Project: Proposed Gravel Extraction at a Site off the A46 Close to the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Border
Client: Private Client
August 2007 - June 2008
Background
EMEC Ecology provided a range of ecological surveys prior to the submission of a planning application for gravel extraction at a site near Newark-on-Trent.
Ecological Surveys Undertaken
Initially, an ecological assessment of the entire site (including the route of a proposed access track as well as the location for the proposed gravel extraction) was undertaken. This included a desk study, an extended phase-1 habitat survey and the assessment of the habitats present for their potential to support protected / notable species.
Following this initial ecological assessment, evidence of and suitable habitat for a range of protected / notable species was identified within the vicinity of the proposed works and further survey work was recommended and subsequently undertaken.
Further survey work included:
- A badger survey of the woodland, where small number of outlier badger setts were found close to the route of the proposed access track.
- A bat activity survey, carried out by walking a series of transect routes across the site. The general bat activity recorded was low, although some mature trees with features potentially used by roosting bats on a transient basis were found on the route of the proposed access track.
- A great crested newt survey of several ponds across the site. A small population of great crested newts was found within one pond, which occurred immediately adjacent to the proposed access track.
- A reptile survey, during which a small number of grass snake were recorded.
- A water vole survey of a ditch that will be crossed by the proposed access track. No evidence of water vole was recorded.
Mitigation
Due to the presence of badgers, great crested newts and reptiles within the site, specific mitigation was designed in order to ensure legal compliance and reduce the chances of harm to these legally protected species.
Badgers - In discussion with the client, the access track was re-routed in order to ensure that it avoided the area surrounding the badger setts and to reduce the chances of disturbance to the setts. The re-routing also avoided mature trees with features potentially suitable for roosting bats.
Great Crested Newts - A variety of mitigation options were agreed with the client in order to safeguard the population of great crested newts. This included restrictions on night working during the spring when newts are more likely to be moving, installation of amphibian fencing in order to prevent transgression of materials or machinery into the habitats likely to be used by newts and avoidance of terrestrial habitats likely to be used by newts. It was also agreed that mitigation would include a new pond to be constructed within the site and improvements would be made to existing ponds in order to increase their suitability for great crested newts. A monitoring period of three years was also recommended in order to determine the success of the proposed mitigation.
Reptiles - It was determined that the habitat used by reptiles would be maintained within the site and other habitats would be improved in order to encourage their use by reptiles. Additionally, any works on the edges of the suitable habitats would be appropriately timed in order to avoid harm to the grass snakes present and would aim to allow the reptiles to move out of the working area naturally.
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