Mountain Ranch Bike Park, Heol Pen-y-Bryn, Caerphilly

Transcription

1 Sunset Sports Ltd Mountain Ranch Bike Park, Heol Pen-y-Bryn, Caerphilly Great Crested Newt Survey addendum June 2016

2 Mountain Ranch Bike Park Great Crested Newt Survey addendum June 2016 Contents 1. Introduction Pond descriptions Habitat Suitability Index Torch survey Survey findings Discussion References... 4 Document reference: C217/D6/V1 Cover photographs: Left: Pond (A1) west of car-park; Right: Small temporary pond (A2) west of car-park, with larger pond (A1) beyond. This document has been produced for Sunset Sports Ltd by: Sturgess Ecology 12 Lon Ysgubor, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6SG peter@sturgess-ecology.co.uk Web: i

3 1. Introduction Sunset Sports Ltd are intending to develop land at Mountain View Ranch (Grid Reference ST138847) as a bike park. An initial ecological survey was carried out during 2015 (Sturgess Ecology 2015) and a survey for Great Crested Newts was subsequently undertaken between April and June 2016 to provide information to assist in the planning process during spring 2016 (Sturgess Ecology 2016). There are over twenty ponds within 500m of the study area, but it would have been impractical to survey all of these because most fall outside of the landholding that would be affected. The 2016 study therefore focussed on the four ponds that lie within the study area (24, 33, 35N and 35S), and permission was obtained to survey two additional ponds that are located outside the proposed bike park area, but within 50m of the boundary (10 and 12). However, since the survey was completed the study area boundary has been amended to take in some additional land at the southern boundary, which lies within 50m of a pond in an area of horse-grazed pasture. Permission was subsequently obtained to carry out a survey of this additional pond, and this is described in this addendum. The pond locations are indicated in Figure 1. The pond numbering follows the target note numbering used in the 2015 study. The additional pond is numbered A1. Another small scrape with standing water was also examined, and this is labelled A2. Figure 1. Location of ponds included in the study. The seasonal constraints do not permit a conventional newt survey at Pond A1 this year, in addition, steep banks and a dense belt of Bramble and Willow makes access to much of the margins impractical. Therefore an assessment of the pond was made by torch survey and egg-searching of the accessible margins, to confirm presence of Great Crested Newts. This was supplemented by a Habitat Suitability Index assessment. 1

4 2. Pond descriptions Pond A1 is approximately 20m wide and 45m long. It is at least 1m deep and has steep sided earth-banks. Approximately 75% of the boundary is shaded by dense Willow and Bramble. The north-east and south-western ends of the pond are not shaded, and are grazed by Canada Geese. Not all of the pond is readily visible, but the accessible parts indicate a belt of submerged Spiked Water-milfoil extending for up to 5m from the margin. There are also small quantities of Broad-leaved Pondweed, Water Mint and a fine-leaved Pondweed. Other plants noted around the margin include Grey Willow, Bramble, Pedunculate Oak, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Soft Rush, Compact Rush, Male Fern, Lady Fern, Common Spotted Orchid, Devil's-bit Scabious, Marsh Thistle and Purple Moor-grass. Pond A1, viewed from south-west side. Pond A2 is approximately 5m diameter. It has a sandy base and might feasibly be a former golf-course bunker. At the time of the survey it supported water approximately 10cm deep, but appears to dry out frequently. The flora comprised mainly Common Spike Rush, with other species including Creeping Buttercup, Marsh Bedstraw, Common Yellow-sedge, Soft Rush, Pointed Spear-moss and Grey Willow seedlings. Pond A2, viewed from south-west side. 2

5 3. Habitat Suitability Index An assessment of the additional ponds' suitability to support Great Crested Newts was made using the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) method (ARG UK, 2010), as was undertaken for the previous ponds. The HSI assessment for the additional ponds is summarised in Table 3. Some of the factors have been based on assumptions. The HSI suggests that pond A1 would be categorised as having 'good' potential to support Great Crested Newts, while the scrape at A2 is 'poor'. The scrape at A2 is probably too dry for too long to have any chance of supporting amphibians. Table 3: Great Crested Newt HSI assessment of the ponds. Suitability Index/ factor SI 1 (location) SI 2 (Area) SI 3 (Permanence) SI 4 (Water quality) SI 5 (Shade) SI 6 (Waterfowl) SI 7 (Fish) SI 8 (Pond count) SI 9 (Terrestrial habitat) SI 10 (Macrophytes) Comment A1 A2 Marginal ( Area B in guidelines) Estimated from habitat plan A1 appears permanent, while A2 rarely supports standing water. Assumed to have good water quality. 1 1 A1 is largely fringed by Willows, A2 is open A1 has resident Canada Geese, but the pond still supports submerged aquatic plants. No evidence of fish. 1 1 OS mapping shows 31 other ponds within 1km of each pond. 1 1 Some very good habitat by the ponds, but heavily grazed pasture and the car-parking area mean that it is not around all sides. A1 has about 20% submerged aquatics, A supports occasionally inundated terrestrial plants. Habitat Suitability Index Torch survey Due to the seasonal limitations, the torch survey was carried out as soon as the revised boundary was available and permission obtained to access the additional pond. It was undertaken by Dr Peter Sturgess CEnv MCIEEM, under Natural Resources Wales (NRW) licence (licence No :OTH:SA:2016). The survey involved a single visit, on 22 June A day-time inspection confirmed Great Crested Newt eggs on Water Mint near the margin of Pond A1. The weather for the nighttime torch survey was mild and overcast, with a temperature of 16 o C. Pond 33 was also revisited, to provide a comparison with the previous survey data. The survey findings are summarised in Table 1. 3

6 5. Survey findings The survey results are summarised in Table 1. The following abbreviations are used in the table: Table 1. Summary of newt torch survey 22 June 2016 Pond 33 ST GCN (4 female, 3 male, 2 indet.) Approx 10 Palmate/ Smooth Newts. Water moderately turbid and aquatic plants/ algae obscuring some parts of pond. Grass Snake hunting at pond margin/ in pond. Pond A1 ST GCN (9 female, 4 male, 1 indet.) Approx 5 Palmate/ Smooth newts. Few tadpoles present (probably Common Toad). GCN eggs present on Water Mint near margin. Water clear, but accessibility for torch survey limited to less than 50% of pond margin. Pond A2 ST No amphibians seen. Water very clear and whole pond bed visible. 6. Discussion The survey has confirmed the presence of Great Crested Newts using Pond A1, which is close to the revised site boundary. The smaller pond/ scrape at A2 is not considered likely to support them. It is now too late in the year to carry out a conventional survey at Pond A1 and it would be very difficult to survey anyway due to the steep and wooded banks. However, the observations made during the recent visit are sufficient to confirm that Great Crested Newts are present, and to suggest that the numbers are broadly comparable to Pond 33 which lies within the study area and has already been surveyed. It is anticipated that this will be sufficient to inform the subsequent mitigation design and licence application process. The newt population within the Bike Park study area is still considered to fall within the 'medium' population class. As discussed in the previous survey report, it is very likely that there are more ponds in the wider area that also contain Great Crested Newts. The project design and mitigation for newts will need to take account of animals moving around in their foraging habitat, which could feasibly be within any part of the site with suitable cover. 7. References Amphibian and Reptile Groups UK (2010). Great Crested Newt Habitat Suitability Index. ARG UK Advice Note 5. Sturgess Ecology (December 2015). Mountain Ranch Bike Park, Heol Pen-y-Bryn, Caerphilly: Ecology Survey. Unpublished Report to Sunset Sports Ltd. Sturgess Ecology (June 2016). Mountain Ranch Bike Park, Heol Pen-y-Bryn, Caerphilly: Great Crested Newt Survey. Unpublished Report to Sunset Sports Ltd. 4