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Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge

Ecology Report

Produced for Bidwells

By Applied Ecology Ltd

September 2013

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Dr Duncan

Director

APPLIED EC

St. John's ICowley RoCambridgeCB4 0WS Tel: 01223 Fax: 01223Mobile: 07Email: info

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27/09/20

30/09/20

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COLOGY LTD

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Applied Ecology Ltd Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge – Ecology Report

30 September 2013

Contents

1 Introduction 1 Background 1

2 Habitat and Plants 2 Survey Approach 2 Survey Findings 2

3 Protected Animal Species 5 Survey Approach 5 Survey Findings 5

4 Conclusions 10

Tables Table 3.1: Details of ponds located within 250m of the site 6

Figures Figure 2.1: Habitat map 3

Figure 2.2: Habitat photo‐sheet 4

Figure 3.1: Locations of ponds 7

Figure 3.2: Building photo‐sheet 9


30 September 2013


1 30 September 2013

1 Introduction

Background

1.1 Applied Ecology Ltd (AE) was appointed by Bidwells in September 2013, to undertake an extended Phase 1 habitat survey of an area of land (6.42ha) located off Wilberforce Road, Cambridge (central Ordnance Survey grid reference TL 43434 58822).

1.2 The site is a roughly square land area (c. 260m x 245m) divided into a western third and eastern two thirds by a mature hedgerow with trees. The eastern two third is dominated by amenity grassland turf used for rugby, football, cricket and tennis. Three hard surfaced tennis courts, a Pavilion and an adjoining house are present in the southeast corner of the field. The western third is divided in half, with the southern half consisting mostly of hard surfaced tennis courts used by the Cambridge Lawn Tennis Club and the northern half a field of improved grassland.

1.3 The following report provides a summary of the results of a Phase 1 habitat and walkover survey of the site undertaken by AEL on 23 September 2013.


2 30 September 2013

2 Habitat and Plants

Survey Approach

2.1 A Phase 1 habitat survey of the site was undertaken by AEL on 23 September 2013. All habitats present were classified and mapped according to standard Phase 1 habitat survey categories1.

2.2 Notes were made of the key habitats, and where appropriate a list of the plant species present and an estimate of their individual relative abundance was recorded according to the DAFOR scale.

Survey Findings

2.3 The Phase 1 habitat survey map is shown by Figure 2.1, and representative habitat photographs are provided in Figure 2.2.

2.4 In summary, the site is dominated by species‐poor short sward amenity grassland dominated by perennial rye‐grass Lolium perenne (Photo 1) and hard surfaced tennis courts (Photo 2), both habitats of negligible ecological value.

2.5 The internal north‐south hedgerow boundary comprises a species‐rich hedge of elm Ulmus species, elder Sambucus nigra, hawthorn Crataegus monogyna, blackthorn Prunus spinosa, wild and garden privets Ligustrum vulgare and L. ovalifolium, and frequent mature trees mainly of a grey poplar Populus species, but also of oak Quercus robur (Photo 3). A number of old rotten stumps were present along the hedgerow and could be of potential value to dead wood invertebrates, such as stag beetle. The western boundary hedge is of similar species composition overall, and supports a couple of mature oak, but lacks the frequent standard poplars of the internal boundary (Photo 4).

2.6 The field in the northwest of the site consists of an improved grassland field (Photo 5). The field had been recently mown in advance of the site visit, but the dominant species appeared to be perennial rye‐grass and red fescue Fesuca rubra, together with occasional creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, dandelion Taraxacum agg. and yarrow Achillea millefolium. A small orchard of mature, but not ancient, apple Malus domestica and pear Pyrus communis trees is present in the northwest corner of the site, with a shaded ground layer of mainly ivy Hedera helix and ground‐ivy Glechoma hederacea (Photo 6).

1 JNCC (1993) Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey – A technique for Environmental Audit. JNCC. Peterborough.

Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge - Ecology ReportFigure 2.1: Habitat map

Area: 6.420ha (15.87ac)

2

2

1

7

1

10

THE LAWNS

PERRY COURT

Tennis CourtsD

FB

21

12.2m

3

9

87

LB

FB

11

15

38

36

30

14

11

12

Pond

Post

Path

Dra

in

12.9m

11.5m

11.1m

GA

RD

ENS

Pavilion

BM 12.24m

El Sub Sta

Cycle Path

Club House

STACEY LANE

STACEY LANE

Tenn

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Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

Tennis Courts

WIL

BE

RF

OR

CE

RO

AD

N

Key

Amenity grassland Buildings

Improved grassland Species-poor hedgerow

Tall ruderal Species-rich hedgerow with trees

Orchard

Hard-standing, including hard surfaced tennis courts

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Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge - Ecology ReportFigure 2.2: Habitat photo-sheet

Photo 1 Photo 2

Photo 3 Photo 4

Photo 5 Photo 6


5 30 September 2013

3 Protected Animal Species

Survey Approach

3.1 A walkover survey of the site was completed in conjunction with the habitat survey in order to record any incidental sightings of protected animal species. In the absence of such evidence, the potential value of the site in this respect was assessed on the basis of the habitats present, their extent and connectivity to the wider landscape.

3.2 An external inspection of the buildings within the site was also undertaken as part of the walkover survey. The inspection of buildings for evidence of bats can be conducted at any time of the year according to best practice survey guidance produced by the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT)2. However, finding evidence of bats (e.g. their droppings) on external areas that are unprotected from rainfall may be restricted if undertaken outside of the main bat‐active season and/or after periods of wet weather, as any evidence of bat presence may have been washed away. The current survey was undertaken within the bat active period and following a period of relatively dry weather and so that evidence of bats would have expected to be visible on external building surfaces.

3.3 The current survey included a ground level external building using a high‐powered torch and binoculars, as necessary. Evidence of building use by roosting bats was searched for, including droppings, urine staining and grease marks associated with exit and entry points. Any evidence and/or features of potential value to roosting bats were noted.

Survey Findings

Overview

3.4 In general terms, the site is of limited value to protected animal species as it is dominated by intensively managed short sward amenity grassland and hard‐standing. The protected species issues that require consideration in relation to future development of the site are breeding birds, great crested newt and bats. These are discussed in turn below.

Breeding Birds

3.5 The site is of relatively low value to breeding birds and aside from the likely presence of relatively common garden birds in hedgerows and trees, the presence of uncommon species or notable assemblages of birds is considered very unlikely. The removal of hedgerow, shrubs or trees (if necessary) would however need to be undertaken outside of the bird breeding period (over the period September – February, inclusive) in order to avoid killing and/or injuring nesting birds.

2 Bat Conservation Trust (2012) Bat Surveys – Good Practice Guidelines – 2nd Edition. Bat Conservation Trust, London.


6 30 September 2013

Great Crested Newt

3.6 The locations of all ponds referred to below are shown by Figure 3.1. No ponds are located within the site, but four ponds are shown to be present within 250m of the site according to the 1:25,000 OS map (labelled ponds 1‐4).

3.7 Unrelated great crested newt (GCN) survey and assessment work was completed by AEL in 2007 and highlights the presence of five additional ponds within 250m of the current site (labelled ponds 5‐9). A summary of the relevant information relating to these ponds is presented in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1: Details of ponds located within 250m of the site

AEL pond ref. and grid ref

Distance from site

Pre‐2007 GCN information Results of AEL 2007 GCN surveys as part of unrelated work

1. TL 43141 58738 130m ‐ Pond not surveyed.

2. TL 43213 58670 60m ‐ Pond surveyed, and no evidence of GCN found. Smooth newt and stickleback present.

3. TL 43329 58672 20m ‐ Pond surveyed, and no evidence of GCN found. Smooth newt and stickleback present.

4. TL 43698 58753 130m ‐ Pond surveyed, and no evidence of GCN found. Stickleback present.

5. TL 43687 58734 130m Two GCN found during torch survey completed by Cambridge Wildlife Trust (CWT) on 2 April 2005. No GCN found by CWT on 16 March 2004, 5 April 2005 or 29 March 2006.

Pond surveyed, and no evidence of GCN presence found. GCN captured from Pond 7 as part of EPS mitigation in 2007 were placed in these ponds.

6. TL 43664 58720 120m

7. TL 43676 58701 130m ‐ Pond surveyed. The pond consisted of a derelict swimming pool and was found to support a large population of GCN. We believe the pond has since been cleared of GCN and dismantled under an EPS development licence, and a new replacement pond created in the garden.

8. TL 43369 58955 5m In 2007, CWT and/or Cambridge Natural History Society reported that a pond in the garden of 4a Hedgerley Road supports GCN.

Pond not surveyed.

9. TL 43345 58956 ‐ TL 43361 59030

0‐75m As above, it was reported that a pond in the garden of 5 Hedgerley Road supports GCN. The precise location of the pond is not known.

Pond not surveyed.

Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge - Ecology ReportFigure 3.1: Loca ons of ponds within 250m

Key

Site boundary

Pond

Pond - precise loca on not known

?

N

43

2

1

89

7

65

?

250m


8 30 September 2013

3.8 GCN are known to be present locally and are likely to be present in ponds located within 250m of the current site. In particular GCN are reported to have been present in ponds 5, 6, 8 and 9, although the current status of these populations is not known. It is possible that other ponds are located within nearby residential gardens.

3.9 However, the site is entirely dominated by short sward amenity grassland and hard‐standing that is of no value to GCN during their terrestrial life stage. The only habitats of potential value to GCN are boundary hedgerows, associated narrow grass verges and the small orchard. Assuming all boundary hedgerows, including the internal north‐south hedge and the small orchard, can be retained and protected as part of development going forward, significant impacts on GCN as a result site clearance are unlikely to occur. The need for GCN licence and/or barrier fencing in order to prevent GCN from gaining access to the development site during construction will need to be reviewed once detailed development plans are available.

Bats

3.10 Building photographs are provided in Figure 3.2. In summary, no evidence of roosting bats was found during the external building inspections. The small storage unit (Photo 7) is a simple brick structure with an open void pitched tiled roof that is in very good condition and lacks features of potential value to roosting bats.

3.11 The tennis club‐house (Photo 8) is also in good overall condition with a pitched tiled roof (and flat roof section) that lacks obvious features of potential value to bats. External access around the entire building was however physically restricted, and the building appears to possess an internal roof void.

3.12 The Pavilion (Photo 9), adjoining house (Photo 10) and small brick barn (Photo 11) all located in the southeast corner are in a good state of repair overall, but did possess some minor external features of potential value to roosting bats. This included small gaps around lead‐flashing (the house), gaps beneath tiles (the house and the Pavilion), mortar gaps (the house) and damaged weather boarding (the brick barn). All three buildings may possess internal roof voids.

3.13 It is recommended that the tennis club house, the Pavilion, house and brick barn are subject to internal inspection, including any roof voids, to determine the presence / absence of roosting bats internally and confirm the need for follow‐up bat activity survey.

3.14 In addition, a number of the mature poplar trees along the internal hedgerow possess woodpecker holes that could be used by roosting bats (Photo 12). Further checks of any trees to be removed should be undertaken to determine their value for roosting bats and confirm any associated bat use.

Water Vole

3.15 A wet drainage ditch is located just beyond the site to the south and provided suitable habitat conditions for water vole. The ditch was not specifically checked as part of the walkover survey.

Land at Wilberforce Road, Cambridge - Ecology ReportFigure 3.2: Building photo-sheet

Photo 7 Photo 8

Photo 9 Photo 10

Photo 11 Photo 12


10 30 September 2013

4 Conclusions 4.1 The site is dominated by amenity and improved grassland, and hard‐standing habitat of

negligible value in habitat and botanical terms. The internal and western boundary hedgerows are relatively species‐rich and support a number of mature individual poplar and oak trees. These linear features and the small orchard are of ecological value in the local context, and consideration should be given to their retention, protection and enhancement, if feasible, as part of any future development proposals. No impacts on the off‐site drainage ditch to the south are anticipated, but a check for water vole presence would be required to confirm their presence/absence if the ditch could be effected by future development.

4.2 The site is of relatively low value to protected animal species in overall terms. However, the presence of breeding birds in hedgerows and trees within the site cannot be discounted and clearance of any suitable nesting habitat would need to be undertaken outside of the bird breeding period.

4.3 Great crested newts are known to occur in ponds locally, and consideration will need to be given to potential adverse effects of development on this species. The majority of the site is unsuitable for GCN, and it is recommended that boundary hedgerows and the orchard are retained and protected as part of development design. On this basis, significant adverse impacts on GCN are unlikely to occur, but the need for barrier fencing and an EPS licence will need to be reviewed in light of detailed development proposals.

4.4 No evidence of roosting bats was found during the external building inspections, but internal inspections of the club‐house, the Pavilion, house and brick barn should be completed to check for the presence / absence of roosting bats internally and confirm the need for follow‐up bat activity survey if these buildings are to be demolished or renovated.

4.5 Consideration should be given to opportunities for ecological enhancement as part of development design, for instance retaining and enhancing boundary hedgerows and provision of bird boxes (e.g. for swift and house sparrow) and bats boxes on new buildings.

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