Water Lane Laithe, Embsay, North Yorkshire February 2016 Tel: 01765 600799 Email: info@quantsenvironmental.com Web: www.quantsenvironmental.com
Contents 1 Introduction... 3 2 Survey Methodology... 4 2.1 Desk Study... 4 2.2 Bat Roost Assessment... 4 2.3 Limitations... 4 3 Survey Results... 5 3.1 Desk Study... 5 3.2 Building Description... 5 3.3 Evidence of Bats and Bat Roost Potential... 5 3.4 Habitat Description... 6 3.5 Barn owls... 6 3.6 Birds... 6 4 Conclusions and Recommendations... 7 4.1 Conclusions... 7 4.2 Recommendations... 7 Appendix 1: Legislation and Conservation Context... 8 Appendix 2: Photographs... 9 Appendix 3: North Yorkshire Bat Group Records...11 2
1 Introduction This report presents the results of a bat roost potential survey undertaken on 4 th February 2016 by Quants Environmental at Water Lane Laithe, Low Lane, Embsay, North Yorkshire, BD23 6SG. Figure 1 provides an illustration of the location of the surveyed building. The bat roost potential survey was conducted in relation to the proposed development works at the site, which include the conversion of the existing barn into a single dwelling. The surveyed site is situated at grid reference SE021536, 760 m to the east of the village of Embsay. The site is located at an altitude of 158 m above sea level; 3.6 km to the north-east of Skipton and 3.7 km to the west of Bolton Abbey. Water Lane Beck is located 35 m to the east of the surveyed site. A nesting bird assessment was undertaken during the site survey. This report was completed to inform planning decisions in relation to the development plans. Figure 1: Site location plan red line shows surveyed building (image dated 2009). 3
2 Survey Methodology 2.1 Desk Study North Yorkshire Bat Group (NYBG) was contacted for records of bats within a 2 km radius of the site. 2.2 Bat Roost Assessment The barn proposed for conversion was subject to a bat roost assessment on 4 th February 2016 by Thomas McQuillan MCIEEM (Natural England Class Licence Registration - WML- CL18 Level 2 1 ) of Quants Environmental. The assessment was undertaken in accordance with the standard methodology as far as was possible 23. The exterior of the building was searched for signs of bats such as droppings and for potential bat access points and roost features. The building was inspected for evidence of bats including droppings, scratches, staining, urine marking, corpses and feeding remains i.e. insect wings. An internal assessment was completed as part of the survey. The structural features of the building that are suitable to support bats in terms of potential bat egress points and roost locations were recorded in order to determine the likelihood of bats being present. This would in turn allow the assignment of a classification (negligible to high) of the potential of the building to support bat roosts. An assessment for nesting birds, including barn owls 4, was undertaken during the survey. A high powered LED torch, ladders, close-focusing binoculars and a digital endoscope were available for use throughout the assessment. 2.3 Limitations Given the objectives of the bat roost potential survey it is considered that there were no significant survey limitations. The timber panels above the livestock pens were in a very poor condition restricting access in this area, especially on the western side of the barn; this constraint was not considered to be significant. 1 Natural England Survey Licence Registration Number: 2015-11312-CLS-CLS 2 Hundt L (2012) Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines, 2nd edition, Bat Conservation Trust. ISBN-13: 9781872745985. 3 North Yorkshire Bat Group; Bat Survey Requirements; Minimum Standards in North Yorkshire; Version 1, dated 12/11/2013. 4 The Barn Owl Trust; Barn Owl Conservation Handbook; 2012. 4
3 Survey Results 3.1 Desk Study Bat records as provided by North Yorkshire Bat Group are presented in Appendix 3. NYBG provided 12 bat species records within the search area. Recorded species included common pipistrelle, pipistrelle and several unknown species. Nine of the records were for confirmed bat roosts, with one inflight record and one record of a grounded bat. Records date between 1986 and 2015, with the majority of the records from the nearby settlement of Embsay. There are no records the surveyed building. Bat species that would be expected within the local area include common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, and brown long-eared Plectotus auritus. The nearest statutory protected site is Holy Well Bridge SSSI 5 which is located 416 m to the south-east. 3.2 Building Description Also refer to photographs in Appendix 2. The surveyed barn is located adjacent to Low Lane, with the building description as follows: Barn The barn is of stone construction (twin skin; with rubble cavity) with a pitched corrugated sheet roof (north and south aspects; 1/6 of the roof sheeting is missing). The barn originally had a roof covering of stone tiles (based on aerial imagery from 2002). The western part of the barn is partially collapsed; this section measures circa. 7 m x 7 m. The eastern section of the barn which still stands measures 12 m x 7 m. The barn has no enclosed loft void and contains a single room that is open to the timber roof structure and underside of the roof sheeting. Located within the barn are a series of original timber livestock pens that have a timber covering. The barn has a single window on the eastern elevation that has a timber shutter. Located on the southern elevation are two windows (no glass or shutters), 2 doors (1 open and 1 timber door) with a large open central barn doorway (no doors present). There are no windows on the western elevation with 3 windows (all with timber shutters) on the northern elevation. Sandstone lintels surround the door and window frames. The barn is currently used for livestock shelter for the sheep grazing in the field to the south. The internal part of the barn is light (due to the missing section of roof covering, open windows and doorways). The roof sheeting is set directly onto the timber roof structure, with no roofing membrane present. On the external and internal elevations there numerous cracks/crevices due to eroded mortar, missing stones and cracked render on the southern elevation. The internal area of the barn was airy due to the poorly fitted roof and missing roof sheeting. Water ingress was noted on at several points on the barn, especially in the north-west corner. There are no trees directly surrounding the building and no ivy growth on the external elevations. The barn was considered to be in a poor state of repair. Evidence of rat activity was recorded in the barn. 3.3 Evidence of Bats and Bat Roost Potential No evidence of bat roosting activity was recorded during the internal and external assessment of the barn. The potential value of the barn to roosting bats was reduced for several reasons: The building did not have a roof for several years previous (no roof in 2009). Notable water ingress and air movement within the barn. The current roof is in a very poor condition (held on by straps that often fail). The barn was unsuitable for bat species such as brown long-eared with the most likely species to roost within the barn being pipistrelle. 5 SSSI Special Site of Scientific Interest 5
3.4 Habitat Description The site includes the barn and a small area of sheep grazed pasture. Low Lane runs along the northern wall of the barn. The barn is located in a rural location with agricultural farmland on sides. The nearest built-up area is the village of Embsay 760m to the west. The Abbey Steam Railway is located 165 m to the south with Skipton Rock Quarry beyond this. Water Lane Beck is located 35 m to the east of the surveyed site with Kempley Beck 450 m to the west. In the local area agricultural farmland (pasture) is dominant. The agricultural fields in the local area are principally bound by dry stonewalls that provide connectivity and foraging corridors for bats. The habitats surrounding the site provide foraging opportunities for bats and moderate levels of bat activity are expected within the local area. 3.5 Barn owls 3.6 Birds Evidence of barn owl activity was recorded within the surveyed barn. Circa. 100 recent (less than 6 months old) and circa. 100 old pellets were recorded in the internal area of the barn, notably above the eastern livestock pen. Staining from owl droppings were also noted on the timber beams with circa. 10 feathers recorded within the barn. No evidence of nesting activity was noted in the barn, however given that barn owls don t typically build a nest it cannot be confirmed that the barn is not used by nesting barn owls. The barn was considered suitable for nesting barn owls, notably along the tops of the internal walls. Evidence of bird nesting activity was noted during the assessment of the barn with several small nests recorded within the internal areas of the barn. The barn was considered suitable for the nesting purposes of common species such as house sparrow Passer domesticus and wren Troglodytes troglodytes. No evidence of swallow nesting activity was noted. 6
4 Conclusions and Recommendations 4.1 Conclusions The main conclusions from the bat roost potential survey are as follows: 4.2 Recommendations Bats No evidence of bat roosting activity was recorded during the survey of the barn. There are no historic records for bat species within the surveyed site. The surrounding habitats are favourable to bats in terms of connectivity to the site and foraging value, notably to the south and east. Evidence of barn owl was recorded in the barn. The barn was considered suitable for nesting birds. Based on the above conclusions, providing standard mitigation procedures are applied and coordinated with the development plans it is concluded that bats do not present a significant ecological constraint to the development of the site. It is recommended that works on the barn are completed in accordance with an appropriate Bat Mitigation and Enhancement Strategy that is produced prior to any works commencing on site and implemented in full. This strategy should be informed by a dusk emergence survey (undertaken between May and September). Barn Owls The barn was confirmed as an active barn owl roost, with the potential for barn owl nesting activity. It would be recommended that an appropriate Barn Owl Mitigation and Enhancement Strategy is produced prior to works commencing on the barn, and implemented in full. This strategy should cover mitigation input at the works stage (pre-start assessment; importantly given the high susceptibility to disturbance this survey should be undertaken prior to any construction works commencing on site to avoid nesting barn owls being disturbed). The inclusion of suitable nest/roost boxes should be included as part of the strategy. Birds The barn provides potential nesting points for several bird species. All wild birds in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) which makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or destroy the nest (whilst being built or in use) or its eggs. As such, it is recommended that construction works be undertaken outside of the breeding bird season for the local area (March-August inclusive), unless preceded by checks for nesting birds by a suitable experienced ecologist. 7
Appendix 1: Legislation and Conservation Context Bats All British bat species are fully protected through The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 as European Protected Species (EPS). They also receive some protection through inclusion in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). It is an offence to deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat. It is an offence to damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of a bat. It is an offence to deliberately disturb a bat; in particular any disturbance which is likely (a) to impair their ability - (i) to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young, or (ii) in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or (b) to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), it is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection; or obstruct access to any structure or place which any such animal uses for shelter or protection. The appropriate authority (Natural England in England) has powers to issue licences for various purposes including - (a) scientific or educational purposes and (e) preserving public health or public safety or other imperative reasons of overriding public interest including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment. The appropriate authority shall not grant a licence under this regulation unless they are satisfied - (a) that there is no satisfactory alternative, and (b) that the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range. It is an offence for any person authorised by virtue of a licence to which this paragraph applies to contravene or fail to comply with any condition which the licence requires him to comply with. Several species of bat including brown long-eared and soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus are identified as UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species. Nesting birds All wild birds in the UK are protected under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) which makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird or take, damage or destroy the nest (whilst being built or in use) or its eggs. Bird species listed in Schedule 1 of the 1981 Act, such as barn owl, receive further protection which makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb these species while building a nest or in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young; or to disturb dependent young of such a bird. Barn owls Barn owls are afforded protection against killing, injury or capture under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), under Schedule 1 of which, offenders are liable to special penalties. Their nests and eggs are also protected. Under Schedule 1 of the Act (as amended) breeding barn owls are afforded protection against reckless disturbance while at or near the nest and, for as long as they are dependent on the adults, recently fledged young are protected against reckless disturbance at all times wherever they are. 8
Appendix 2: Photographs Photo 1: Surveyed barn: west and south elevations. Photo 2: Surveyed barn: south and east elevations. 9
Photo 3: Surveyed barn: internal view western wall. Photo 4: Surveyed barn: showing the evidence of barn owl activity. 10
Appendix 3: North Yorkshire Bat Group Records Species Site Grid ref. Quantity Date Comment Common Pipistrelle 15 Wood View, Embsay SE0054534 2 20-Jul-15 In flight Pipistrelle species Greenfield House, Low Lane, Embsay SE013549 23 11-Jul-04 Roost Pipistrelle species 43 Millholme Rise, Embsay, Skipton SE002533 02-Aug-08 Roost Unknown Embsay Mills, Embsay, Skipton SE006534 21-Jul-01 Roost Unknown Embsay church, Embsay SE012541 1 27-Dec-02 Injured bat Unknown Eastby, Embsay SE016544 17-Feb-92 Unknown The Barn, Shires Lane, Embsay SE010536 21-Aug-00 Roost Unknown Barden Road, Eastby SE016544 02-Jul-91 Roost Cross End, 53a Main Street, Unknown Embsay SE011539 28-Mar-86 Roost Unknown 53 The Marsh, Embsay SE0053 01-Apr-86 Roost Unknown Laurel Croft, Embsay SE009537 May-08 Roost Unknown Laurel Croft, Embsay SE009537 01-May-08 Roost 11