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Wentlooge Renewable Energy Hub, Peterstone, Gwent Levels

Technical Report: Amphibians and Reptiles

March 2020

A report on behalf of Wentlooge Farmers' Solar Scheme Ltd

Wentlooge Farmers' Solar Scheme Ltd Wentlooge Renewable Energy Hub, Peterstone, Gwent Levels

Site Details

Site Name Wentlooge Renewable Energy Hub

Site Location Peterstone, Gwent Levels

Central OS Grid Reference ST 27676 81864

Client Wentlooge Farmers' Solar Scheme Ltd

Quality Assurance

Report Title Technical Report: Amphibians and Reptiles

Author Declan Murphy BSc MRes GradCIEEM

Checked By Jon Garner Director

Approved By Chris Turner BSc MCIEEM

Revision No. 2

Issue Date 19 March 2020

Summary of Changes Minor amendments

Revised By Kerri Watson BSc ACIEEM

Approved By Mark Witherall BSc MCIEEM

The content of this report that has been provided by Green Ecology is true and has been prepared and submitted in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management’s Code of Professional Conduct. Its contents are compliant with British Standard BS42020: 2013 Biodiversity Code of Practice for Planning and Development. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the stated client and unless otherwise agreed in writing by Green Ecology, no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of the report. No liability is accepted by Green Ecology for any use of this report, other than for the purposes for which it was originally prepared and provided. Green Ecology has exercised due care in preparing this report. It has not, unless specifically stated, independently verified information provided by others. No other warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the content of this report and Green Ecology assumes no liability for any loss resulting from errors, omissions or misrepresentation made by others. Any recommendation, opinion or finding stated in this report is based on circumstances and facts as they existed at the time that Green Ecology undertook the work. Nothing in this report constitutes legal opinion. If legal opinion is required, the advice of a qualified legal professional should be secured.

© Copyright GE Consulting Services (UK) Limited 202019


Technical Report: Amphibians and Reptiles 19 March 2020

Contents

1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................1 2 Nature Conservation Legislation ................................................................................................................1 3 Methods .........................................................................................................................................................1 3.1 Desk Study ..................................................................................................................................................1 3.2 Habitat Suitability Index ..............................................................................................................................1 3.3 Environmental DNA (eDNA) Survey ...........................................................................................................2 3.4 Great Crested Newt Presence/ Absence Surveys ......................................................................................2 3.5 Reptile Survey.............................................................................................................................................3 3.6 Limitations ...................................................................................................................................................3 4 Results ...........................................................................................................................................................3 4.1 Desk Study ..................................................................................................................................................3 4.2 Survey Results ............................................................................................................................................3 5 Summary & Conclusions .............................................................................................................................4 6 References .....................................................................................................................................................8

Figures Referenced in this Technical Appendix

11.6.1: Pond Location and GCN Survey Results

11.6.2: Reptile Survey Results

Appendices

Appendix A – eDNA Laboratory Reports ................................................................................................................9


Technical Report: Amphibians and Reptiles 1 19 March 2020

1 INTRODUCTION

This technical report details the findings of Reptile and Amphibian surveys in relation to a proposed planning application on land at Peterstone, Wentlooge on the Gwent levels in South Wales (central OS grid reference: ST 27676 81864). The surveys were commissioned by Wentlooge Farmers’ Solar Scheme Ltd.

The proposed development will comprise rows of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and includes boundary fencing, access tracks, battery storage units, and associated infrastructure including grid connection buildings, transformer and inverter units.

The aims of this report are to identify the presence or likely absence of Reptiles and Amphibians within the Site boundary in order to inform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the planning application

2 NATURE CONSERVATION LEGISLATION

Great crested newts (GCN) Triturus cristatus, their breeding sites and resting places are protected under UK and European legislation; The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and The Wildlife and Countryside Act (W&CA) 1981 (as amended). It is an offence for anyone to intentionally capture, kill, disturb or take GCN or GCN eggs. It is also an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place or structure used for shelter or protection by GCN.

The great crested newt is also listed on Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive and Appendix II of the Bern Convention. If a development activity is likely to result in disturbance or killing of a GCN, damage to its habitat etc., then a licence will usually be required from Natural Resources Wales.

Great crested newts are listed as Species of Principal Importance (under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006).

Other amphibian species (common frog Rana temporaria, common toad Bufo bufo, smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris and palmate newt L. helveticus) are afforded partial legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. This legislation prohibits sale, transportation and advertising for sale. Common toad is listed as a Species of Principal Importance under Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

Widespread reptiles are protected under UK legislation; The Wildlife and Countryside Act (W&CA) 1981 (as amended). It is an offence for anyone to intentionally kill or injure a reptile.

All UK reptile species are listed as Species of Principal Importance under Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

3 METHODS

3.1 Desk Study

A desk study exercise was undertaken in October 2018 which included a search for records of protected and notable species within 3km of the Site. Full details are provided separately in Appendix 11.1 of the Environmental Statement (ES) – Technical Appendices.

3.2 Habitat Suitability Index

A review of OS maps and aerial imagery identified three ponds within 500m of the Site. In addition, the Site is bound and dissected by a number of slow moving reens. As reens are interconnected, three sections of reen were chosen to provide a site-wide representative survey area.

An exercise was undertaken to assess the suitability of each waterbody to support a breeding population of great crested newts (GCN). This was carried out on the 17th of April 2019 by Kerri Watson BSc (Hons) ACIEEM (Natural England Level 1 Class licence number: 2015-18280-CLS-CLS.) and Louise Woolley BSc (Hons) MCIEEM. This



assessment followed the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) (Oldham et al., 2000) methodology described in the ARG UK Guidance Note 5 (ARG UK 2010). The scores translate into a breeding suitability as shown in Table 11.6.1.

Table 11.6.1: Scoring system for GCN breeding suitability using HSI

HSI Score Suitability for breeding GCN <0.5 Poor 0.5 – 0.59 Below average 0.6 – 0.69 Average 0.7 – 0.79 Good > 0.8 Excellent

3.3 Environmental DNA (eDNA) Survey

The six locations identified as suitable during the HSI assessment were sampled for eDNA. This method involved taking water samples from each water body within Natural England’s accepted sampling period of 15th April to 30th June following the methodology described in the Defra Report WC1067 (Biggs et al. 2014a) and the subsequent Technical Advice Note (Biggs et al., 2014b).

Twenty 30ml water samples were taken from each location on 17th April 2019 by Kerri Watson BSc (Hons) ACIEEM, Natural England GCN Level 1 Class licence holder (Registration No. 2015-18280-CLS-CLS and agent on Faye Midmore’s NRW GCN License S085430/1) and Louise Woolley BSc MCIEEM using sterile field equipment supplied by SureScreen Scientifics. Sample locations were selected based on accessibility and suitable GCN egg laying and displaying areas, with as much of the margin being sampled as possible. The surveyor wore sterile gloves whilst taking the sample and did not enter the water. The water column was mixed gently before taking the sample, with care taken not to disturb the sediment at the bottom of the pond. The samples from each pond were mixed and 15ml added to six sterile tubes containing 35ml ethanol.

Samples were stored overnight in a refrigerator and then sent to SureScreen Scientifics for analysis. The methodology for laboratory analysis can be provided by SureScreen Scientifics.

3.4 Great Crested Newt Presence/ Absence Surveys

Great crested newt presence / absence surveys were undertaken by licensed ecologists between 9th May 2019 and 6th June 2019 on Ponds 2 and 3 in accordance with methods stated within the Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines (English Nature, 2001).

This involved a combination of bottle trapping, torchlight survey and egg searching over six visits within the recommended survey season; between mid-March and mid-June.

Survey details are shown in Table 11.6.2. below.

Table 11.6.2.: Great Crested Newt survey dates and weather conditions

Visit Date Surveyor Minimum overnight Temperature

Weather

1 09/05/2019 LJ 10°C Patchy cloud, light winds 2 11/05/2019 LJ 9°C Clear, light winds 3 15/05/2019 CS, LJ 7°C Clear, light winds 4 23/05/2019 CS, LJ 9°C Patchy cloud, light winds 5 28/05/2019 CS, LJ 8°C Patchy cloud, light winds 6 06/06/2019 CS, LJ 10°C Patchy cloud, still

CS = Craig Stenson (NRW GCN level 1 licence number - SO85467/1); LJ = Lee Jenkins (working as and Agent under CS NRW GCN level 1 license)



3.5 Reptile Survey

Surveys to ascertain the likely presence/ absence of reptiles were undertaken following current good practice methodologies (Froglife, 1999). This involved the deployment of 150 0.5m2 artificial refuges (roofing felt) on 19 March 2019 in areas of suitable habitat across the Site. Refuges were left to ‘bed-in’ for two weeks prior to a series of seven visits in which a search for reptiles was made both under/on-top of refuges and within open habitats. Dates, personnel and weather conditions for visits are detailed in Table 11.6.3.

Table 11.6.3: Reptile survey dates and weather conditions

Visit Date Time Surveyor Temperature Weather 1 10/04/2019 14:45 KW/MW 13°C 15% cloud cover (cc), sunny, light wind 2 01/05/2019 12:00 DGS 14°C 20% cloud cover (cc), sunny, light wind 3 10/05/2019 12:00 KW/MW 16°C 80% cloud cover (cc), sunny, light wind 4 16/05/2019 08:00 GV 15°C 15% cloud cover (cc), sunny, light wind 5 21/05/2019 12:30 DM 17°C 40% cloud cover (cc), sunny, light wind 6 22/05/2019 10:30 SS 15°C 60% CC, hazy sun, light breeze 7 03/06/2019 10:00 SS 15°C 50% CC, Int Sun, Light breeze

KW = Kerri Watson BSc (Hons) ACIEEM; MW = Mark Witherall BSc. (Hons) MCIEEM, DGS = Dominic Sheldon BSc (Hons) PgCert ACIEEM; DM = Declan Murphy BSc MRes ACIEEM; GV = Gavin Vella BA (Hons); SS = Steve Shutt BSc (Hons).

3.6 Limitations

Care has been taken to ensure that balanced advice is provided on the information available and collected during the study period(s), and within the resources available for the project. However, the possibility of important ecological features being missed due to survey timings, absence during surveys or the year of survey cannot be ruled out. In addition, the lack of evidence or records of protected species on Site does not preclude their presence from Site.

4 RESULTS

4.1 Desk Study

There are no records of great crested newt within 3km of the Site.

South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre returned eight records of reptiles within 2km of the Site since 2009, comprising slow worm Anguis fragilis, grass snake Natrix helvetica, common lizard Zootoca vivpara and adder Vipera berus.

4.2 Survey Results

4.2.1 Amphibians

All six water bodies were assessed using HSI; with five ‘Poor’, and one ‘Below Average’ for their suitability to support breeding GCN.

eDNA samples were taken from six locations suitable for this method. All but pond 2 tested negative for great crested newt DNA (refer to Appendix A for laboratory reports). The results are summarised in Table 11.6.4. Pond locations are shown in Figure 11.6.1.

Ponds 2 and 3 were surveyed for GCN in March and April 2019, however only one common frog and one common toad were recorded during the six survey visits. From the torch light survey, it could be seen that there were a lot of fish present within these ponds.



4.2.2 Reptiles

A maximum count of two individual grass snakes was recorded across the Site on any one day. This suggests a small population of grass snake is present on Site; however, given the intensive grazing and lack of fencing to many of the hedgerows, suitable habitat was limited to mature, dense hedgerow bases and reen and ditch margins (see Figure 11.6.2).

5 SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

There are no known records of great crested newt within 3km of the Site, five water samples were returned negative for great crested newt eDNA, and further surveys of ponds 2 and 3 returned no evidence of Great Crested Newts. The eDNA result from pond 2 could be explained as either a very small population that did not materialise in the traditional presence / absence survey or as a false positive result originating from the accidental transference of GCN DNA to the pond e.g. by wildfowl or sample contamination in the laboratory. The presence of high numbers of fish observed within the ponds, clearly makes these ponds generally unsuitable for GCN as eggs and young would be predated by them. For the purposes of mitigation, a EPS licence cannot be sought, however the precautionary principle will be applied for presence of a small population of GCN, for works within the vicinity of these ponds.

The Site supports a small population of grass snake meaning appropriate mitigation will be required to avoid potential impacts.



Table 11.6.4: Great crested newt survey results

Pond no.

Distance from Site boundary Pond/Ditch description Photograph HSI

Score GCN suitability (HSI)

eDNA results

Presence / Absence Survey results

1

200m south of the south western corner of the Site

Approx. 500m2 pond situated in centre of golf course. 20% shoreline shade, and 1% aquatic vegetation. Moderate water quality. Poor terrestrial habitat owing to presence of adjacent amenity grassland. Major water fowl impact and possible presence of fish.

0.444 Poor Negative N/A

2 Within southern scallop in site boundary

Approx. 4200m2 located within southern scallop in site boundary. 15% shoreline shade and 5% aquatic vegetation. Moderate water quality. Moderate terrestrial habitat owing to presence of adjacent grassland, and boggy connections with Pond 3. Major water fowl impact and possible presence of fish.

0.447 Poor Positive No GCN



Pond no.



eDNA results


3 Within southern scallop in site boundary

Approx. 5050m2 within southern scallop in site boundary. 2% shoreline shade and 5% aquatic vegetation. Moderate water quality. Moderate terrestrial habitat owing to presence of adjacent grassland, and boggy connections with Pond 2. Major water fowl impact and major presence of fish.

0.284 Poor Negative No GCN

4 Within site boundary

Approx. 550m2 located adjancent to Horsecroft Reen. 10% shoreline shade and 5% aquatic vegetation. Poor terrestrial habitat and moderate water quality. Possible waterfowl and possible fish presence.




Pond no.



eDNA results


5 Within site boundary

Approx. 800m2 located in pastoral field adjancent to Summerway Reen. 2% shoreline shade and 15% aquatic vegetation. Poor terrestrial habitat and poor water quality. Major waterfowl impacts and possible fish presence.


6 300m east

Approx. 800m2 located parralel to Hawse Lane. 40% shoreline shade and 30% aquatic vegetation. Moderate terrestrial habitat and moderate water quality. Major waterfowl impact and possible fish presence.

0.508 Below average Negative N/A



6 REFERENCES

ARG UK (2010) ARG UK Advice Note 5: Great Crested Newt Habitat Suitability Index. Amphibian and Reptile

Groups of the United Kingdom.

Biggs J, Ewald N, Valentini A, Gaboriaud C, Griffiths RA, Foster J, Wilkinson J, Arnett A, Williams P and Dunn F (2014a) Analytical and methodological development for improved surveillance of the Great Crested Newt. Defra

Project WC1067. Freshwater Habitats Trust: Oxford.

Biggs J, Ewald N, Valentini A, Gaboriaud C, Griffiths RA, Foster J, Wilkinson J, Arnett A, Williams P and Dunn F (2014b) Analytical and methodological development for improved surveillance of the Great Crested Newt. Appendix

5. Technical advice note for field and laboratory sampling of great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) environmental

DNA. Freshwater Habitats Trust, Oxford.

English Nature (2001) Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines. English Nature, Peterborough.

Froglife (1999) Froglife Advice Sheet 10: Reptile Survey - An introduction to planning, conducting and interpreting

surveys for snake and lizard conservation. Froglife, London.

Oldham R.S., Keeble J., Swan M.J.S. & Jeffcote M. (2000) Evaluating the Suitability of Habitat for the Great Crested

Newt (Triturus Cristatus). Herpetological Journal, 10: 143-155.



Appendix A – eDNA Laboratory Reports

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