Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester Biodiversity Enhancement and ... · Spring 2016 12 Weed treatment to hedges and 'burnet meadow' 3 visits April-May Summer 2016 13 Weed treatment to hedges

Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester

Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan

(BEMP)

Partner Construction

Report EE-P-005-01

November 2014

Report Title:


Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan (BEMP)

Report Reference:

Revision number

EE-P-005-01

Written by

Peter James Brooks BSc (Hons) MA MCIEEM CEnv

Director

Technical review:

Robert Weston BSc(Hons) MSc MCIEEM

Director

Approved for issue

Robert Weston BSc(Hons) MSc MCIEEM

Director

Date

10.11.14

Ecological Estates Ltd

Unit A, 1 Station Road, Guiseley,

LEEDS LS20 8BX

Phone 01943 879129 Registered in England Number 899701

VAT 181351325



November 2014 Ecological Estates Ltd

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Contents

Introduction 3

Aims 4

Responsible Parties 4

Period 4

Objective 1 - Protection of hedge and grassland areas 5

Objective 2 - Successful reinstatement of moved section of lane side hedge 6

Translocation Method statement 6

Objective 3 – Managing the lane side hedgerow for wildlife 9

Objective 4 – Wildflower meadow creation and management 10

Timescale ________________________________________________________________13




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Introduction

This document is produced to assist with the discharge of condition 21 for the proposed

development of Land at Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester. A landscaping (habitat creation and management) scheme shall be submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for

approval in writing, subsequent implementation in full and maintenance thereafter. The scheme shall demonstrate

compensation for losses of wildlife habitat, and shall include retention and/ or replacement of native hedgerows (to be

managed for the benefit of biodiversity), sufficient provision of replacement bat habitat (including replacement foraging

habitat and roosting opportunities), the provision of replacement bird nesting habitat and details of the translocation of

great burnet.

Ecological Estates is a Specialist Ecological Management Company (SEMC) run by highly

experienced professional ecologists with over 40 years cumulative experience of habitat

enhancement design, management and monitoring.

Ecological Estates has been set up to provide confidence that habitat enhancement schemes -

central to sustainable development, can be delivered. Ecological Estates has the expertise to

design and manage appropriate schemes and crucially to monitor results, allowing for

appropriate and timely intervention where objectives may not be on track.

Documents referred to

This report refers to:

• Jennings Design Associates Drawing 808 A 003

Aims

To re-instate sections of roadside hedgerow affected by development, and ensure all

hedgerows are managed to the benefit of wildlife.

To maximise the long term value of wildflower planting both in terms of floral diversity and

attendant invertebrate and bat foraging value. To make an attractive habitat enjoyed and

valued by the owners.




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Responsible Parties

In-perpetuity: Habitats within the site: Registered Provider’s (RP)

Road side hedge: Registered Provider’s (RP)

Establishment period (five years): Registered Provider’s will be responsible of the establishment

of habitat at the site, in delivering and demonstrating this they are likely to employ a SEMC

approved by RVBC.

/

Period

This plan covers a 5 year establishment contract. It is designed to be adopted and continued in-

perpetuity by the RP.




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Objectives

Objective 1 – Protection of retained hedges

Prior to site clearance and construction hedgerows to be retained will be fenced to

BS5837:2012. The fence identified by a red dashed line below will be retained until construction

is complete. An existing wire stock proof fence will be retained to protect the recently planted

existing hedge on the northern boundary.

Figure 1 fencing location




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Objective 2 - Successful re-instatement of lane side hedge

January-March 2015

The lane side hedge will be removed to create required visibility splays. This will be cut down in

the dormant season. Selected sections of round timber will be retained on site to create dead

wood habitat. The brash shall be chipped for use on site as a fungi habitat around the hedge

base.

Soil from the hedge rhizosphere will be mounded around a planting trench created for 'Ready

Hedge'.

The hedge specified is http://www.readyhedgeltd.com/readybag.htm

• 50 % Mixed Hedge (Thorn/Sloe/Spindle/Hazel/Maple) and

• 50% Hawthorn.

Planted in alternating blocks.

This will be planted in the prepared trench and the soils backfilled and firmed. The hedge will

then be watered to field capacity and a final raking of soils be carried out. The hedge will be

staked according the grower’s recommendations.

The hedge will be protected behind post and rail fences fitted with rabbit proof fencing.

The hedge will be regularly watered over the first growing season, sections of hedge failed due

to drying shall be replanted in the first winter after the death of plants has been confirmed.

Where individual plants have failed bare root 1+1 transplants will be used.




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Once the hedge is in place, a 30cm deep trench will be dug 500cm in front of it. This will assist

with drainage and create a differing hedgerow base niche, suited to moisture loving plants

invertebrates and amphibia.

Soils in land between the newly planted hedge and the lane will be re-levelled and cultivated,

then seeded with Emorsgate seeds EH 1 or approved equivalent.

Sections of timber from the removed hedge will then be placed the rear of the hedge to create

a dead wood habitat, a 1m wide strip under the planted hedge will be mulched with the

chipped wood.




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Objective 3 – Diversifying retained hedges

Retained hedges will be ‘gapped up’ and diversified by planting a standard staggered double

row hedgerow comprising:

Hazel (Corylus avellana), Alder (Alnus glutinosa), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), honeysuckle

(Lonicera periclymenum) and dog rose (Rosa canina).

To facilitate successful establishment overhanging mature vegetation on the retained hedge

will be ‘sided up’ to allow light into the gap compartment.

The planted sections will be protected by rabbit proof fencing and be subject to standard

establishment management of glyphosate or hand weeding.




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Chipped material from the road side hedge shall be spread on the ground beneath the hedge

and seeded with:

• Red campion (Silene dioica)

• Cowslip (Primula veris)

At 2g per m2

Deliverable 1 - Hedgerow protection / re-instatement completion certificate to RVBC

Objective 4 – Managing hedges for wildlife

Re-instated Hedge year 1 to 2

The hedge will be managed according to the supplier’s instructions over the first two years.

Re-instated Hedge year 3 in perpetuity

The hedge will be left to grow to full height to reinstate the former wildlife corridor.

The lane side shall be cut so as to maintain safe sight lines avoiding the main bird nesting

season (March to July)

Retained and enhanced hedges

Access to manage these hedges is not possible due to them falling within garden boundaries.

Each home owner will however be given a letter setting out how to manage the hedge for

wildlife. This letter is presented in appendix 1 of this report.




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Objective 5 – Establishing a Burnet Meadow

To create a small area of meadow with showy wildflowers once typical of this area - identified

below.




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Winter 2015

As works are due to commence in winter 2015 the great burnet on site is not likely to be visible

and available for rescue. However an attempt to locate it will be made by a skilled ecologist.

Where they are found they will be lifted in hand cut turves and removed for propagation

through division in spring. The plants will be cared for by Ecological Estates Ltd or approved

SEMC until the landscaping plot is available to receive the plants.

Should it be evident that the plants cannot be found 50 pot grown plants of UK provenance will

be sourced.

Autumn 2016

To ensure that the landscaping plot is enjoyed and engaged with by the site users it will be

diversified through the partner seeding of showy flowers suited to the local conditions with a

range of flowering times:

• Melancholly thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum)

• Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)

• Water avens (Geum rivale)

• Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)

• Greater birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)

• Oxe eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

• Bistort (Persicaria bistorta)

• Meadow rue (Thalictrum flavum)

• Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratensis)

Sown at 5g m2 on ground cultivated to a fine tilth, raked and rolled.

The plot will be protected from accidental damage by a low bird mouth rail or equivalent

visually permeable barrier.

Deliverable 2 - Meadow planting completion certificate to RVBC

Management during establishment to year 5

Unless the SEMC monitoring suggests otherwise, herbicide will not be used in these areas but

management shall comprise hand weeding or topping of none target weed species, or

competitive native species which are a threat to the initial establishment of the flora. Species

to be removed include grasses and forbs listed in Table 1 below:




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Table 1: Competitive weeds to be controlled during establishment Scientific English

Cirsium arvense Creeping thistle

Cirsium vulgare Spear thistle

Chamerion angustifolium Rosebay willowherb

Arctium spp. Burdock

Chenopodium vulgare Mugwort

Senecio jacobea Ragwort

Galium aparine Cleavers

Urtica dioica Nettle

or as determined by appointed SEMC

Cutting

The meadow will be left uncut until early September when the arisings will be raked and

removed from site.

Habitat Monitoring

Twice - yearly monitoring visits will be carried out in year 1 and 2 to assist with the targeting of

variations to management. Annual visits will be applied in years 3-5.

Monitoring will be carried out by Ecological Estates or the approved SEMC. The professional

ecologists employed by them will be able to make a qualitative judgement as to the need to

vary management to suit the objectives stated above.

Triggers for variation in management include the;

• proliferation of scrub and competitive weeds in non-target areas;

• reduction in the diversity of the habitat

• failure of sown and planted stock

Deliverable 3 - End of 5 year establishment period

There will be a report by the SEMC setting out the condition of the features subject to this

plan in Year 5. This will aim to show the successes of the work and if necessary be candid

about where things have not gone as well as anticipated, setting out what lessons can be

learned for other similar sites and setting out what the HOMC needs to do with the site at

handover.




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Summary of Dates / Sequence of Events

January 2015

1 Pre-start great burnet survey/ rescue

2 Pre-start hedgerow protection in place

3 Plant lane side and gap up retained hedges

4 Seeding of hedge bases

5 Deliverable 1 issued to RVBC

March/April 2015

6 Divide and propagate rescued great burnet

7 Water and weed the re-instated hedge

Spring-Summer 2015

8 Water and weed the re-instated hedge

Autumn 2015

9 Cultivate seed and plant the ‘burnet meadow’

10 Plant great burnet

10 Erect bird mouth rail of equivalent barrier

11 Deliverable 2 First monitoring report

Spring 2016

12 Weed treatment to hedges and 'burnet meadow' 3 visits April-May

Summer 2016

13 Weed treatment to hedges and 'burnet meadow' 2 visits June-August

Autumn 2016

14 Cut burnet meadow rake and harrow.

On (relevant) plot occupation

15 Provision of homeowner letter (see appendix 1)

Spring-Autumn each year to 2017-2020

16 Monitoring visit, weeding as necessary and restocking if viable

17 Deliverable 3 to RVBC and handover.

If start dates changes get an SEMC to review dates and sequence and shape to fit.




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Appendix 1 - Homeowners' Hedgerow Letter