HAZELWALLS FARM APPENDIX A: BAT SURVEY · PDF fileHAZELWALLS FARM APPENDIX A: BAT SURVEY...

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September 2014

HAZELWALLS FARM

APPENDIX A: BAT SURVEY REPORT

Our Ref: JPP3177 RPS Willow Mere House Compass Point Business Park Stocks Bridge Way St Ives Cambridgeshire PE27 5JL Tel: +44(0)1480 466335 Fax: +44(0)1480 466911 Email: [email protected]

sarah.titterton

Text Box

P/2015/01497 Received 22 Oct 2015

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QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Prepared by: Antonio Moreno

Surveyors: Jacquelyn Kerr, Antonio Moreno

Reviewed by: Matthew Fasham

Authorised by: Matthew Fasham

Date: September 2014

Project Number/Document

Reference:

JPP3177-R-002b

Client: David Wilson Homes

COPYRIGHT © RPS

The material presented in this report is confidential. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of David Wilson Homes and shall not be distributed or made available to any other company or person without the knowledge and written consent of David Wilson Homes or RPS.

To achieve the study objectives stated in this report, we were required to base our conclusions on the best information available during the period of the investigation and within the limits prescribed by our client in the agreement.

No investigative method can completely eliminate the possibility of obtaining partially imprecise or incomplete information. Thus, we cannot guarantee that the investigations completely defined the degree or extent of e.g. species abundances or habitat management efficacy described in the report.

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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1

Background to the study .................................................................................................................... 1 Study area ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Conservation status ............................................................................................................................ 1

2 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................ 3

Transects (activity survey) ................................................................................................................. 3 Static monitoring survey .................................................................................................................... 3

3 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................. 5

Activity surveys .................................................................................................................................. 5 1st Transect. 19th May 2014. .......................................................................................................... 12 2nd Transect. 23rd June 2014. ........................................................................................................ 12 3rd Transect. 23rd July 2014 ........................................................................................................... 12

Static monitoring survey .................................................................................................................. 13

4 EVALUATION .................................................................................................................................... 21

5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................... 22

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Tables

Table 2.1. Timing and weather conditions for bat activity surveys .................................................. 3 Table 3.1. Summary of bat contacts recorded during transect surveys........................................... 5 Table 3.2. Bat activity survey. 1st Transect, 19th May......................................................................... 6 Table 3.3. Transect 1 Bat Activity Index (BAI) (Number of passes / Unit time (180 min)) ................ 7 Table 3.4. Bat activity survey. 2nd Transect, 23rd June. ..................................................................... 8 Table 3.5. Transect 2 Bat Activity Index (BAI) (Number of passes / Unit time (180 min)) ................ 9 Table 3.6. Bat activity survey. 3rd Transect, 23rd July. ..................................................................... 10 Table 3.7. Transect 3 Bat Activity Index (BAI) (Number of passes / Unit time (180 min)) .............. 11 Table 3.8. Static bat detector survey results (survey 1) .................................................................. 14 Table 3.9. Total results (survey 1) .................................................................................................... 15 Table 3.10. Automated bat detector. Survey results 23/06/2014 - 30/06/2014 ................................. 16 Table 3.11. Automated bat detector survey, Total results: 23/06/2014 - 30/06/2014. ...................... 17 Table 3.12. Automated bat detector. Survey results 23/07/2014-30/07/2014................................... 18 Table 3.13. Automated bat detector survey, Total results: 23/07/2014-30/07/2014 ........................ 19 Table 3.14. Average bat contacts per night per bat species ........................................................... 20

FIGURES

Figures are provided in the main Ecological Assessment report

Hazelwalls Farm – bat activity surveys JPP3177-R-002b September 2014

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1 INTRODUCTION

Background to the study

1.1 This report provides methods and results for bat activity surveys carried out at Hazelwalls Farm in 2014.

1.2 The aims of the surveys were to:

§ determine which bat species are using the site;

§ assess the degree to which is used by foraging or commuting bats; and

§ inform the required mitigation for loss of existing foraging / commuting habitat to the proposed development.

Study area

1.3 The site is located to the south of Uttoxeter and includes Hazelwalls Farm to the north of the site and parts of Blount’s Hall to the west (central grid reference: SK 084 324).

1.4 The site is approximately 24.5 hectares in size and consists mainly of grazing pasture with concomitant farmland features such as hedgerows, ditches, scattered trees and small pockets of woodland.

1.5 The northern boundary of the site runs adjacent to a housing estate and extensive areas of farmland, dominated by grazing pasture, lie to the south.

Conservation status

1.6 All British bat species are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as updated by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. All British bats are also included on Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations (2010) as European Protected Species. These Regulations have further been amended by the Conservation Regulations 2010 and taken together, these pieces of legislation make it an offence to:

§ intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or capture bats;

§ deliberately or recklessly disturb bats (whether in a roost or not); and

§ damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts

1.7 A roost is defined as 'any structure or place which [a bat] uses for shelter or protection'. As bats tend to reuse the same roosts, legal opinion is that a roost is protected whether or not bats are present at the time of survey.

1.8 As a consequence of the changes resulting from the 2007 Regulations, in particular, the removal of the ‘incidental result defence’ (regulation 40(3)(c) and 43(4)) which covers acts which are “an incidental result of a lawful activity and which could not reasonably have been avoided”, it means that the strict liability offence of damaging or destroying a breeding site or


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resting place will no longer be subject to a defence. A licence will therefore be required by those who carry out any operation that will result in offences being committed e.g. destruction of a bat roost on the felling of a tree.

1.9 The following bat species are listed as being of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England, (commonly referred to as UKBAP Priority species): Barbastelle, Bechstein’s, Noctule Nyctalus noctula, Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Brown Long-eared Plecotus auritus, Greater Horseshoe, and Lesser Horseshoe.


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2 METHODS

Transects (activity survey)

2.1 Three bat activity surveys were undertaken in accordance with Hundt (2012) (Bat Survey Guidelines 2nd edition) and the Natural England Bat Mitigation Guidelines (Mitchell-Jones. 2004.

2.2 Transect surveys were undertaken in 19th May, 23rd June, and 23rd July 2014 (Table 2.1).

2.3 The primary objective of transects was to identify foraging areas, commuting routes and species utilisation of the project area. Three transect surveys were undertaken during 2014. This is consistent with the best practice (Natural England 2004, BCT 2012) for a site with the medium level of suitable features.

2.4 Transects were aligned through major habitats within the site and were completed by experienced bat workers during periods of peak activity. Transects were walked at a steady pace, and included at least 15 point counts, each of which was 5 minutes long.

2.5 For each survey the surveyor operated a Pettersson DX240 time expansion bat detector in combination with an Edirol MP3 recorder. Analysis of transect recordings was undertaken using Bat Sound analysis software to confirm species and behaviour as accurately as possible .Where possible, if the bat was seen, visual cues were used to aid identification.

2.6 All bat passes, including time and species, were recorded on to field maps. Where possible the behaviour of the bat was also recorded, including foraging, commuting or feeding behaviour.

Table 2.1. Timing and weather conditions for bat activity surveys

Date:

Temperature:

Weather:

Moon phase:

Sunset time:

19/05/2014 20 °C Clear, calm Waning Gibbous 21:05 23/06/2014 20 °C Clear, calm Waning Crescent 21:37 23/07/2014 22°C Clear, calm Waning Crescent 21:15

Static monitoring survey

2.7 In order to complement the information gathered during the transect surveys, four automated bat detectors (Anabats) were placed at various locations within the survey area as shown on Figure 5.3. Each Anabat was left on site for a week in each of the three months May - July.

2.8 The Anabat was formatted to switch on prior to dusk and switch off after dawn. These devices are triggered to automatically record sounds within an appropriate frequency range to record bat calls.

2.9 Data was analysed using the Anabat software, Analook, to identify bat species recorded in each survey location.


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Limitations

2.10 Ecological surveys are limited by a variety of factors which affect the presence of flora and fauna such as season, climate, and migration patterns and species behaviour. Even if evidence of bats is not discovered, this does not mean that bats are not present, or that they will not be present in the future.

2.11 One of the Anabat (80181) was deployed over a period of a week (May, June and July) in suitable weather conditions in order to gather information about what species of bats were using the areas in question. In two different occasions Anabat (80181) did not work because of technical problems. In the third occasion it only recorded four days out of seven.


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3 RESULTS

Activity surveys

3.1 Locations of transects are shown on Figure 5.2a-c.

3.2 Four bat species were identified during the transect surveys: Common and Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule and Brown Long-eared Bat. Common Pipistrelle was by far the most common species recorded, with low numbers of the other three species. Several unidentified contacts were also recorded.

3.3 A summary of the number of contacts of each species recorded during the surveys is provided below in Table 3.1.

3.4 Full results for each transect are provided in Tables 3.2, 3.4 and 3.6.

Table 3.1. Summary of bat contacts recorded during transect surveys

Transect Date No. bat contacts

BLE NOC PIP SOP UPIP U Total 19/05/2014 27 2 22 51 23/06/2014 1 3 34 5 4 47 23/07/2014

1 81 2 6 90

BLE: Brown Long Eared; NOC: Noctule; PIP: Common pipistrelle; SOP: Soprano pipistrelle; UPIP: unidentified pipistrelle; U: Unknown bat species.

3.5 Bat activity during the transect surveys was assessed using a Bat Activity Index (BAI) which is calculated as the number of bat passes per unit of survey time and therefore provides an indication of which parts of the transects were most used by bats. The bat activity index for each transect is provided in Tables 3.3. 3.5 and 3.7.

3.6 For the purposes of this assessment, BAI was categorised as:

§ 0: No activity

§ >0 – 0.01: Low activity

§ 0.01 - 0.06: Moderate activity

§ >0.06: High activity

3.7 A summary description of each transect is also provided.


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Table 3.2. Bat activity survey. 1st Transect, 19th May

Date: 19/05/2014

Temperature: 20°C

Weather:

Clear, calm Moon phase:

Waning Gibbous

Transect N°:

1st Sunset: 21:05

Detector: Pettersson

240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM

Spot N°: Bat species / number of contacts

1 Common pip / 6 2 Common pip / 3 3 Soprano pip / 1, Common pip / 2 4 Common pip / 6 , Soprano pip / 1 5 Common pip /6 6 3 bats 7 2 bats 8 4 bats 9 1 bat

10 2 bat 11 5 bat 12 1 bat 13 2 bat 14 1 bat 15 1 bat 16 Common pip / 1, 3 bats

TOTAL 51 contacts


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Table 3.3. Transect 1 Bat Activity Index (BAI) (Number of passes / Unit time (180 min))

Date: 19/05/2014

Temperature:

20 oC

Weather: Clear, calm

Moon phase: Waning Gibbous

Sunset: 21:05

Transect N°:

1


240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM

SPOT N°: BAI number BAI result 1 0.03 M 2 0.01 L 3 0.01 L 4 0.03 M 5 0.01 L 6 0.01 L 7 0.01 L 8 0.02 M 9 0.005 L 10 0.01 L 11 0.027 M 12 0.005 L 13 0.01 L 14 0.005 L 15 0.005 L 16 0.02 M

Total average BAI = 0.01 Bat Activity Index. N: no activity: 0; L: Low activity: 0-0.01; M: Moderate activity: 0.01 - 0.06; H: High activity: >0.06


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Table 3.4. Bat activity survey. 2nd Transect, 23rd June.

Date: 23/06/2014

Temperature: 20°C

Weather:


Waning Crescent

Transect N°:

2nd Sunset: 21:37


240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM


1 - 2 Soprano pip. /1 3 - 4 4 bats 5 -

6 Brown Long-eared Bat potentially emerging from Building 10.

7 Common pip. / 12 8 Common pip / 2, Soprano pip /1 9 Common pip / 1

10 - 11 - 12 Common pip / 2, Noctule /1 13 Common pip / 3 14 Soprano pip / 1 15 Common pip / 2, Noctule / 1 16 - 17 - 18 Common pip / 1, Soprano pip / 1 19 Common pip / 2 20 Common pip / 2, Soprano pip / 1 21 Noctule / 1 22 Common pip / 7 23 -

TOTAL 47 contacts


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Date: 23/06/2014

Temperature:

20 oC

Weather:


Waning Crescent

Transect N°:

2 Sunset: 21:37


240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM

Spot N°: BAI number BAI result

1 0 N

2 0.005 L

3 0 N

4 0.02 M

5 0 N

6 0.005 L

7 0.06 M

8 0.01 L

9 0.005 L

10 0 N

11 0 N

12 0.01 L

13 0.01 L

14 0.005 L

15 0.01 L

16 0 N

17 0 N

18 0.01 L

19 0.01 L

20 0.01 L

21 0.005 L

22 0.03 M

23 0 N

Total average BAI = 0.008


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Table 3.6. Bat activity survey. 3rd Transect, 23rd July.

Date: 23/07/2014

Temperature: 22°C

Weather:


Waning Crescent

Transect N°:

3rd Sunset: 21:15


240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM


1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 -

6 Common pip / 4. Bat potentially emerging from Tree 19 or 21, flying W

7 Common pip / 16. Bat potentially emerging from Tree 17, flying W and SW

8 - 9 Common pip / 11 Heading N

10 Common pip / 2, 1 bat 11 Common pip / 26 12 3 bats 13 - 14 Common pip / 3 15 Common pip / 2 16 - 17 - 18 Common pip / 16 19 - 20 1 bat, N. Noctule / 1 21 Pip sp. / 2 Common pip / 1 22 1 Bat

TOTAL 90 contacts


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Date: 23/07/2014

Temperature:

22 oC

Weather:


Waning Crescent

Transect N°:

3 Sunset: 21:15


240X

Surveyors:

JK/AM

Spot N°: BAI number BAI result

1 0 N

2 0 N

3 0 N

4 0 N

5 0 N

6 0.02 M

7 0.08 H

8 0 N

9 0.06 M

10 0.01 L

11 0.14 H

12 0.01 L

13 0 N

14 0.01 L

15 0.01 L

16 0 N

17 0 N

18 0.08 H

19 0 N

20 0.01 L

21 0.01 L

22 0.01 L

Total average BAI = 0.001


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1st Transect. 19th May 2014.

3.8 During the 1st transect a total of 51 bat contacts were recorded within the site. These can be broadly grouped in three areas of higher activity.

3.9 West transect section: habitats present included a line of trees, a wet ditch, a species-poor hedgerow, scattered scrub and improved grassland. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Pipistrelle species.

3.10 East transect section: habitats and features included improved grassland, farm buildings used for hay bale storage, a two-storey farmhouse, and a large modern agricultural cattle shed building of steel girder and breeze-block construction currently used for cattle husbandry. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common pipistrelle.

3.11 South transect section: habitats present included lines of trees with a high quantity of mature trees, scattered scrub and species-rich hedgerow. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common and Soprano pipistrelles.

2nd Transect. 23rd June 2014.

3.12 During the 2nd transect a total of 47 bat contacts were recorded within the site. These can be broadly grouped in three areas of higher activity.

3.13 West transect section: Habitats included a line of trees, wet ditch, improved grassland, a farm building and residential buildings (off site). Species identified in this area of the site comprised foraging Common Pipistrelle..

3.14 South-west transect section: some scattered mature trees, improved grassland, species-poor hedgerow and arable land. Species identified in this area of the site was Common pipistrelle.

3.15 Central transect section: some scattered trees, species-poor and species-rich hedgerow. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common pipistrelle and Noctule

3rd Transect. 23rd July 2014

3.16 During the 3rd transect a total of 90 bat contacts were recorded within the site. These can be broadly grouped in three areas of peak activity.

3.17 Western transect section: a tree line, wet ditch, improved grassland, farm and residential buildings. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common pipistrelle, foraging and possibly roosting within some of the mature trees including within the block of woodland.

3.18 North-east transect section: some scattered mature trees, scattered scrub, a wet ditch, buildings and hard standing, species-poor hedgerow and improved grassland. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common pipistrelle.

3.19 Eastern transect section: species-rich hedgerow, wet ditch, and improved grassland. Species identified in this area of the site comprised Common pipistrelles and Noctule.


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Static monitoring survey

3.20 Detectors were deployed on 19th May, 23rd June and 23rd July 2014 and continued to record data for a potential individual survey report period of 9 days in the first survey and 8 days in the other two.

3.21 The four detectors recorded data for a combined survey period of 25 detector-nights. The range of dates that each detector was deployed and the results are summarized in Tables 3.2.0, 3.3.0 and 3.4.0, with all collected data for each detector and position.

3.22 On the first automated bat detector survey, Anabat 80181 in Position 2 had technical issues and recorded no data. Anabat 05150 in Position 3 had some technical issues and only recorded data on 5 out of 7 days.

3.23 On the second survey, Anabat 80181 in Position 1 had technical issues and recorded no data. This Anabat was sent for repairs following its second failure.

3.24 On the third survey, Anabat 80181 in Position 3 still had some technical issues and only 4 days out of 7 were recorded.

3.25 Results of the static monitoring surveys are provided in Tables 3.8, 3.10 and 3.12. Summary tables combining results from all positions during each survey are provided in Tables 3.9, 3.11 and 3.13.

3.26 Positions of the static monitoring detectors are shown on Figure 5.3, together with an indication of the level of bat activity in the vicinity of the detectors (Figure 5.5).

3.27 Results of the average contacts per night for each bat species during the static monitoring surveys are provided Table 3.14.

3.28 In all of the tables below, the following abbreviations are used: BLE: Brown Long-eared Bat; MYO: Myotis species; NOC: Noctule; PIP: Common pipistrelle; SOP: Soprano pipistrelle; NAT: Nathusius pipistrelle; UPIP: unidentified Pipistrelle spp.; U: Unidentified bat species.


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Static monitoring survey 1

Table 3.8. Static bat detector survey results (survey 1)

Position 1 Grid reference: N52 °53' 17.8" W 001 °52' 33.1" Anabat: 03981

Date No. contacts

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U TOTAL 19/05/14 0 15 2 51 19 0 0 7 94

20/05/14 1 24 4 160 42 1 0 11 243

21/05/14 0 7 1 45 12 0 0 2 67

22/05/14 2 15 3 257 50 0 1 2 330

23/05/14 0 6 0 108 16 0 0 6 136

24/05/14 0 2 0 68 12 0 0 3 85

25/05/14 0 6 4 24 17 0 0 1 52

26/05/14 0 9 1 46 34 0 0 3 93

TOTAL 3 97 15 901 225 1 1 38 1281 Position 3 Grid reference: N52 °53' 16.8" W 001 °52' 46.8" Anabat: 05150

Date No. contacts

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP UPIP U TOTAL 19/05/14 0 8 3 114 11 0 1 137

20/05/14 26 66 8 191 36 0 16 343

21/05/14 6 68 5 119 43 1 11 253

22/05/14 9 14 5 237 4 1 7 277

23/05/14 0 4 0 38 0 0 0 42

TOTAL 41 160 21 699 94 2 35 1052 Position 4 Grid reference: N52 °53' 19.2" W 001 °82' 47.6" Anabat: 80184

Date No. contacts

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP U TOTAL 19/05/14 0 1 0 48 28 1 78

20/05/14 0 4 1 58 8 0 71

21/05/14 1 23 0 69 28 2 123

22/05/14 0 5 0 37 17 5 64

23/05/14 4 0 1 22 35 0 62

24/05/14 3 1 0 34 2 40

25/05/14 1 0 0 59 10 6 76

26/05/14 0 0 0 45 5 16 66

TOTAL 9 38 2 415 132 64 660


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Table 3.9. Total results (survey 1)

Total contacts for all positions

Date Bat species

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U Total 19/05/14 0 24 5 213 58 0 0 9 309 20/05/14 27 94 13 409 86 1 0 27 657 21/05/14 7 98 6 233 83 0 1 15 443 22/05/14 11 34 3 531 71 0 1 14 665 23/05/14 4 10 6 168 51 0 1 6 246 24/05/14 3 3 0 102 12 0 0 5 125 25/05/14 1 6 4 83 27 0 0 7 128 26/05/14 0 9 1 91 39 0 0 19 159 27/05/14 0 17 0 185 24 0 0 35 261 TOTAL 53 295 38 2015 451 1 3 137 2993


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Table 3.10. Automated bat detector. Survey results 23/06/2014 - 30/06/2014

Position 2 Grid reference: N52 °53' 14.0" W 001 °52' 37.2" Anabat: 03981

Date No. contacts


24/06/14 2 4 1 87 12 4 110

25/06/14 1 1 0 40 3 1 46

26/06/14 2 14 0 114 16 10 156

27/06/14 5 5 0 112 9 12 143

28/06/14 0 3 0 214 9 14 240

29/06/14 1 1 1 132 7 7 149

30/06/14 1 2 8 3 0 14

TOTAL 12 28 4 733 61 48 886 Position 3 Grid reference: N52 °50' 18.5" W 001 °52' 38.7" Anabat: 05150

Date No. contacts


24/06/14 8 0 59 101 2 21 191

25/06/14 0 0 6 35 1 8 50

26/06/14 7 0 9 40 1 21 78

27/06/14 8 0 10 190 5 17 230

28/06/14 4 1 11 217 12 46 291

29/06/14 1 0 20 47 11 17 96

30/06/14 0 0 2 4 0 0 6

TOTAL 32 1 118 653 35 134 973 Position 4 Grid reference: N52 °53' 22.0" W 001 °52' 39.0" Anabat: 80184

Date No. contacts


24/06/14 3 3 1 92 19 17 135

25/06/14 0 5 0 38 8 4 55

26/06/14 2 18 2 454 65 13 554

27/06/14 0 13 0 347 34 4 398

28/06/14 0 6 0 375 37 6 424

29/06/14 4 6 0 57 5 28 100

30/06/14 0 1 0 5 0 2 8

TOTAL 9 53 3 1401 171 76 1713


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Table 3.11. Automated bat detector survey, Total results: 23/06/2014 - 30/06/2014.

Total results for all positions

Date No. contacts

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP U TOTAL 23/06/14 4 2 0 78 8 6 98 24/06/14 13 66 2 280 33 42 436 25/06/14 1 12 0 113 12 13 151 26/06/14 11 41 2 608 82 44 788 27/06/14 13 28 1 649 48 33 772 28/06/14 4 20 0 806 58 66 954 29/06/14 6 27 1 236 23 52 345 30/06/14 1 3 2 17 3 2 28 TOTAL 53 199 8 2787 267 258 3572


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Table 3.12. Automated bat detector. Survey results 23/07/2014-30/07/2014

Position 1 Grid reference: N 52° 53' 21.7" W 001° 52' 09.9" Anabat: 05150

Date No. contacts


24/07/14 0 7 0 29 25 3 64

25/07/14 0 3 0 22 21 2 48

26/07/14 0 3 1 14 11 2 31

27/07/14 0 2 6 10 0 18

28/07/14 1 4 2 15 9 1 32

29/07/14 0 6 1 16 8 2 33

30/07/14 0 3 0 6 2 0 11

TOTAL 2 27 7 117 90 11 254 Position 2 Grid reference: N 52° 53' 22.0" W 001° 52' 38.9" Anabat: 03981

Date No. contacts


24/07/14 2 1 2 64 32 0 7 108

25/07/14 0 0 2 43 29 0 0 74

26/07/14 1 1 3 25 77 0 2 109

27/07/14 0 2 0 21 70 0 8 101

28/07/14 0 0 1 30 82 1 2 116

29/07/14 0 0 0 21 67 0 5 93

30/07/14 0 1 1 13 1 0 4 20

TOTAL 3 5 10 244 376 1 28 667 Position 3 Grid reference: N 52° 53' 13.6" W 001° 52' 50.6" Anabat: 80181

Date No. contacts


24/07/14 0 1 0 8 3 0 0 12

25/07/14 0 1 0 21 7 0 0 29

26/07/14 0 2 1 25 5 0 2 35

TOTAL 0 4 2 56 16 0 2 80 Position 4 Grid reference: N 52° 53' 12.1" W 001° 52' 39.3" Anabat: 80184

Date

No. contacts BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT U TOTAL

23/07/14 0 2 0 46 61 0 1 110

24/07/14 0 0 3 84 40 0 5 132


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25/07/14 0 5 3 78 74 0 0 160

26/07/14 0 0 6 35 19 0 1 61

27/07/14 1 1 3 28 74 3 1 111

28/07/14 1 7 1 41 10 0 0 60

29/07/14 2 6 0 48 10 0 0 66

30/07/14 0 1 1 11 4 0 2 19

TOTAL 4 22 17 371 292 3 10 719

Table 3.13. Automated bat detector survey, Total results: 23/07/2014-30/07/2014

Total results for all positions

Date No. contacts

BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U TOTAL 23/07/14 1 3 3 84 84 0 0 2 177 24/07/14 2 9 5 185 100 0 0 15 316 25/07/14 0 9 5 164 131 0 0 2 311 26/07/14 1 6 11 99 112 0 1 6 236 27/07/14 1 3 3 55 154 3 0 9 228 28/07/14 2 13 6 86 101 0 1 3 212 29/07/14 2 10 1 85 85 0 0 7 190 30/07/14 0 5 2 30 7 0 0 6 50 TOTAL 9 58 36 788 774 3 2 50 1720


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Table 3.14. Average bat contacts per night per bat species

May Anabat position

No. nights BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U All bats

1 9 0.33 10.78 1.67 100.11 25.00 0.11 0.11 4.22 142.33 3 5 8.20 32.00 4.20 139.80 18.80 0.00 0.40 7.00 210.40 4 9 1.00 4.22 0.22 46.11 14.67 0.00 0.00 7.11 73.33

June Anabat position

No. nights BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U All

bats 2 8 1.50 3.50 0.50 91.63 7.63 0.00 0.00 6.00 110.75 3 8 4.00 14.75 0.13 81.63 4.38 0.00 0.00 16.75 121.63 4 8 1.13 6.63 0.38 175.13 21.38 0.00 0.00 9.50 214.13

July Anabat position

No. nights BLE MYO NOC PIP SOP NAT UPIP U All

bats

1 8 0.25 3.38 0.88 14.63 11.25 0.00 0.00 1.38 31.75 2 8 0.38 0.63 1.25 30.50 47.00 0.00 0.13 3.50 83.38 3 4 0.00 1.00 0.50 14.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 0.50 20.00 4 8 0.50 2.75 2.13 46.38 36.50 0.38 0.13 1.13 89.88


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4 EVALUATION

4.1 Six species of bat were confirmed on the application during the surveys.

4.2 Common Pipistrelle was the most common species detected. Soprano Pipistrelles were also reasonably common, and lower numbers of Brown Long-eared Bat, Noctule, Myotis spp. and Nathusius Pipistrelle recorded.

4.3 High numbers of Common Pipistrelle were recorded, suggesting that the site supports a good population of this species in particular.

4.4 Areas of high activity were associated with the ditches / streams and tree lines / hedgerows, particularly in the central and southern parts of the western land parcel. There are a large number of mature trees which both provide shelter for foraging and commuting bats and support invertebrate communities that provide prey for foraging bats.

4.5 The site is considered to be of importance for foraging and commuting bats, and mitigation measures have been designed to take account of this. Further details are provided in the main ecology report RPS (2015).


22rpsgroup.com

5 REFERENCES

Hundt (2012) Bat Survey Guidelines 2nd edition. Bat Conservation Trust, London.

Mitchell-Jones, A. (2004). Bat Mitigation Guidelines. English Nature, Peterborough.

RPS (2008). Hazelwalls Farm: Ecological Scoping and Phase 1 Habitat Survey. RPS, St Ives (unpublished report).

RPS (2013). Hazelwalls Farm, Uttoxeter: pre-development tree survey & arboricultural implications assessment. RPS, Milton Keynes (unpublished report).

RPS (2015) Hazelwalls Farm, Uttoxeter: Ecological assessment. RPS, St Ives (unpublished report).

Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan (2013). Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan. Available from: http://www.sbap.org.uk/ [Accessed October 2013]

http://www.sbap.org.uk/

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