notes of ecological surveys - st.helens

NOTES OF ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS Project: Parkside Link Road Project Number: 1620003486 Purpose: Ecological Walkover and Pond Inspection Date: 12/04/2017, 9.00am to 3.00pm

18/04/2017 9.30am to 12pm 10/08/2017 9.00am to 3.30pm

Surveyor: Carl Bailey Summary: The site was visited on Wednesday 12th April with the primary aims

of inspecting ponds (reported elsewhere) identified within 500m of the proposed alignment, and surveying habitats within the corridor against previous 2014 Phase 1 habitat survey data. The site was revisited on 18th due to access arrangements for Area 2 Woodhead Farm including Pond 7. Pond 6 was not accessed directly but could be viewed well from the road. Areas 4, 5 and 6 were also visited on 18th, via public footpath and road (land not accessed directly). The site was visited again on the 10th August with the aim of capturing areas not previously accessed, covering areas added in subsequent changes to the route layout, and to complete botanical species lists within the optimum season.

SURVEY FINDINGS Weather: The weather during the 12th April site visit was overcast with drizzle and a strong cold northerly wind blowing consistently. The temperature was approximately 8oC. Nevertheless the ground was dry throughout owing to previous dry weather. Weather on the 18th April was sunny and calm, approx. 10% cloud cover and approx. 11oC. Weather on the 10th August was sunny, approximately 20oC, but following heavy rain over the previous week. Access: Across the three surveys access was gained for all of the areas within the site boundary, with some limited restrictions on adjacent land (see Target Notes). Comments: Habitats within the colliery site and the quarry off Winwick Lane are all target noted owing to their atypical characteristics, small size or successional nature. The majority of land outside the former colliery was arable land divided by single species (hawthorn) hedgerows, which had, for large sections, been removed entirely leaving only a small hedge bank and narrow grass strip comprising common grasses (see under ‘arable land, general description’ below. In this area, key features such as field margins and boundaries, trees, scrub and other habitats are target noted. Locations of Japanese knotweed are shown on the Phase 1 map, locations of all other NNIS are dealt with under Target Notes. Generally the level of detail afforded to habitats outside the redline boundary is less, unless of particular note, and may need to be supplemented with further information if the layout changes in the future. Details of ponds and features of bat potential are not dealt with here.

Target Notes: TN1 Successional woodland scrub. Salix spp. dominant, with some hawthorn

Crataegus monogyna, Alnus glutinosa, sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and birches Betula spp., and bramble Rubus fruticosus agg.. Saplings of oak Quercus sp. are also present across this habitat. Continuous scrub forms a matrix with and gives way semi-improved grassland and tall ruderal, as detailed under under TN2 and TN3.

TN2 Rank grassland with tall ruderal species and scattered scrub. Coarse grasses dominate including false oatgrass Arrhenatherum elatius, agrostis spp., and Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus. Herb species are infrequent except in small patches where tall ruderal and herb species listed under TN3 below dominate. Low growing bramble and nettle Urtica dioica are also present. Scrub species listed under TN1 are encroaching on the grassland to varying degrees. Red bartsia Odontites verna was present within the southern part of this grassland, in particular on the higher ground to the south east.

TN3 Successional habitat dominated by tall ruderal species including great willowherb Epilobium hirsutum, common mugwort Artemisia vulgaris, Rosebay willowherb Chamaenerion angustifolium, broad-leaved dock Rumex obtusifolius, hogweed Heracleum sphondylium, ragwort Senecio jacobaea, marsh thistle Cirsium palustre, creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris and hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum. Coarse grasses as listed under TN2 also present but not dominant. Interspersed with scattered scrub (species as per TN1) throughout.

TN4 Mature woodland scrub. Habitat exhibits some of the structure of semi-natural broadleaf woodland with a distinct canopy in parts and mature trees, but is dominated by scrub species, primarily Salix sp.. Species otherwise as per TN1.

TN5 Broadleaf semi-natural woodland, dominated by mature/semi-mature sycamore, with oak, hawthorn, willows, elder Sambucus nigra, birches and alder. No shrub layer and little to no field or ground layer, except one or two species of mosses, and occasional nettle and ferns comprising broad buckler fern Dryopteris dilatata and male fern Dryopteris filix-mas, but otherwise comprising bare ground with leaf litter. Woodland sits adjacent to plantation woodland along both sides of the colliery access road, which comprises mature beech Fagus sylvatica, mature sycamore, oak, bird cherry Prunus padus, a small patch of Pinus sp., and a hedgerow comprising mostly hawthorn, with elder. Rhododendron is present, in particular along the hedgerow. The hedgerow is situated on a raised earth bank. On the road-side of the hedgerow there is a narrow strip of grass/ruderal species comprising nettle, creeping thistle, bramble and common grasses (not identified to species level due to recent mowing). Occasional bluebell Hyacinthoides sp. are present throughout the wood in isolated clumps. The general appearance, leaf size and flowers were suggestive of hybrid bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica, although this could not be confirmed due to the early stage of flowering. Common dog-violet Viola riviniana (scarce) was also recorded. Evidence of rabbit activity was recorded throughout the woodland, including warrens, holes, tracks and droppings.

TN6 Tall ruderal habitat dominated by dense nettle, rosebay willowherb, great willowherb and ragwort. Occasional trees present throughout this area and the surrounding grassland, but these had recently been felled and the arisings left. Otherwise species as per TN2.

TN7 Concrete bridge/viaduct, carrying the road over a track/cutting of unknown origin. Does not carry water and shows no signs of use as a ditch or

Target Notes: watercourse. Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera was present in disturbed soils/waste piles comprising soil, rubble and tree roots near this structure, along with bluebell and nettle, but otherwise bare ground.

TN8 Tall and neglected hedgerow, mostly comprising hawthorn with a narrow band of scrub including Salix spp., birches, elder and bramble, giving way to tall ruderal and grassland as described under TN3 and TN2.

TN9 Linear strip of woodland/scrub recently cleared along route of power lines. Cut stumps showed evidence of regrowth during August survey and comprise willows, sycamore, birch, and sapling to semi-mature ash Fraxinus excelsior. The arisings from the clearance had been chipped and spread over the area. Scrub surrounding the substation to the north had also been cleared. In August, ephemeral/short perennial and tall ruderal habitat had developed within the power line corridor on the newly cleared and disturbed ground. No one species was clearly dominant, although rosebay willowherb, ragwort, Yorkshire fog, bent grasses Agrostis spp., broadleaf dock, bramble and creeping thistle were all abundant. This area exhibited a diverse list of herbs typical of disturbed/ephemeral habitats, in particular on the earth banks bounding the habitat to the east and west. Species in addition to those listed above included hemp agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum (frequent), great willowherb (frequent), marsh thistle (occasional), broadleaved willowherb Epilobium montanum (occasional), red bartsia (occasional), water figwort Scrophularia auriculata (rare), redshank Persicaria maculosa (occasional), dandelion (frequent), yellow wort Blackstonia perfoliata (rare), Michaelmas daisy Aster sp. (rare), common hempnettle Galeopsis tetrahit (occasional) and creeping cinquefoil Potentilla reptans (frequent), selfheal Prunella vulgaris (occasional) and oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare (occasional). Ditch to the north of this area was dry at the time of survey. Non-native invasive species were recorded within this corridor in isolated patches, including montbretia Crocosmia x crocosmifolia and Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica (see map for locations of the latter).

TN10 Steep earth bank, marking the boundary of the woodland with dense bramble scrub. Mostly bare ground with mosses, nettle (frequent), bramble (frequent), comfrey Symphtum sp. (occasional), forget-me-not Myosotis sp. (occasional) and bluebell (occasional). Japanese knotweed present at one location (see map).

TN11 Successional broadleaf semi-natural woodland straddling either side of the northern part of the powerline corridor. Comprises a mix of sycamore, oaks, ash, hawthorn, willows and birches with varying dominance/abundance. Ground and shrub flora in this area includes mosses (dominant – 1-2 species present), pendulous sedge Carex pendula (frequent), gorse Ulex europaeus (frequent) and nettle (frequent).

TN12 Heterogeneous mosaic of bare ground and deteriorated hardstanding. Partial coverage of moss, with grasses, ruderal and scrub species crowing amongst cracks and looser earth. Scrub species dominated by silver birch Betula pendula and grey/goat willows Salix spp.. Herbaceous species include dandelion, broadleaf plantain Plantago major and ragwort. Evidence of fly tipping throughout comprising mostly household materials and garden waste.

TN13 Successional broadleaf semi-natural woodland. Comprises semi-mature to mature birch including silver birch and downy birch Betula pubescens,

Target Notes: sycamore, oak and hawthorn which form a relatively loose canopy at 5-15m height. Field layer mostly bare ground with occasional sapling trees and sparse grasses including Yorkshire fog and bent grasses.

TN14 Mature woodland scrub and successional broadleaf semi-natural woodland, mostly located on a large colliery spoil heap which occupies the entire eastern third of the colliery site. Scrub exhibits some of the structure of semi-natural broadleaf woodland with a distinct canopy in parts and mature trees, but is dominated by scrub species, primarily Salix sp.. Species otherwise as per TN1. Areas mapped as woodland, although approximate, demonstrate greater maturity and density of broadleaf woodland species, primarily sycamore with ash, oak and birch. Clearings within the woodland scrub are generally dominated by bramble and scattered trees, and hence also mapped as scrub. Ground flora within the woodland scrub comprises moss (dominant), coltsfoot Tussilago farfara (frequent), nettle (frequent) and bluebell (scarce).

TN15 Patch of marshy vegetation within an area of neglected amenity grassland at entrance to colliery, comprising grasses including perennial ryegrass and Yorkshire fog, nettle and broadleaf dock, with abundant soft rush Juncus effusus.

TN16 Extensive area of atypical semi-improved grassland situated on colliery spoil, interspersed with and in part being succeeded by scrub. Species assemblage similar to that of TN2 and TN3, but with abundant sometimes dominant reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea, interspersed with much scattered scrub comprising small trees (mostly hawthorn), oak and bramble. The grassland was rank with a dense sward and bryophytes present at ground level. Other species recorded included common knapweed Centaurea nigra (occasional, locally frequent), tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa (occasional, locally abundant), red fescue Festuca rubra (frequent), coltsfoot, hedge woundwort Stachys sylvatica, tufted vetch Vicia cracca (occasional) and catsear Hypochaeris radicata (occasional). The area was dotted with numerous meadow ant Lasius flavus nests, some of which had attained considerable size, up to 40cm tall. Previous surveys (Arup, 2014) recorded common spotted and northern marsh orchid at discrete locations within this grassland. These species were not specifically recorded at the colliery during the 2017 surveys although this is likely due to the timing of the surveys and the rank nature of the grassland during August.

TN17 Scrub habitat situated within the corridor of the ditch along the eastern boundary of the colliery site, at the foot of the colliery spoil heap. Dominated by dense bramble, willow and hawthorn. Some open patches of grassland present (see TN16), with locally dominant or abundant common reed Phragmytes australis, and patches of ruderal and non-ruderal species, comprising nettles/willowherbs and bracken Pteridium aquilinum respectively. The ditch/watercourse was dry during both spring and late summer surveys as far as the south eastern corner of the colliery site, but with wet mud and vegetation indicative of wetter conditions.

TN18 Patch of wet woodland at western extremity of woodland. Dominated by willows including white willow Salix alba and alder. Field layer dominated by dense stands of Himalayan balsam, with locally abundant reedmace Typha latifolia. The wet woodland is located to the south of the main watercourse. The watercourse enters a debris screen managed by the Environment Agency and crosses deep beneath the road in a culvert, with steep batter

Target Notes: slopes and gabion retaining walls.

TN19 Patch of scrubby woodland, comprising oak, sycamore, hawthorn, tall bramble, abundant Himalayan balsam, abundant bracken, nettle, occasional Russian comfrey and to the south of a narrow footpath, dominant to abundant ground elder Aegopodium podagraria.

TN20 Broadleaf semi-natural woodland occupying the banks and gulley of Oswald’s Brook. Tree species include oak mostly Quercus patraea (abundant) with many mature and/or veteran specimens, semi-mature to mature sycamore (abundant), ash (occasional) and hawthorn. The woodland extends to the south of Hermitage Green Lane where it is more extensive and interspersed with houses and gardens. The field layer varies across the woodland. The slopes being dominated by bracken and other ferns (mostly male fern), mosses, ivy Hedera helix and occasional bramble, and the valley bottom dominated by Himalayan balsam. The western end of the wood has little in the way of an understorey or shrub layer, but further east this is formed by hawthorn, birch species and willow species (grey/goat willow). Ground flora is in general limited throughout with all typical ancient woodland species absent (e.g. bluebell, dogs mercury, wood anemone). Deadwood in the form of fallen branches and partially or completely dead trees frequent across the woodland. Generally very limited bryophyte diversity on trees, ground and exposed rock. The eastern part of the woodland includes evidence of previous disturbance relating to the sites previous use as a colliery, including several large drainage structures, ponds, pits, banks and workings. The woodland includes areas of sandstone cliff. See TN21 below.

TN21 Sandstone cliff approximately 3-4m in height, of natural or man-made origin. Frequent to abundant ferns, almost exclusively Dryopteris spp.. A similar cliff, with greater coverage of ferns is located to the south of Hermitage Green Lane. Both features have trees ranging from mature to sapling growing from the cliff and forming complex root structures and openings. Both features also have fissures, cracks and holes in the rock.

TN22 Strip of semi-improved grassland at the edge of the arable field east of the colliery site boundary, approximately 2-5m wide. Species include false oatgrass and cocksfoot (co-dominant), with creeping thistle (frequent), yorkshire fog (frequent), Carex sp. (occasional), soft brome Bromus mollis (occasional), barren brome Bromus sterilis (rare), rye brome Bromus secalinus (occasional) and wild or hybrid oat Avena sp., hogweed, creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens and sweet vernal grass Anthoxanthum odoratum (occasional).

TN23 Line of large mature beech Fagus sylvatica along the colliery site boundary with Winwick Road. To the south the beech give way to semi-mature sycamore, at the southern end of which there is a mature grey poplar Populus × canescens.

TN24 Narrow strip of poor semi-improved grassland, dominated by cocksfoot, with perennial ryegrass and occasional creeping thistle.

TN25 Area cultivated for’ Christmas trees’, comprising Noble fir Abies procera. Trees 0.5m to 2m in height, widely spaced and surrounded by poor

Target Notes: grassland dominated by Yorkshire fog, with abundant dandelion, occasional soft rush and frequent broadleaf dock. Grass has a thin sward.

TN26 Small block of woodland surrounding the pond at Woodhead Farm. Trees include sycamore, hawthorn, elder, oak and horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, underlain/bordered by creeping thistle, nettle, bramble, Himalayan balsam and a patch of common reed.

TN27 Woodhead Farm farmyard. Buildings comprising mostly steel frame sheds with corrugated steel or asbestos cement roofs with the exception of one large barn, two storeys high with brick walls and tiled roof. Farmhouse and connected outbuildings is of brick construction with tiled roof, possibly Victorian in age. Trees could offer suitable habitat for nesting birds and roosting bats. Swallow Hirundo rustica were seen using the farmhouse outbuildings during the August survey. A recently constructed earth bank, covered with redshank, is located to the north of the farm yard. The yard comprises a mix of bare earth, compacted gravels and compacted crushed rubble materials with little vegetation. A block of mature trees and gardens, mapped as plantation woodland and amenity grassland, separates the farm from the road. Trees include large mature sycamore, oak and horse chestnut. There are two close clipped hedges bordering the road, one of hawthorn and one of garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium. A block of dense bramble scrub is located to the north east of the farm yard, dominated by bramble with nettle and fringed with small sycamore and hawthorn trees.

TN28 To the west of Parkside road there is a double hedgerow, comprising tall hawthorn, with a line of semi-mature Lombardy poplar Populus nigra ‘Italica’. To the east, a single hawthorn hedgerow, scrub and trees including sycamore and horse chestnut.

TN29 Farm track flanked by wide, approx.. 2m tall hawthorn hedges. TN30 Road set within a shallow ‘holloway’, flanked with mature oak and sycamore

atop a defunct hedge bank with ivy, bracken and brambles. TN31 Overbridge carrying Parkside Road over the M6 motorway. Bridge is of

concrete and steel beam construction with brick curtain wall. Vegetation either side of the bridge comprises semi-improved grassland, scrub and tall ruderal species, typical of motorway verges. Species not listed as motorway verges could not be accessed for survey and lie outside the site boundary.

TN32 Field not directly surveyed (no access). Viewed from road, and appears to comprise ephemeral/poor grassland which has developed on waste ground.

TN33 Area of scrub and ruderal vegetation at the top of the motorway embankment. Comprises hawthorn (abundant), bramble (abundant), raspberry Rubus idaeus (locally abundant), rosebay willowherb (frequent), Himalayan balsam (locally abundant), nettle (abundant), teasel Dipsacus fullonum (occasional) and grasses. Fly tipped material was also present within this area, including household items and garden waste, contaminated with Himalayan balsam.

TN34 Marshy grassland with scattered scrub. Grassland species include abundant Carex sp. (dominant towards the south), false oatgrass (frequent), Yorkshire fog (frequent), crested dogstail Cynosurus cristatus (occasional), common bentgrass (frequent), sweet vernal grass, soft rush (abundant), creeping thistle (occasional), marsh thistle (occasional), ragwort (occasional), broadleaf dock (occasional), rosebay willowherb (locally abundant) and common fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica (rare). Scrub species comprise alder

Target Notes: and grey willow with occasional sapling oak. Grass was tussocky with a well developed sward. Alder leaf beetle Agelastica alni was observed in significant numbers feeding on the alder scrub within this area during the April survey, but were absent in August.

TN35 Semi-improved grassland with tall ruderal species. No one dominant species. Species include cocksfoot (frequent), perennial ryegrass (frequent), false oatgrass (frequent), Yorkshire fog (abundant), timothy grass Phleum pratense (occasional), broadleaf dock, common bentgrass agrostis capillaris, great willowherb (abundant), creeping thistle (abundant), ragwort (frequent) and creeping buttercup (abundant). In the south east corner of this area there were several seed heads of marsh orchid Dactylorhiza sp., as well as a stand of great reedmace. Similar grassland extends along the field margin to the north, except with frequent cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris at the foot of the hedge.

TN36 Line of mature sycamore and oak trees. TN37 Dry ditch, approximately 0.5m deep and densely vegetated with rank

grasses. Dry during both spring and late summer surveys. TN38 Small area enclosed by tall hawthorn hedges on embankment of Parkside

Road. This area contained sycamore trees, and sparse vegetation/bare earth with some bramble/nettles. There were some piles of brash and logs within this area from previous tree works and fly-tipped car tyres, but generally heavily shaded by surrounding hedges. There was significant evidence of rabbit activity including warrens in the earth bank. Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata present at the foot of the hedge.

TN39 Amenity grass verges alongside Parkside Road, 1-3m wide, mostly close mown but with patches of unmown grass. Species recorded include perennial ryegrass (dominant), Yorkshire fog (abundant), sweet vernal grass (occasional), crested dogstail (occasional), common bentgrass (frequent), ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata (frequent), dandelion (frequent), catsear (frequent), cocksfoot (frequent), red clover Trifolium pratense (frequent), creeping buttercup (frequent) and hogweed (occasional).

TN40 Field not surveyed directly (no access). Aerials appear to show arable set aside which has developed into poor semi-improved grassland.

TN41 Double hawthorn hedge and woodland scrub comprising sycamore, bird cherry and hawthorn.

TN42 Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) hedge, clipped and with large mature sycamore at northern end. Hedges to the south east appear to have been removed/grubbed up or lost entirely at some point. A slight hedge bank and ditch is still present dominated by grasses (as per TN35), nettle, cow parsley, broadleaf dock, thistles and ragwort.

TN43 Close clipped hawthorn hedge with narrow grass strip comprising common grasses (see description under ‘arable land’), cow parsley (frequent), ragwort ((frequent) and dominated by broadleaf dock.

TN44 Concrete farm access track (also PROW used by dog walkers). Bordered by narrow strip of vegetation comprising broadleaf dock, perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot, spear thistle Cirsium vulgare, red and white clover Trifolium album, common mugwort, great willowherb and nettle.

TN45 Residential properties on Parkside road. Fronted by a narrow strip of close mown amenity grassland (species poor, mostly perennial ryegrass and red fescue/bent grasses), behind which are tall but close clipped hedges of

Target Notes: hawthorn and cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus. The southern corner of the group of properties is bordered by a tall close clipped coniferous hedge. Near the northern end there is a mature common lime tree Tilia x Europaea located immediately adjacent to the road kerb. Gardens were not surveyed and could not be viewed completely from the road, but appear from aerial photographs to comprise amenity grassland with a number of native and ornamental tree species, hedges and shrubs.

TN46 Hedges along Winwick Lane comprise mostly single species short and close clipped hawthorn hedges with little to no grass verge at the location of the site, sometimes with sparse nettle, bramble or ivy at the foot of the hedge. To the south in front of the residential properties there is a narrow grass verge comprising mown amenity grassland with common grasses, dandelion (frequent to locally abundant), creeping thistle, common daisy Bellis perennis (frequent), occasional to locally frequent red and white clover, frewuent catsear, broadleaf plantain (frequent) and occasional yarrow Achillea millefolium. Trees within the hedgerow are more prevalent in the north, comprising mainly semi-mature and young sycamore. The road is lit by streetlamps but only as far north as the quarry entrance.

TN47 Two small paddocks, not directly surveyed (no access). Habitat inferred from view from road and from aerial photographs. Paddocks generally comprise grazing pasture, likely for horses, and likely constitute improved or poor semi-improved grassland. Surrounding gardens to the south are amenity grass and ornamental shrubs/trees.

TN48 Rough Farm. Mostly hardstanding/bare ground and steel frame farm buildings, but with one traditional brick barn that may offer potential for roosting bats and nesting birds. Patch of woodland scrub to the rear and between buildings with oaks, hawthorn, elder, grey willow, nettle, bramble, comfrey and creeping thistle. Patch of tall ruderal/ephemeral vegetation in western corner comprising false oatgrass, ragwort, broadleaf dock, creeping thistle, great willowherb, American willowherb Epilobium ciliatum and Yorkshire fog, all frequent to locally abundant. This area also contains a small ephemeral pond, which, during the August survey following heavy rain, had a few centimetres of water in it. There is no aquatic or marshy vegetation associated with this pond.

TN49 Broadleaf plantation woodland either side of the quarry entrance. Comprising mature and semi-mature trees of silver birch, downy birch, alder, bird cherry, elder, and sycamore (dominant), hawthorn and fronted by a beech hedge and trees onto Winwick road. The southern side also contains snowberry Symphoricarpos sp. within the woodland and other ornamental shrubs along the frontage. The trees form a dense canopy with little light reaching the ground. Ground flora is therefore sparse, comprising mainly bare ground with occasional nettle, bramble, ivy, tutsan Hypericum androsaemum and ferns including golden scale male fern Dryopteris affinis, male fern and broad buckler fern. To the south of the road and east of the ditch (TN50), the woodland gives way to scrub, dominated by white willow Salix alba with Himalayan balsam (occasional), nettle (abundant), hawthorn (frequent) and sycamore (frequent). Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam are present within the ditch (TN50) to the north and south of the quarry track respectively.

TN50 Shallow ditch, which crosses the quarry access road via a concrete culvert.

Target Notes: The ditch was completely dry with no wet ground during both spring and summer surveys, becoming wet at the site boundary to the north, where it becomes a visibly polluted, stagnant ditch at the rear of a yard belonging to a commercial unit. Here the ditch has still water with a slight oily sheen and discoloured turbid water. The land rises steeply to the east of the ditch to the field denoted by TN51. The yard had no appreciable means of preventing runoff of oils and other materials to the ditch. Although connected to a further ditch to the north, there was no appreciable flow and the ditch ran dry to the north east. There was no vegetation or other life observed in the ditch at the time of survey. To the north, the ditch either flows into another watercourse or becomes a slow flowing watercourse along the northern edge of the field (TN50). Vegetation surrounding the ditch/watercourse includes brambles, rush Juncus sp., great willowherb, nettle and scrub including young sycamore, hawthorn and grey willow.

TN51 Field comprising grazing pasture. Dense and tussocky sward with much dead grass/thatch. Very sparse herby species, dominated by grasses (note: not surveyed for full species list, no access).

TN52 Patch of dense scrub and tall ruderal vegetation comprising grey willow, bramble, nettle and occasional great willowherb and evening primrose Oenothera agg..

TN53 Ephemeral/short grass within quarry yard. Species include grasses, mainly bent grasses (abundant), moss (abundant, but very limited in species), great willowherb, dandelion, silverweed Potentilla anserina (frequent) and evening primrose (occasional and mainly at the foot of the bank to the north, TN52), imperforate St John’s wort Hypericum maculatum (rare), black medick Medicago lupulina. Scrub species comprise alder and grey willow.

TN54 Habitats bordering M6 Junction 22 comprise amenity grassland, areas of rank semi-improved grassland, plantation woodland and scrub. The amenity grassland comprises common grasses, dandelion (frequent to locally abundant), creeping thistle, common daisy Bellis perennis (frequent), occasional to locally frequent red and white clover, frequent catsear, broadleaf plantain (frequent) and occasional yarrow Achillea millefolium. The centre of the roundabout and motorway verge was characterised by areas of semi-improved grassland and tall ruderal with false oatgrass (dominant), cocksfoot (frequent), rosebay willowherb (abundant), mugwort (occasional), creeping thistle (frequent) and bramble (occasional). This gives way to plantation woodland and scrub to the south which throughout this area comprises a mix of ash, hawthorn, beech, silver birch, bird cherry and sycamore, with extensive stands of bramble. The field to the east of the Junction appears to comprise improved (sown) grassland, currently in use as grazing pasture, but was not accessed for detailed survey.

Arable land, general description

The majority of land outside the former colliery was arable land divided by single species (hawthorn) hedgerows, which had, for large sections, been removed entirely leaving only a small hedge bank and narrow grass strip comprising common grasses (e.g. Yorkshire fog) and common herbaceous species including cow parsley, dock, and cleavers. The arable land appeared to be intensively managed throughout, planted at the time of survey with mostly winter wheat and/or other winter cereals and in some cases seeded with grass possibly for silage, with very little in the way of cornfield annuals or arable weeds except for wild turnip and scentless

Target Notes: mayweed. The arable land, particularly to the east of the motorway and despite the relatively poor habitat, was supporting a significant number of farmland birds: Wildlife observed at to the north of the motorway during the spring walkover comprised the following: • Several skylark observed displaying during both visits at the locations

marked on the map. Numbers were much greater on 18th due to thesunny weather;

• 2x buzzard, probably a pair observed over the arable fields and themotorway;

• A maximum of 8 lapwing put up by the buzzard, in the southernmostfield of Area 9 and a further 8-10 lapwing at the lower field to the northeast (also marked on the map); and

• A number of small brown farmland birds using the winter wheat forcover;

• A single grey wagtail;• A pair of reed bunting using the hedge to the north east (see map);• Greenfinch;• and• Species such as chaffinch, blackbird, robin and blue tit observed using

the gardens and hedgerows on Parkside Road.Invertebrates observed included orange tip and tortoiseshell butterflies.

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Reproduced from Ordnance Survey digital map data © Crown copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Licence number 100040631

KEYPlanning Application Boundary

H Target Note!(HB Himalayan Balsam!(JK Japanese Knotweed!(BM Montbretia!(RP Rhododendron PonticumE Scattered Scrub? Running WaterI I I ISpecies-poor Hedge and Trees

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1620003486Prepared By

RE

Client

Figure Title

Project Number Figure No.

Issue

1

Project Name

8.3.1.1

Date

December 2017Scale

St Helens MBC

Parkside Link Road

1:3,000 @ A3

Tel: 023 8081 7500 [email protected]

Draw

ing R

eferen

ce: G

6354

.01.01

9 Pha

se 1

Habit

at Su

rvey

Sheet 1 of 4

Phase 1 Habitat Survey

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H Target NoteE Scattered Scrub

Species-poor Intact HedgeI I I ISpecies-poor Hedge and Trees

FenceDry Ditch

D D Boundary Removed! ! Earth Bank

Semi-natural Broad-leaved WoodlandPlantation Broad-leaved WoodlandDense/Continuous Scrub

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RE

Client

Figure Title


Issue

1

Project Name

8.3.1.2

Date

December 2017Scale

St Helens MBC

Parkside Link Road

1:3,000 @ A3


Draw

ing R

eferen

ce: G

6354

.01.01

9 Pha

se 1

Habit

at Su

rvey

Sheet 2 of 4


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!_N

0 200100 Metres



H Target Note? Running Water

Species-poor Intact HedgeSpecies-poor Defunct Hedge

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D D Boundary Removed! ! Earth Bank

Plantation Broad-leaved WoodlandDense/Continuous Scrub


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RE

Client

Figure Title


Issue

1

Project Name

8.3.1.3

Date

December 2017Scale

St Helens MBC

Parkside Link Road

1:3,000 @ A3


Draw

ing R

eferen

ce: G

6354

.01.01

9 Pha

se 1

Habit

at Su

rvey

Sheet 3 of 4


S S S S

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!_N

0 200100 Metres



H Target NoteE Scattered Scrub? Running Water

Species-poor Intact HedgeSpecies-poor Defunct Hedge

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! ! Earth BankPlantation Broad-leaved WoodlandDense/Continuous Scrub


I I II I II I I Semi-improved Neutral Grassland

I I I I II I I I II I I I II I I I IImproved Grassland


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Standing WaterA A A A AA A A A AA A A A A Arable

A A A A AA A A A AA A A A AA A A A A Amenity Grassland

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! ! !

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E E E

E E EBare Ground/Ephemeral MixHardstanding


RE

Client

Figure Title


Issue

1

Project Name

8.3.1.4

Date

December 2017Scale

St Helens MBC

Parkside Link Road

1:3,000 @ A3


Draw

ing R

eferen

ce: G

6354

.01.01

9 Pha

se 1

Habit

at Su

rvey

Sheet 4 of 4


notes of ecological surveys - st.helens

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