any aspects of the proposed development _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 2

8 2 Methodology 2.1 Desk Study A detailed desk study was undertaken, which involved contacting the following consultees to obtain historical records for the site and the surrounding area: Northumberland Wildlife Trust EYE project Environment Agency A search for protected and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species was also undertaken using the National Biodiversity Network database ( The Natural England designated sites database ( was also searched to gather details of designated sites within the search area. 2.2 Field Survey Survey Methods Great crested newt surveys were undertaken in accordance with best practice guidelines (English Nature, 2001). Three survey methods (egg searches, torch surveys and bottle trapping) were used during a total of six visits to each survey location. Surveying was undertaken at all waterbodies within the study site that were considered to have potential to support great crested newts. Surveys were undertaken between the 5 th May and 8 th June 2010 inclusive. Table 1: Survey details Visit No. Date Personnel Weather 1 12/13 th April 2010 Dr Vicky Armitage Cool, clear, light wind Alan Salkilld 2 28/29 th April 2010 Dr Vicky Armitage 7/8 cloud cover, light wind, warm Kate Kennedy 3 12/13 th May 2010 Alan Salkilld Clear sky, dry, still Kate Kennedy 4 24/25 th May 2010 Dr Vicky Armitage Cool, slight breeze, light rain Amanda Bell 5 9/10 th June 2010 Alan Salkilld Overcast, occasional rain John Thompson 6 15/16 th June 2010 Kate Kennedy John Thompson Dry, 4/8 cloud cover, still Bottle Trapping Bottle traps were positioned along the margins of each waterbody at approximately 2-5m intervals adjacent to aquatic vegetation that could be used by newts for egg laying. The bottle traps were angled downwards such that, in accordance with best practice guidelines, a bubble of air became incorporated in the receptacle. The bottle traps were left overnight and inspected the following morning. Any newts present were identified and a note made of the number and sex of any newts captured. Garden canes were used to secure the traps in place and were marked with flagging tape in order to locate traps more easily in heavily vegetated areas. A plan of each pond showing where the bottle traps were set is presented in Appendix _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 3

9 Egg Searching This method involved a systematic inspection of submerged and floating vegetation around the margins of waterbodies for signs of egg-laying by great crested newts. As newts lay their eggs in folds of vegetation the presence of eggs is relatively easy to determine. The search was conducted with care in order not to damage the eggs or the aquatic and marginal vegetation. Results from egg searching were only used to indicate presence/absence, and not used for population estimates. Torchlight Surveys Torchlight surveys for newts were undertaken shortly after dusk and involved the surveyor walking slowly around the accessible perimeter of each waterbody, scanning the water area using a high-powered spot lamp. A record was made of the number of newts revealed by the torch beam and the species present. Particular attention was paid to marginal vegetation and open areas where mating displays may take place Survey Areas A total of five waterbodies were surveyed and the locations of these waterbodies are shown on Figure 2. Each waterbody is described in detail below. A schematic plan of each pond is provided in Appendix 1. Pond 3 Pond 1 Pond 4 Pond 2 Pond 5 Figure 2: Location of ponds Pond 1 (NZ ) Pond 1 is located off the main track that s leads from A191 to Scaffold Hill Farm. The pond is bordered by a road and hedgerow. It was approximately 12m by 5m in area and is thought to be ephemeral in nature. At the time of the survey it consisted of a pool of clear water within a dip in the field, and is thought to have formed following a period of high rainfall. It contained no submerged or emergent aquatic vegetation: only terrestrial grassland species were present. Over the course of the surveys this pond dried up. The absence of aquatic plants supports the view that this is probably an ephemeral waterbody. Pond 2 (NZ ) Pond 2 is located opposite the riding school buildings within a small plantation. The pond contains some aquatic macrophytes and algae but is surrounded on three sides by hawthorn bushes. Consequently about 40% of the pond area is shaded _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 4

10 Pond 3 (NZ ) Pond 3 is located at the bottom of a field used as a horse paddock. The pond appears to have poor water quality, possibly as a result of livestock poaching. There is a grass island within it and hawthorn trees surround it but no aquatic macrophytes were evident. This pond had dried up by 24 May Pond 4 (NZ ) Pond 4 is located at the end of the track leading from the riding school, next to an electricity pylon. The pond contained a dense cover of bulrush Typha latifolia (about 45% cover) but there were no other aquatic macrophytes present. The pond has no trees surrounding it so shading is minimal. This pond had dried up by 24 May Pond 5 (NZ ) Pond 5 is a large pond built when the nearby housing development was constructed. It is the largest pond within the site, measuring approximately 80m by 30m. The water was quite turbid at the time of the survey and there were patches of reedmace Typha latifolia at the western end of the pond. Areas of compact rush Juncus conglomeratus and soft rush are also present around the shallower margins of the pond. The edges of the pond are bordered with large stones and there is a shallow sloping banks. A drainage ditch is present to the east of the pond and this runs into a drainage ditch that borders the adjacent residential area Habitat Suitability Index The ponds identified within the site were assessed for their suitability to support great crested newts by examining each pond using the following evaluation criteria (Oldham et al, 2000): Geographic location Pond area Pond permanence Water quality Pond shading Number of waterfowl Occurrence of fish Pond density Proportion of newt friendly habitat Macrophyte content The evaluation method proposed by Oldham involves the calculation of a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) by combining scores for each of the above variables. A score is derived for each variable using data and graphs presented by Oldham. These are then combined to obtain an overall score for the pond between 0 and 1 with a score of 1 representing optimal conditions. Whilst Oldham s method provides a useful tool for evaluating a pond s suitability for great crested newts, the results needs to be treated with caution as the method was derived using ponds from the English Midland s. However, when used in conjunction with other factors the calculation of HSI scores provides useful supplementary information to help assess the potential value of a pond for great crested newts Habitat Assessment The habitat within the site was assessed to determine its suitability for great crested newts. Habitat suitability was determined by considering the complexity and uniformity of the vegetation, the cover afforded to amphibians by the vegetation, and the extent of disturbance and management activity that takes place. Using this approach the habitat has been graded using the following system: _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 5

11 Red habitats considered to have high value for great crested newts, i.e. habitats with complex vegetation structure that are relatively extensive, provide good cover for amphibians and low levels of disturbance. For example, coarse tussocky grassland, scrub, marshy grassland. Amber habitats considered to have moderate value for great crested newts, i.e. habitats with a simple vegetation structure where the vegetation area is relatively small and where some disturbance may occur occasionally. For example, a managed hedgerow with a simple ground flora. Green habitats considered to have low value for great crested newts, i.e. habitats with a basic uniform vegetation structure and which are subject to high levels of disturbance or management intervention. For example, arable farmland. By grading the habitats in this way it has been possible to prepare a map that shows the quality of the terrestrial habitat for amphibians. This in turn has been used to identify potential dispersal routes and corridors for amphibians within the site. This assessment has been cross-referenced to the survey data collected within the site together with the results of the desk study _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 6

12 3 Results 3.1 Desk Study The Northumberland Wildlife Trust hold records of two ponds within 3km that are known to support populations of great crested newts: Swallow pond (NZ300696), which is located approximately 140m south of the site, and Hadrian Park Pond (NZ311696), which is located 25m south east of the site. A report by Kevin O Hara prepared for the Northumberland Wildlife Trust includes a record of adult great crested newts and eggs being found in Pond 2 (see Section 2.2.2) during surveys carried out in July 2005 (NWT, 2005). Details from the data search of the National Biodiversity Network Database are shown in Table 2. The records obtained from NBN all date from the period 1981 to 1986 with no recent data available. The records all relate to Hadrian Park Pond, which is located outside the site boundary to the east near the A19. Table 2: Results from the National Biodiversity Network Database Common Name Latin Name Date Grid Ref. Distance from site Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1981 NZ m E Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1983 NZ m E Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1986 NZ m E Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1983 NZ m SE Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1983 NZ m E Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 1984 NZ m E 3.2 Field Survey Torch Survey Two great crested newts were observed during the 6 survey visits that were made to the site. A female great crested newt was recorded in Pond 4 during the second visit on 28 th April 2010 and a female great crested newt was recorded in Pond 5 during the third visit on 9 th June In addition small numbers of and palmate newts were recorded in many ponds during at least one of the survey visits Egg searches During the survey carried out in 2010 great crested newt eggs were only found in Pond 4: no eggs were found in any of the other ponds that were surveyed at this time. It is noted that great crested newt eggs had previously been found in Pond 2 (see Section 3.1) Bottle Trapping Survey Only one great crested newt was caught during the bottle trapping survey, and this was a female newt in Pond 5. A summary table of the peak adult counts of newts (all species) observed during each survey visit in each survey area is presented below in Table _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 7

13 Table 3: Survey data for all ponds within the site Survey Visit Method Pond 1 Pond 2 Pond 3 Pond 4 Pond 5 Visit 1 Torch - 1 male - 9 male 1 female Bottle male Visit 2 Torch - 1 male palmate - 1 female GCN 4 male Bottle - 1 female - 2 male Visit 3 Torch female GCN 4 female 3 male Bottle - 2 female - 1 female 3 female palmate Visit 4 Torch Bottle male Visit 5 Torch female 3 male Bottle No traps were set as the pond had become too dry 1 female Visit 6 Torch Bottle No traps were set as the pond had become too dry 1 female GCN 3 female HSI Assessment Habitat Suitability Index scores have been calculated for all five of the ponds that have been surveyed for great crested newts. In Table 3 below the results of the HSI assessment are presented for each of the ponds/waterbodies highlighted above (using the method described by Oldham et al, 2000). Oldham (2000) reported that for the ponds included in his study 0.43 was the lowest HSI recorded for ponds where breeding great crested newts were present. The highest HSI value that he recorded was 0.96 for ponds where breeding great crested newts were present. A high score suggests that the pond is likely to be good for breeding newts. A low score means that the pond is of lower quality but this does not preclude newts from being present _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 8

14 Table 3: HSI calculations HSI criteria Pond 1 Pond 2 Pond 3 Pond 4 Pond 5 SI1 - Location SI2 Pond area SI3 - Pond drying SI4 - Water quality SI4 - Shade SI6 - Wildfowl SI7 - Fish SI8 - Ponds SI9 - Habitat SI10 - Macrophytes HSI Pond 5 had the highest HSI score but all of the ponds surveyed had similar HSI scores, which were in the middle of the range within which Oldham et al (2000) recorded breeding great crested newts Population Size Class Assessment Ponds 4 and 5 were the only ponds to have great crested newts present and this species was present in very low numbers. A single female was noted in Pond 4 during the second survey (28 th April 2010), and by survey four (24 th May 2010) this pond had dried out. Two female great crested newts were recorded during the third and sixth surveys in Pond 5. During the survey carried out by The Northumberland Wildlife Trust in July 2005, great crested newt eggs were found in Pond 2. Eggs were found during the 2010 surveys in Pond 4 therefore both of these ponds could be considered to be breeding ponds. It is not known how many adults of eggs were found in Pond 2 by NWT but the survey evidence collected in 2010 indicates that this pond is no longer used by newts or that they are present in very small numbers. The same is also true for Pond 4. Pond 4 One female great crested newt was recorded in pond 4 and this pond had dried out by the fourth survey visit. These results indicate a population of great crested newts of a small size class (English Nature, 2001). Pond 5 Two female great crested newts were recorded in pond 5 during survey visit 2 and 5. This indicates a population of great crested newts of a small size class (English Nature, 2001) Habitat Assessment The results of the habitat assessment indicate that the proposed development site is dominated by arable land or poor semi-improved grassland that is considered to be of low value for great crested newts. The existing species-poor hedgerows that are present along some field boundaries may provide potential dispersal routes for newts, although these habitats are collectively assessed as only having moderate value for newts due to their width and the structure of the hedgerow and ground flora. Habitat of high value for newts is located along the eastern side of the site and provides a link between Hadrian s Pond and the new pond created to the south-east of Scaffold Hill farm, both of which are known to support populations of great crested newts. This higher value habitat follows the course of a small stream that flows along the eastern boundary of the site _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 9

15 The results of the desk study and the great crested newt surveys support the broad conclusions of the habitat assessment. During the surveys carried out in 2010 the only great crested newts found within the site were at the new pond located to the south-east of Scaffold Hill farm and at the small ephemeral pond located to the north-east of Hadrian s Pond. In both cases only small numbers of newts were recorded and in the case of the small ephemeral pond, this had dried up by 24 May 2010 (see Figure 2, ponds 4 and 5). The results of the habitat assessment for newts are presented on Figure 3 below. It is over 300m from Hadrian s pond to the nearest part of the proposed development site, and most of this area is poor habitat that is considered unlikely to support amphibians. The high value terrestrial habitat encroaches to within 150m of the development site, but the linking habitat comprises an intact but species-poor hedgerow with a track along the eastern side and an arable field along the western side. This feature is considered to provide limited habitat connectivity. Figure 3: Habitat evaluation for newts: red high value habitat; amber moderate value habitat; green low value habitat; blue water features. Ordnance Survey Crown copyright All rights reserved. Licence number: _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 10

16 4 Assessment 4.1 Constraints on Study Information The field survey was carried out at the most appropriate time of the year and under suitable weather conditions in accordance with published guidelines of best practice (English Nature, 2001). A combination of three survey methods (egg searches, torch surveys and bottle trapping) were used on each of the survey visits, but it was not possible to complete 6 survey visits at all ponds as some of them had dried up before the surveys were completed. In pond 4 bottle traps were not put out around the whole of the pond edge as some of the areas were not considered to be suitable for breeding great crested newts. However these areas were surveyed by torch. 4.2 Legislation Great crested newts are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000) and under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations Taken together, these make it an offence to: a) deliberately captures, injures or kills any wild animal of a European protected species, (b) deliberately disturbs wild animals of any such species, (c) deliberately takes or destroys the eggs of such an animal, or d) Damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of such an animal, or intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place that a great crested newt uses for shelter or protection. e) Intentionally or recklessly disturb a great crested newt while it is occupying a structure or place that it uses for shelter or protection. f) Deliberately disturb a great crested newt in particular any disturbance which is likely - to impair their ability; (i) to survive, breed, reproduce or to rear or nurture their young; or (ii) in the case of hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or - to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong. The great crested newt is also identified as a species of principal importance for conserving biodiversity in England in accordance with Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act As such, the presence of this species is a material consideration for any planning authority when considering proposals for development, in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 9: Biological and Geological Conservation (PPS9). Under PPS9 this means that measures should be implemented to protect, maintain and enhance their conservation status, where present, as an integral part of any development proposal Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Nature Conservation PPS9 encapsulates the Government s national policies on protection of biodiversity and geological conservation through the planning system. Policies in PPS9 are taken into account by local planning authorities in preparation of local planning documents and when making decisions on individual planning applications. The aims of PPS9 are to conserve sites of biological and geological value, protect species, promote sustainable development, conserve, enhance and restore the diversity of England s wildlife and geology and contribute to rural renewal and urban renaissance. To achieve this, plan policies should promote opportunities for the incorporation of beneficial biodiversity designs within developments and the avoidance of harm through planning decisions. Where this cannot be achieved impacts should be mitigated or compensation provided _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 11

17 4.3 Potential Impacts Habitat Loss The proposed development could potentially impact on all of the ponds identified within the site. Ponds may be lost if they are located within the footprint of any proposed construction works, but it is also possible that impacts may occur as a result of interruption of hydrological pathways, in particular surface water. This could lead to ponds drying up completely or more frequently than they do at present. Pond 1 This is possibly an ephemeral pond that is located 450m from Swallow Pond, which is the nearest known breeding pond. However, this pond is located approximately 270m from Pond 2, which was previously considered to be a breeding pond (see below). It is likely to be lost either to accommodate the development or through the interruption of surface water. It is poorly connected with the nearest ponds by good quality terrestrial habitat. Pond 2 This pond will be retained along with the adjacent buildings. The report by Kevin O Hara (NWT, 2005) came to the conclusion that this was a breeding pond for great crested newts. However, no great crested newts were found during the surveys carried out in Whilst this pond is not likely to be lost to accommodate the development, there will be loss of terrestrial habitat around this pond, which could impact on newt populations. Pond 3 possibly an ephemeral pond located 340m from Pond 4, which is the nearest known breeding pond. However, this pond is located approximately 150m from Pond 2, which was previously considered to be a breeding pond (see above). It is likely to be lost either to accommodate the development or through interruption of surface water. It is poorly connected with the nearest ponds: it is surrounded by arable land and pasture and is poorly connected via existing hedgerows. Pond 4 This pond, which will be retained, is known to support a small breeding population of great crested newts. It is located 330m from Hadrian s Park Pond, which is the nearest known breeding pond for great crested newts. There are currently reasonable habitat links between these two ponds, comprising a broadleaf woodland strip alongside the A19, an intact hedgerow and semi-improved grassland with scattered scrub. These habitat links will be maintained with Hadrian s Park Pond but there will be the loss of terrestrial habitat to the north, west and south of pond 4. Pond 5 This pond, which will be retained, is known to support a small population of great crested newts. It is located 300m from Swallow Pond, which is the nearest known breeding pond for great crested newts. It is also located just over 300m from Pond 2, which was previously considered to be a breeding pond (see above). Habitat links will be maintained between this pond and Swallow Pond to the south and Pond 2 to the north-west. Terrestrial habitat around the pond will be maintained and enhanced Habitat Gain The proposed development will include extensive habitat enhancements in the area to the south of Scaffold Hill Farm. This area will be landscaped to create a range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats that will have a positive impact on great crested newts. Ponds will be created that will be linked with existing ponds to create a network of habitats designed to encourage population expansion. As part of the drainage infrastructure for the proposed development a series of ponds will be created in the south-east corner of the site near Wallsend Dene. Although the ponds will be linked, this will be done by a swale or equivalent, which will dry out at times of low rainfall. Whilst some of the ponds will remain permanently wet, it is intended that other ponds within the sequence will dry out during periods of low rainfall, i.e. they will be ephemeral in nature _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 12

18 It is intended that the new ponds will not have fish introduced to them, but it is acknowledged that this cannot be guaranteed due to natural (accidental) introductions or through deliberate introductions by anglers. The creation of ephemeral ponds will therefore help to ensure that some aquatic features retain suitability for great crested newts. It is also intended to create a series of ponds that will be completely isolated hydrologically, thereby reducing the risk of fish being introduced. To deter anglers from moving fish between ponds it is proposed to introduce dense landscape planting to create a barrier between adjacent ponds (whilst providing terrestrial habitat for a range of species). As previously noted, links will be maintained with Hadrian s Park Pond and Swallow Pond, both of which are known great crested newt breeding ponds. A vegetated corridor will be maintained along Wallsend Dene, which runs along the eastern boundary of the site. This corridor will be enhanced to create a mosaic of floodplain habitats that will provide a link between Hadrian s Park Pond to the north-east and Swallow Pond to the south-west. The remaining habitat within the Country Park will comprise pasture fields surrounded by hedgerows and associated field margins. Whilst grazed pasture will provide limited foraging or sheltering opportunities for great crested newts, the hedgerows and field margins will be managed in such a way that they will enhance habitat connectivity for this and other species. Whilst habitat creation for great crested newts is focussed on the Country Park area, it should also be noted that the development site to the north will include green corridors with associated Sustainable Urban Drainage schemes that could also benefit great crested newts. The green corridors have been designed to maintain a degree of habitat connectivity across the site _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 13

19 5 Proposed Mitigation and Compensation 5.1 Mitigation As the proposed work is likely to impact upon aquatic and terrestrial habitats used by great crested newts, it will be necessary to obtain a European Protected Species Licence (EPSL) to permit derogation of current wildlife legislation protecting this species. An EPSL with respect to great crested newts will be obtained prior to the work commencing. As part of the licence application, a mitigation strategy will be devised to ensure that there are no impacts on great crested newts as a result of the proposed works. The strategy will set out mitigation and compensation measures that will need to be adopted to ensure that there is no net loss of newt breeding and terrestrial habitat. Impacts on great crested newts will be minimised by adopting the following broad mitigation measures: by carrying out the works at an appropriate time of the year; by retaining great crested newt habitat within the southern part of the site; by retaining and enhancing the great crested newt population in ponds 4 and 5; by translocating newts from the development site to new habitat areas prior to work commencing. Exclusion fencing will be erected around the boundary of the working area and a trapping and translocation programme will be implemented to ensure that the working area is cleared of all great crested newts. This will be carried out in strict accordance with guidance published by Natural England (2001). 5.2 Compensation As previously noted, the creation of a diverse range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats within the southern part of the site will benefit the great crested newt population (see Section 4.3.2). This includes the creation of a range of permanent and ephemeral ponds linked by terrestrial habitat that will provide foraging and sheltering opportunities for great crested newts. Once habitats have been created a programme of habitat management will be carried out to benefit great crested newts, including: The introduction of aquatic vegetation to new ponds; The management of aquatic vegetation in ponds; The clearance of shading tree or scrub cover around pond margins; De-silting and clearance of leaf fall within ponds as required; These measures will ensure that the conservation status of great crested newts will be maintained and enhanced by creating a series of high quality habitats with habitat links that will be maintained within the local area. These habitat links will extend as far as the neighbouring Hadrian s Park Pond and Swallow Pond, both of which are known to support great crested newts _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 14

20 5.3 Summary of Habitat Losses and Gains In the northern part of the site, which is where residential development is proposed, the predicted habitat losses are as follows: Poor semi-improved neutral grassland - 5.3ha Arable farmland ha Species poor hedgerow - 72m Habitat creation within the northern area (as shown on drawing 86072/8018 rev A Habitat Plan Residential), specifically the green spine area running along the existing hedgerows and along the boundaries, will be as follows: Retained hedgerow 982m Proposed native woodland planting 2,099m 2 Proposed scrub planting 5,925m 2 Proposed Hadrian s Hedge (planted) 556m 2 Proposed wildflower grassland 41,656m 2 Proposed water feature pond (SUDS) 679m 2 Proposed seasonal water feature 380m 2 Proposed marshland 411m 2 The summary of habitat creation presented above does not include amenity grassland areas, ornamental shrub planting areas or specimen trees. It is estimated that the following areas of habitat will be removed from the country park area in the southern part of the site: Poor semi-improved neutral grassland - 5.5ha Arable farmland - 8.2ha Species poor hedgerow - 5m Habitat retention and creation within the southern area (as shown on drawing 86072/8017 rev A Habitat Plan Country Park) will be as follows: Existing woodland / scrub 26732m 2 Existing water feature 4983m 2 Existing hedge 3455m Proposed woodland planting-native 38,341m 2 Proposed field boundary / ditch 3073m Proposed grazing / pasture 74,643m 2 Proposed wildflower / meadow 334,972m 2 Proposed amenity grassland 11,804m 2 Proposed stone wall (gabions) 815m Proposed water feature pond 8,090m _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 15

21 6 References English Nature (2001) Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines-August 2001 Northumberland Wildlife Trust (2005) The Status of the Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) throughout the Borough of North Tyneside. A Survey for Presence and Absence, Summer 2005/06. A report carried out by Kevin O Hara, Northumberland Wildlife Trust on behalf of North Tyneside Council Oldham, R.S., Keeble, J., Swan, M.J.S. and Jeffcote, M. (2000) Evaluating the suitability of habitat for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), Herpetological Journal, Vol.10, pp _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 16

22 7 Appendix 1: Plan of bottle trap locations for each pond Pond 1: 8 traps set Pond 2: 6 traps set Grass and algae N This pond was a pool of clear water within a dip in the field and is thought to have formed following a period of high rainfall. It contained no submerged or emergent aquatic vegetation: only terrestrial grassland species were present. A total of 8 traps were set along the northern and southern edges. The pond contains some aquatic macrophytes and algae but is surrounded on three sides by hawthorn bushes. Therefore the number of bottle traps that could be put out was limited by the accessibility of the banks. N Pond 3: 5 traps set Pond 4: 16 traps set Rushes and grasses Rushes and grasses N The pond appears to have poor water quality. There is a grass island within it and hawthorn trees surround it but no aquatic macrophytes were evident. A total of 5 traps were set along the southern edge but no further traps were set as access around the pond was limited by overhanging shrub vegetation. This pond had dried up by visit 4. The pond contained a dense cover of bulrush. The entire pond margin was sampled using bottle traps with the exception of a small area where the vegetation was too dense to permit traps to be set. This pond had dried up by visit 4. N _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 17

23 Pond 5: 40 traps set N A total of 40 bottle traps were used along the western and northern sides of the pond where dense vegetation was present. No bottle traps were deployed in those areas where there was no vegetation present as these areas were considered to be poor for great crested newts. The area not covered by bottle traps was covered by the torchlight survey _n013_final GCN rep_kk_ap.doc Page 18