SEGEN LTD ECOLOGY ADDENDUM: APPENDIX E SECTION E9. Ecology Addendum: Appendix E Section E9

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1 Ecology Addendum: Appendix E Section E9

2 Introduction This addedum has been produced in line with the advice provided in Lancashire County Council Ecology consultation response. It provided additional details of the extent of the ecological investigations undertaken to support the findings of the EIA. The addendum forms part of Appendix E and should be read in conjunction with the rest of Appendix E ES Volume 2 and Chapter 5 ES Volume 1. Target Notes Submitted in response to Section 2 of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC The following target notes are relevant to the study area. Target Notes TN1 TN2 TN3 TN4 TN5 TN6 TN7 TN8 TN9 A narrow, relatively shallow stream with sandstone (millstone grit) and clayey base, running through improved grassland. Species-poor with little or no aquatic vegetation other than occasional brooklime, common star-wort and fool s water-cress. Bankside vegetation closely grazed and poached in parts but vegetation occasionally well developed with reed canary-grass, rushes, great willow-herb and opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage where access to animals is restricted due to steepness of bank. No signs of water vole usage and generally unsuitable for this species due to general lack of aquatic vegetation, lack of depth, and rocky banks rendering burrowing difficult. Block of semi-natural broad-leaved woodland dominated by oak and ash with a moderately rich and diverse under-storey typical of ancient woodland. Vernal species such as bluebell, wood sorrel, wood anemone and wild garlic well represented. Trees range from mature to semi-mature and with both standing and fallen deadwood. Both ash and oak are regenerating well. High nature conservation value. Includes a heavily shaded pond to the north (TN4) An extensive area of improved grassland. Very low species diversity, dominated by perennial rye-grass and other agricultural grassland species. Used by brown hare and to a lesser extent, deer. Otherwise of low nature-conservation value Pond located within mature woodland. Very steep-sided and heavily-shaded resulting in highly eutrophic conditions. Species-poor in terms of both aquatic flora and macro-invertebrates. Unsuitable for great crested newt breeding and none found during specific surveys Extensive area of broadleaved woodland with a stream running along centre (as TN1). Canopy species comprise mainly birch and oak but sycamore dominant in parts and other species such as alder occur, the latter mostly adjacent to the stream. Ground flora less diverse than the woodland at TN2, but still with the characteristics of semi-natural ancient woodland, albeit in modified form. Well used by deer. Standing and fallen deadwood present with habitat for a number of bird and invertebrate species. No signs of roosting bats in trees. The stream is species-poor in terms of both vascular plants and macro-invertebrates due to the level of shade and eutrophic conditions. A pond (an in-line pool fed by the stream) occurs to the north of this block of woodland. Found to be unsuitable for use by great crested newts for breeding due to lack of aquatic vegetation and heavy over-head shade. A specific survey revealed no signs of great crested newts Area of improved grassland heavily grazed by cattle and sheep and of low botanical species-diversity. Very limited ecological value Area of improved grassland similar to TN6, separated by a post and wire fence and semi-defunct hedgerow. Heavily grazed by cattle and sheep and of low botanical species-diversity. Very limited ecological value The northern extension of the stream that crosses the site. Slightly deeper than the lower reaches (TN1) with softer banks and a better developed aquatic flora including brooklime, common water starwort, rushes, great willow-herb, fool s water-cress and reed canary-grass. Marginally suitable for water vole but no conclusive signs found Area of semi-improved, ungrazed grassland situated along the margins of the existing experimental areas. Moderate species diversity though dominated by grasses such as false oat-grass, rough and smooth meadow grasses, cock s-foot, meadow foxtail, common bent, red fescue and Yorkshire fog and relatively few forbs

3 TN10 TN11 TN12 TN13 The existing field experiment plots used by the university. Little used by wildlife due to level of disturbance although oyster-catchers regularly perch on fence posts Existing buildings comprising meteorological station, radio mast and associated buildings, glasshouses and hard-standing. Little potential for bat roosting and no sigs of bats emerging or returning to roost sites Small copse of woodland growing around a former pond (now vegetated over with rushes, though still boggy). Canopy species include Scot s pine, beech and sycamore. Good habitat for birds but species-poor in botanical terms An extensive, mostly intact hedge-line which is species-rich in parts but species-poor in others and could be marginally classed as an Important Hedge due to the number of woody species present

4 Pond Survey Locations Submitted in response to Section 2 of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC

5 Great Crested Newt Survey Submitted in response to Section 2 of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC The dates of the Great Crested Newt Survey are as follows; 15th May torchlight survey, set bottle traps (ponds 1 and 2 only), netting (pond 3) 16th May check bottle traps, egg search 18th May torchlight survey, set bottle traps (ponds 1 and 2 only), netting (pond 3) 19th May check bottle traps, egg search 21st May torchlight survey, set bottle traps (ponds 1 and 2 only), netting (pond 3) 22nd May check bottle traps, egg search 4th July torchlight survey, set bottle traps (ponds 1 and 2 only), netting (pond 3) 5th July check bottle traps, egg search Pond 2 is effectively two ponds but has been treated as one as they are joined together. Pond 3 is not a proper pond but was surveyed for the sake of completeness. However, it was found to be too shallow for bottle-trapping so the third method used was netting. Any other ponds in the area were not surveyed as they were considered to be isolated in habitat terms. Badgers Submitted in response to Section 4. of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC Update to section of the ES Volume 1 For the majority of the site, an inspection of al suitable habitat to a distance of at least 30m from the site boundaries revealed no conclusive signs of any badger activity. For clarify I can confirm that the badger survey allowed for land to a distance of at least 30m from the site boundaries. The wording in section ("for most of the site") was misleading and unintentional on this basis please accept the revised wording as detailed above in bold. Birds Submitted in response to Section 4.5 of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC Update to section 5.3 and I can confirm that further to the referenced literature the bird surveys were carried out having regard to Natural England Technical Advice note TIN069 Assessing the effects of onshore wind farms on birds and Scottish Naturtal Heritage advice Survey Methods for use in assessing the impacts of onshore Windfarms on Bird Communities, These documents were also references with respect to mitigation proposals which include post installation monitoring of bird usage near turbines.

6 For the most part the bird surveys were conducted from within the site or at the site boundaries at good vantage points. For example near the entrance gate to the Met Station which has a commanding view of the site. The extent of the land surveyed outside the development site ranged between 30-50m beyond the site boundaries for perching birds (visible records) and up to 100m or more for larger, overflying birds, flocks of smaller birds on the ground. Audible records of other birds were also taken (most are identified by calls which carry for long distances, these birds were not always seen so in some cases a general location, direction and distance was assumed based on loudness of call). The land immediately adjacent to the site, especially where good habitat occurs, was also inspected both visually (with binoculars) and audibly from University site or public highways only as no access was available to private land. Woodland Ground Flora Submitted in response to Section 5.1 of Consultation Response Ref 01E1/SB/AC As part of the initial ecology survey the following ground flora species were recorded in the eastern woodland block which is partially affected by the turbine installation. The frequency of occurance is detailed in brackets. bluebell (o) red campion (o) wavy hair-grass (f-la) broad-buckler fern (f) male fern (o) bramble (f-ld) bracken (o) red fescue (f) ivy (f-ld) foxglove (o) Thisspecies list broadly corresponds to a W16 Quercus spp.-betula spp.-deschampsia flexuosa woodland (NVC) but in modified form. The woodland was found to be fairly species-poor which is a characteristic of this particular vegetation community but has the characteristics of semi-natural ancient woodland. Appropriate mitigation includes to compensation for loss of semi-natural woodland is linked with the proposals for allowing natural regeneration via translocating the soils from the area of cleared woodland into one of the proposed natural regeneration area. Further details of this will be provided as part of the final Habitat Mitigation Plan which will be submitted in due course.