Stonehill Quarry, Off Kings Cliff Road, Yarwell ... · Annexure 2 - Letter and revised Phase I Habitat Plan (Whitcher Wildlife) Stonehill Quarry Supplementary Planning Statement August

Stonehill Quarry, Off Kings Cliff Road,

Yarwell, Northamptonshire

Importation of Inert Material for

Restoration of Stonehill Quarry

Supplementary Planning Statement

August 2016

Stonehill Quarry Supplementary Planning Statement

August 2016

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Contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Amended Restoration Detail ........................................................................................................... 2

3. Ecological Management Plan (Lake Margins) ................................................................................. 3

Annexures Annexure 1 – Drawings;

Drg No S22/15/04 Rev B (Restoration Plan) Drg No S22/15/05 (Topographical Survey)

Annexure 2 - Letter and revised Phase I Habitat Plan (Whitcher Wildlife)


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1. Introduction

In December 2015, a planning application was submitted to enhance the biodiversity and 1.1.

natural capital balance of the former Stonehill quarry site by importing suitable inert

materials over a 4 year period to enable the calcareous grassland and complementary

habitats to be created on the land in question which is essentially a poorly restored quarry

located in the north-east extremity of the County.

In the interim period, operations have continued including limited extraction of limestone 1.2.

in the eastern sector of the site. A decision has now been made by Mick George Ltd not to

undertake any further “mineral extraction” at the site and as such that element is no longer

part of the application (although existing processed mineral stockpiled will be removed

from site). The regraded area (where this most recent mineral extraction activity has taken

place) will remain undisturbed other than for any minor remodeling of the landform sought

by the appropriate nature conversation bodies.

In July 2016, additional clarification was sought by Northamptonshire County Council in 1.3.

respect of more details of the proposals affecting the eastern extremity of the site.

Accordingly, an up-to-date topographic survey has been carried out and is contained within

Annexure 1. From this detail, the locations of Ponds 2 and 3 have also been better plotted

and the restoration plan (Drg No S22/15/04 Rev B) modified accordingly.

A further question posed related to the Phase I Habitat Survey Plan. A revised plan and 1.4.

explanatory letter have been provided by the consultant ecologist (Whitcher Wildlife) and

they are contained within Annexure 2.

The current planning application encompasses in part areas of planning permission 1.5.

(12/00078/MINFUL) granted in January 2013. Whilst the earthworks associated with that

permission are complete and the approved Ecological Management Plan (required by

Condition 10 of Consent 12/00078/MINFUL) awaits to be fully implemented (awaiting the

determination of this current application).

The implementation programme of that approved scheme have been amended (i.e. seeding 1.6.

works to be implemented by Spring 2017) and for avoidance of doubt, the general

principles of that approved scheme is repeated in Section 3 of this Supplementary

Statement.


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2. Amended Restoration Detail

As it is now proposed to exclude any future limestone extraction from this current 2.1.

application, the area in question to the east of Pond 2 has been regraded and the contours

and those of the adjoining undisturbed habitat are shown on Drg No S22/15/05. Moreover

Drg No S22/15/04(A) has been amended to reflect this same detail. This regraded area

integrates with the adjoining land with a gentle west facing slope leading down to the lake

margins of Pond 2.

Drg No S22/15/05 identifies the extent of undisturbed habitat around the eastern and 2.2.

south-eastern extent of the site which includes sections of historic quarry faces, grasslands

and a small area of self-set birch.

The “regraded” area consists of bare ground which will be ripped and allowed to naturally 2.3.

regenerate or be sown with a calcareous grassland mix.

If required additional small hollows can be created to provide seasonally damp areas to 2.4.

provide further diversity of habitat within this eastern margin of the site.

The restoration detail of the remainder of the site (from Pond 3 westwards) is unchanged 2.5.

from that previously submitted.


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3. Ecological Management Plan (Lake Margins)

In March 2013 an Ecological Management Plan was approved for the previous scheme 3.1.

involving the enhancement of Ponds 1, 2 and 3 on site. Whilst the earthworks associated

with that approved have essentially been completed, the final habitat creation measures

await to be implemented. Accordingly, that scheme has been amended to incorporate the

revisions to the restoration detail of the site as a whole and is repeated below.

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

GENERAL 3.2.

3.2.1 Ecological management of the lake margins involves:

Identifying the broad goals for a site (the objectives);

Identifying the management needed to achieve them (management prescriptions

and work programmes).

SITE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 3.3.

3.3.1 With all the information considered and the calcareous grassland sites present in the

locality, the objectives for the lake margins of Ponds 2, 3 and 4 are as follows: (The

emergent vegetation around Pond 1 has developed and requires no further

enhancement)

To establish an herb-rich grassland (with dominant calcareous species) on the

restoration soils to reduce the risk or erosion on slopes;

To achieve a suitable habitat for Dingy Skipper (Butterfly Conservation, n.d_, using

the dominant larval food plant for the species: Birds Foot Trefoil (Lotus

corniculatus);

To achieve a mosaic of vegetation structure and species over the site to provide

improved habitat for a wider variety of invertebrate species;

To provide a wider range of ecological features at the site, such as stone/rubble

piles;

To provide suitable conditions for and establish areas of emergent aquatic

vegetation and marshy grassland on the edges of newly created lakes; and

To manage the wetlands at the lake margins to encourage a range of species, such

as amphibians, mammals, aquatic insects and birds.

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

This section describes how the management objectives will be realised as part of the

landscape restoration and the statutory 5 year aftercare of the margins of the

waterbodies but its principles can be equally applied to the remainder of the wider site.


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GRASSLAND HABITATS 3.4.

3.4.1 Table 1 below provides information on the proposed management to be implemented in

relation to the management objectives of the ecological management plan (EMP) relating

to grassland habitats around the established waterbodies.

Management Prescription 1 (MP1)

EMP Objectives 1 - 3

Target UK BAP Habitats / Species

Lowland Calcareous grasslands, Dingy Skipper

Potential Constraints Potentially unsuitable soil conditions through variable sources of importation

Timing The grassland should preferably be sown in April or September, dependent on timing of ground works.

Responsibility MG Ltd will be responsible for sowing and initial establishment, then management responsibilities will be passed on to the landowners.

Details

Following ground preparation, a mix suitable to the locality and soil conditions will be selected and sown in the areas. (Birds’ foot-trefoil will be included to benefit Dingy Skipper and other invertebrates (Butterfly Conservation, n.d.).

In the first two years of establishment and weeds such as Creeping Thistle and Nettle can be cut or spot treated with herbicide, this is important to stop the spread of weeds before grassland has been established.

Once grassland is established it should be cut in the initial establishment phase (end of June, July and the end of September).

The grass will be cut to a height of 75mm, but in other areas, i.e. adjacent to the pond, a buffer of grassland should be left and only cut twice per year in May and September to 10-15cm height to protect any emergent invertebrates or amphibians.

Arisings will be removed from the mown areas to reduce fertility and encourage a diverse range of plant species to become established.

Areas that don’t take with seed in the first year can be left to improve habitat diversity for invertebrates.

In subsequent years, mowing will take place two times a year, one early cut to reduce weeds in June and another cut in August or September.


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3.4.2 An example Grass Seed and Wildflower Mix (Emorsgate Seeds, 2013) is EM6 – Meadow

Mixture for Chalk and Limestone Soil. This rich mixture is suitable for sowing onto thin

lime-rich soils of low fertility and with a significant chalk or limestone content. Sowing

EM6 directly onto exposed chalk or limestone can produce some of the most interesting

results; establishment will be slower than on well developed soils, but less management

will be needed.

Wild Flowers

% Latin name Common name

0.5 Achillea millefolium Yarrow

1 Anthyllis vulneraria Kidney Vetch

0.5 Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed

2 Centaurea scabiosa Greater Knapweed

1 Daucus carota Wild Carrot

0.2 Filipendula vulgaris Dropwort

1 Galium verum Lady's Bedstraw

2 Knautia arvensis Field Scabious

0.4 Leontodon hispidus Rough Hawkbit

1.5 Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy

0.3 Lotus corniculatus Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.2 Origanum vulgare Wild Marjoram

0.5 Pimpinella saxifraga Burnet-saxifrage

0.4 Plantago media Hoary Plantain

2.2 Poterium sanguisorba - (Sanguisorba minor) Salad Burnet

1.5 Primula veris Cowslip

1 Prunella vulgaris Selfheal

2 Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup

0.3 Reseda lutea Wild Mignonette

1.5 Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious

Grasses


2 Briza media Quaking Grass (w)

32 Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dogstail

22 Festuca ovina Sheep's Fescue

http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/1















































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16 Festuca rubra

Slender-creeping Red-fescue

1 Koeleria macrantha Crested Hair-grass (w)

6 Phleum bertolonii Smaller Cat's-tail (w)

1 Trisetum flavescens Yellow Oat-grass (w)

Aquatic Habitats 3.5.

3.5.1 Table 2 below provides information on the proposed management to be implemented in

relation to the management objectives of the ecological management plan (EMP) relating

to aquatic habitats over the 5 year statutory aftercare period.

Management Prescription 2 (MP2)

EMP Objectives 4 - 6

Target UK BAP Habitats / Species

Open Water, Dingy Skipper

Potential Constraints

None

Timing Various

Responsibility MG Ltd will be responsible for construction works, sowing, (where appropriate) and initial establishment, then management responsibilities will be passed onto the landowners.

Details

A range of water depths will be provided on the edges of the lakes, within the engineering constraints of the scheme with permanent water and the shallow areas maximised, to benefit biodiversity.

Where possible natural colonisation will be encouraged at on the lakes and any wetland planting will take place in areas that may need more vegetation. Native species appropriate to the degree of wetness likely to be experienced throughout the year will be selected.

Common Reed (Phragmites australis) will be planted within select area of the water margins if not established naturally.

Creation of 4 no. rock piles approximately 1m by 1m (built with rubble available at the site) around Pond 2 and Pond 4 (where the water levels are more stable) will be created to establish additional habitat for amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates.

The vegetation will be subject to occasional cutting or removal of vegetation in the autumn/winter as necessary to keep the area of open water to no more than 80%. This should be undertaken on the autumn/winter to avoid disturbance to any amphibians or breeding birds.











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Cut material should be removed from the pond and removed off site.

MONITORING

MONITORING PROGRAMME 3.6.

3.6.1 The monitoring program will comprise of habitat and species monitoring during the 5

year aftercare period.

MONITORING OF HABITATS 3.7.

3.7.1 The aim will be to monitor the establishment of the areas sown to grassland and planted

with aquatic vegetation. Once the habitats have been created or the new management

regime has been commenced for existing habitats, annual surveys including quadrat-

based vegetation sampling and photographic records, will be carried out in May and

August. This will be undertaken in year 1, 3 and 5 of the aftercare period and a record

made.

3.7.2 The monitoring of the grassland areas will comprise of the establishment of twenty 2m

quadrats at suitable points across the restored grassland areas. A species list for the

habitat will be created and photographic record made.

MONITORING OF SPECIES 3.8.

3.8.1 Incidental records of all fauna species including mammals, butterflies, birds etc. will be

noted during each year during the habitat monitoring visits.

3.8.2 For butterflies and invertebrates a transect route will be chosen and walked during

suitable weather, recording all butterflies. To be carried out May, July and September in

year 1, 3 and 5 of the aftercare period.

Reporting 3.9.

3.9.1 For the two years that monitoring will take place, a report of results including botanical

results and photo monitoring will be included. This report can be submitted to the local

authority.

3.9.2 Any records of protected and notable species will be sent to the Northamptonshire

Biological Records Centre and the National Biodversity Network as appropriate.

Timing of Operations 3.10.

3.10.1 The following table provides details of the timing of operations and ecological

management proposals of the Site.


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Timing of operations

TASK PROSPOED DATE FOR OPERATION

Ground preparation

October 2016

Seeding April 2017

Grassland cuts

In first year when established cut end of June, end of August and the end of September.

Grassland around lakes cut twice only May and September.

Construction of hibernacula

October 2016

Aquatic vegetation clearance

Where necessary if vegetation is becoming too dominant- Autumn/Winter.

Monitoring habitats

May and August 2019 and 2021

Monitoring fauna

May, July and September 2019 and 2021.

Annexure 1

Drawings

Drg No S22/15/04 Rev B – Restoration Plan

Drg No S22/15/05 – Topographical Survey

Annexure 2

Letter and Revised Phase I Habitat Plan

(Whitcher Wildlife)

Documents

Stonehill Quarry, Off Kings Cliff Road, Yarwell ... · Annexure 2 - Letter and revised Phase I Habitat Plan (Whitcher Wildlife) Stonehill Quarry Supplementary Planning Statement August