Stansted Airport Limited Habitat Creation and Management Plan

MARCH 2016

Stansted Airport Limited

Habitat Creation and Management Plan

Monks Farm Habitat Creation Area – REV01

856391

Stansted Airport Limited

Habitat Creation and Management Plan – Monks Farm Habitat Creation Area – REV01

856391

RSK GENERAL NOTES

Project No.: 856391

Title: Habitat Creation and Management Plan – Monks Farm Habitat Creation Area Rev01

Client: Stansted Airport Limited

Date: March 2016

Office: Helsby

Status: Final

Author Will Holden Technical reviewer Richard Carter

Signature Signature

Date: 15/03/2016 Date: 21/03/2016

Project manager Will Holden

Quality reviewer Richard Carter

Signature Signature

Date: 21/03/2016 Date: 21/03/2016

RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) has prepared this report for the sole use of the client, showing reasonable skill and care, for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement under which this work was completed. The report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express agreement of the client and RSK. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report.

Where any data supplied by the client or from other sources have been used, it has been assumed that the information is correct. No responsibility can be accepted by RSK for inaccuracies in the data supplied by any other party. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are based on the assumption that all relevant information has been supplied by those bodies from whom it was requested.

No part of this report may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of RSK and the party for whom it was prepared.

Where field investigations have been carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to achieve the stated objectives of the work.

This work has been undertaken in accordance with the quality management system of RSK Environment Ltd.

Stansted Airport Limited 1


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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 Purpose of the Report .............................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Site Description and Ecological Context .................................................................................. 3

1.3 Project Description ................................................................................................................... 4

1.4 Structure of the Report ............................................................................................................. 4

2 BASELINE CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................ 5

2.1 Habitats .................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Non-native Invasive Species .................................................................................................... 6

2.3 Protected Species .................................................................................................................... 6

2.3.1 Badgers ........................................................................................................................ 6

2.3.2 Bats .............................................................................................................................. 6

2.3.3 Botany .......................................................................................................................... 6

2.3.4 Breeding Birds .............................................................................................................. 6

2.3.5 Great Crested Newts .................................................................................................... 6

2.3.6 Reptiles ......................................................................................................................... 7

2.3.7 Water Voles .................................................................................................................. 7

3 HABITAT CREATION AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION ................................................ 8

3.1 Habitat Creation ........................................................................................................................ 8

3.1.1 Scrub Clearance ........................................................................................................... 8

3.1.2 Ditch Management ....................................................................................................... 8

3.1.3 Pond and Ditch Creation .............................................................................................. 9

3.1.4 Vegetated Bunds and Hibernacula ............................................................................... 9

3.1.5 Grassland Restoration ................................................................................................ 10

3.1.6 Hedgerow Planting ..................................................................................................... 10

3.1.7 Site Boundary ............................................................................................................. 11

3.2 Pre-Construction Mitigation .................................................................................................... 11

3.2.1 Nesting Birds .............................................................................................................. 11

3.2.2 Great Crested Newts .................................................................................................. 11

3.2.3 Licence Requirements ................................................................................................ 11

4 HABITAT MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................. 12

4.1 General ................................................................................................................................... 12

4.2 Features ................................................................................................................................. 12

4.2.1 Scrub Management .................................................................................................... 12

4.2.2 Ditch Management ..................................................................................................... 12

4.2.3 Pond Management ..................................................................................................... 13

4.2.4 Vegetated Bunds ........................................................................................................ 13

4.2.5 Grassland ................................................................................................................... 13

4.2.6 Hedgerow Management ............................................................................................. 14

5 MONITORING ................................................................................................................................ 15

6 TIMETABLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................................ 16

7 FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................ 17

8 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 18



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APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 – PROTECTED SPECIES LEGISLATION .................................................................... 19



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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of the Report

This document has been prepared by RSK Environment to provide guidance for the

creation of new habitats and long-term management of a proposed Habitat Creation

Area termed Monks Farm at Stansted Airport, Essex (TL 5350 2339). The location of

the site including a red-line site boundary is shown in Figure 1.

This document provides a description of the ecological management and habitat

creation which is proposed for the Monks Farm site.

It should be noted that this Habitat Creation and Management Plan (HCMP) has been

drafted in consultation with Stansted Airport and Essex Wildlife Trust. There has been

no input from other stakeholders (Natural England, Local Authority, Buglife). The HCMP

will be amended once these discussions have taken place.

The scope of the Habitat Management Plan includes:

• description and evaluation of the features to be created and managed;

• ecological constraints on the site that may influence habitat creation and

management;

• aims and objectives of management;

• appropriate management options for achieving aims and objectives;

• prescriptions for management actions;

• preparation of a works schedule; and

• personnel responsible for implementation of the plan.

1.2 Site Description and Ecological Context

The Monks Farm site is shown in Figure 1. It is currently a disused agricultural field.

There is a single pond at the eastern boundary, and the eastern, southern and western

boundaries are formed by ditches with hedgerows and scrub. It is bordered to the north

by a residential property (Monks Farm), to the east by a road, to the south by further

areas of former agricultural fields and an electrical substation, and to the west by the

Stansted Airport airfield. The site lies in the north-western corner of the airport.

The surrounding area includes the airport buildings, taxiways and grasslands to the

south and a mixture of residential properties, roads, arable farmland, hedgerows and

woodland to the north.

An existing Stansted Airport Habitat Creation Area, formed in 2005, is c. 230 m east of

the Monks Farm site. The existing habitat creation area contains a mixture of grassland,

hedgerows and a network of ponds.



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1.3 Project Description

The 0.919 ha Monks Farm Habitat Creation Area is intended to provide improvements

to habitat diversity and to the value of land under the ownership of Stansted Airport

Limited. The site has been chosen for its proximity to the existing habitat creation area

and because it provides scope for the creation of new aquatic and terrestrial habitats for

Great Crested Newts and other protected species. This management plan covers

habitat creation as well as long-term management and monitoring of the site for the first

five years after construction.

1.4 Structure of the Report

The remainder of this report is structured as follows:

• Section 2 describes the baseline conditions;

• Section 3 presents the habitat creation and pre-construction mitigation;

• Section 4 presents the habitat management;

• Section 5 presents the monitoring;

• Section 6 gives a timetable for the project;

• Section 7 gives the figures;

• Section 8 lists the references; and

• Appendix 1 provides Protected Species legislation.



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2 BASELINE CONDITIONS

A number of ecological surveys have been carried out. All surveys detailed below were

undertaken to provide a baseline of ecological information for the site on which this

HCMP is based and against which the success of habitat creation and management

can be assessed. Surveys completed to date include:

• an extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey and animal walkover (RSK, April 2015);

and

• Great Crested Newt surveys (RSK, March, April and May 2015).

Figures showing the results of the Great Crested Newt surveys are not presented in this

management plan and can be found in the corresponding survey report. The Phase 1

Habitat map is presented in Figure 1, showing the baseline conditions for the site. The

Target Notes shown on Figure 1 are presented in the Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report

(RSK 2015). Summary results of the surveys are provided below.

2.1 Habitats

The Phase 1 Habitat Survey identified the following habitats at the site:

• semi-improved neutral grassland;

• scrub;

• hedgerows;

• ditches; and

• ponds.

The main part of the site comprises an unmanaged grassland field. It has a species-

poor, tussocky sward comprising grasses such as Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent),

Festuca rubra (Red Fescue) and Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire-fog), with a limited range of

forbs including Cirsium arvense (Creeping Thistle), Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle),

Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup) and Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort).

The field is enclosed by mature hedges to the south and east, an apparently more

recent hedge to the north, and airport security fencing to the west. There are patches

of Rubus fruticosus agg. (Bramble) and Urtica dioica (Common Nettle) at the field

edges, together with dense outgrowths of Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) spreading out

from the eastern hedge.

The mature hedges are unmanaged and overgrown and include species such as

Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) and Sambucus nigra

(Elder). They have associated ditches; the ditch along the southern hedge is dry

(Target Note 49), but the ditch along the eastern hedge is 3-4 m wide and 20 cm deep

(Target Note 50). Neither supports any aquatic or emergent vegetation.

The hedge along the northern boundary (Target Note 45) is leggy (6 to 7 m tall) and

comprises Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Sambucus nigra (Elder) and Ulmus

species (an Elm). It is likely to have originated as a garden hedge for the adjacent

property.



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There is also a ditch along the western boundary. This is about 1 m wide at the base

and contains 10 cm of water, which is of poor quality with abundant algae. Adjacent to

the site, at Target Note 47, an old ditch has been retained as a small pond on the

boundary of a garden.

2.2 Non-native Invasive Species

No non-native invasive plants listed on Schedule 9 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act

1981 were recorded from either site during these surveys.

2.3 Protected Species

2.3.1 Badgers

No evidence of Badgers has been recorded at the site.

2.3.2 Bats

The site provides suitable foraging habitat for bats, and the hedgerows could also be

used for commuting. No trees or structures suitable for roosting bats are present on

site.

2.3.3 Botany

Habitats recorded at Monk’s Farm include widespread and common habitat types, such

as species-poor grassland, scrub and tall ruderal. However, the hedges along the

eastern and southern boundary could qualify as Important hedgerows under The

Hedgerow Regulations 1997.

2.3.4 Breeding Birds

The site supports habitats which are suitable for breeding birds. While no breeding birds

have been observed at the site it is almost certain that they will use the hedgerows and

areas of Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) scrub.

2.3.5 Great Crested Newts

A total of eight ponds within 500 m of the site were surveyed in 2015. This includes one

pond on the site, two ponds at Monks Farm, one pond adjacent to the electrical

substation to the south of the site, and four ponds in the existing Habitat Creation Area

to the east of the site. There are an additional four ponds within 500 m of the site, but

access to survey these ponds was not possible in 2015.

No Great Crested Newts were recorded in the pond on the site, but a cumulative

Medium population of Great Crested Newts was recorded six ponds within 500 m of the

site.

The site (in particular the areas of scrub and hedgerow banks) also contains suitable

terrestrial habitat for Great Crested Newts. The majority of the semi-improved grassland

on the site is short and of sub-optimal suitability for Great Crested Newts.



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2.3.6 Reptiles

There is a moderate risk that reptiles could be found at the Monks Farm site, mainly in

rough grassland and hedge bottoms and around the ponds.

2.3.7 Water Voles

The pond and ditches on the site are not suitable for Water Voles and no evidence of

Water Voles has been found at the site.



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3 HABITAT CREATION AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION MITIGATION

Management of ecological features, mitigation and habitat enhancement at the site will

ensure that there is an improvement in habitat diversity and increase the biodiversity

value of the site for protected species.

3.1 Habitat Creation

The proposed habitat creation aims to provide a mosaic of habitats and mirror the

successful work which has taken place in the existing Habitat Creation Area to the east

of the Monks Farm site.

Proposed habitat creation and ecological enhancements are shown on Figure 2 and

include:

3.1.1 Scrub Clearance

Objective: to open up the existing pond and ditches on the site.

to create a mosaic of successional vegetation.

The existing pond and ditches on the site are of low quality with no aquatic vegetation.

They are heavily shaded by a mixture of dense Rubus fruticosus agg. (Bramble) scrub

and outgrowth of Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) from adjacent hedgerows. The dense

scrub currently shades these ditches and the pond, restricting aquatic vegetation

growth and reducing water quality through deposition of leaf litter within the water.

Areas of scrub around the pond and adjacent to the ditches on the eastern, southern

and western boundaries will be cleared. The scrub along the eastern boundary of the

site, between the ditch and the road, will be retained to maintain screening.

The retained scrub will be managed to improve its value for nesting birds. These areas

will be selectively thinned on a 5 year rotation. Management works should be carried

out over winter to avoid issues with nesting birds.

3.1.2 Ditch Management

Objective: to maximise the value of this feature as habitat for Great Crested Newts

and aquatic invertebrates

The ditches are currently overgrown and heavily shaded by scrub. Management will aim

to open up the ditches and improve the value for wildlife. Ditch banks will be cleared of

scrub vegetation and, where required, excavated to increase the availability of open

water (in particular in the ditch on the southern boundary of the site). No planting is

proposed in the ditches, and natural colonisation will be favoured. Ongoing

management of scrub will be required around the ditches with the restrictions identified

in Section 3.1.1 above.

Works in ditches will require supervision by an Ecologist, as there is a known population

of Great Crested Newts in the area.



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3.1.3 Pond and Ditch Creation

Objective: to create new aquatic habitat suitable for Great Crested Newts and

invertebrate species.

The proposals are for the construction of five new ponds and the enhancement of the

one existing pond on the site.

The new ponds to be created will include a network of ditches to link some of the ponds

together, improving habitat connectivity. Some of the ponds will be left isolated to

promote differences in habitat types between the ponds. Some ponds will also be linked

to the existing ditches to improve habitat connectivity and to provide a supply of water.

Following the Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines (Natural England, 2001) the

ponds will be created to the following specification:

• surface area between 100 and 300 m2;

• varying depth – up to 2 m deep with shallow areas which may dry periodically;

and

• open areas around the margins and absence of shading along the southern

boundary.

One pond along the western boundary of the site will be created by a widening of the

existing ditch.

The existing pond at the western boundary will be excavated to remove the build up of

leaf litter and increase the size of the pond.

The ponds will be planted with species of local provenance and of value to Great

Crested Newts. This will include Glyceria maxima (Reed Sweet-grass), Mentha

aquatica (Water Mint) and Myosotis scorpioides (Water Forget-me-not).

Planting will aim to reduce the area of open water in the centre of the ponds in order to

reduce the suitability of the ponds to wildfowl within close proximity to the airfield. If

planting with Typha latifolia (Bulrush) is proposed, then this should be limited to one or

two ponds and not introduced to all ponds on the site. Alternatively, it may be possible

to install bird netting over the ponds.

3.1.4 Vegetated Bunds and Hibernacula

Objective: to create a mosaic of ground structure and refuges suitable for Great

Crested Newts, invertebrate and reptile species.

The material which is excavated for the creation of the new ponds will be used on the

site to create a series of south facing bunds. These will be composed of a mixture of

excavated spoil and the brash from the cleared areas of scrub to provide a variation in

structure.

The bunds will be graded to produce a variation in structure and aspect. Where

possible, the bund will be finished with a thin layer of top soil and plants will be allowed

to colonise from the seed bank. Spot spraying of herbicide may be used to reduce the

growth of ruderal species and allow a more diverse assemblage to develop.



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The aim will be to create open areas more suitable for invertebrates, refuges suitable

for Great Crested Newts and south-facing slopes suitable for reptile species.

Following the clearance of the scrub on the site, the larger diameter wood and brash

will be used to create two log and brash piles. These will be designed to allow access

for amphibians and reptiles and will be positioned adjacent to the new ponds and

bunds.

3.1.5 Grassland Restoration

Objective: to improve the species diversity of the existing semi-improved grassland.

to provide a nectar source for invertebrates.

The existing grassland is unmanaged and of low diversity. Improvements to the

diversity of the grassland will require a reduction in nutrient level of the soil. A

sympathetic, long term approach is considered the most suitable.

The grassland will be cut in October to c. 15 cm and the arisings will be removed. This

will take place each year for a period of three years. In the fourth year, the grassland

will be cut in between late July and October and the arisings removed. Green hay will

then be spread over the site to provide a source of seed and protective ground cover for

the establishment of a more diverse grassland.

Essex Wildlife Trust has been consulted to provide recommendations for a local source

of green hay. This will aim to establish locally-sourced grassland species on the site

and a habitat type that is appropriate for the local area. The species mix introduced to

the grassland will be determined on consultation with Essex Wildlife Trust.

3.1.6 Hedgerow Planting

Objective: to replace breeding bird habitat lost to scrub clearance

to provide additional feeding resources for invertebrates and birds and

commuting lines for bats.

The northern area of the site will include a network of new hedgerows. These will link to

the existing hedgerows and also provide a link to the new ponds and bunds to allow for

the establishment of connected habitat for Great Crested Newts and reptiles.

The new hedgerows will be planted with similar species to those already found in the

boundary hedgerows at the site and in the local area. This will include Acer campestre

(Field Maple), Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Sambucus nigra (Elder) and Ulmus

species (an Elm). Fruit and berry bearing species will comprise 10% of the new

hedgerows.

Hedgerows will be managed to be a similar height and width to the existing hedgerows

around the site boundaries.



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3.1.7 Site Boundary

Objective: to secure the site and restrict access to the public

The western boundary of the site is formed by the airfield security fence. In order to

secure the site, due to the proximity to the airfield, and to protect the newly created

habitats, a security fence will be erected along the remaining boundaries of the site.

3.2 Pre-Construction Mitigation

As the site contains habitats that are suitable for protected species, and a medium

population of Great Crested Newts has been recorded in the area, mitigation will be

required to allow for the proposed habitat creation and enhancements listed above.

The scrub clearance, pond and ditch management and excavation and creation of earth

bunds will be supervised by an Ecological Clerk of Works.

Mitigation for protected species is listed below:

3.2.1 Nesting Birds

As all wild birds and their nests and eggs are protected, removal of any nesting habitat

at the Monks Farm site should only take place outside the bird breeding season (March-

August inclusive). If this is not possible, areas of suitable nesting habitat should be

hand searched by a suitably experienced ecologist prior to removal and any nests

would need to be retained until the young had fledged.

3.2.2 Great Crested Newts

As the Monks Farm site is primarily short, semi-improved grassland, which is

considered highly unlikely to support newts, it is proposed that the habitat creation

works (pond excavations and refuge creation) could take place using reasonable

avoidance measures and under an ecological watching brief.

With the exception of Great Crested Newt and nesting bird mitigation, no other species

specific mitigation is proposed prior to the commencement of habitat creation works.

3.2.3 Licence Requirements

Licences for habitat management are only required when an activity which otherwise

may be an offence (e.g. disturbance) is likely. Hence, for the majority of scrub and

grassland creation and ongoing management, no licence is required so long as the

work is done using appropriate methods and is timed to avoid unlawful activities.

In most cases, if management activities such as mowing is undertaken in hot, dry

conditions and machine cutting blades are set high, then there is unlikely to be any

contact with newts or reptiles above ground.

For the areas of the development footprint which are within 500 m of any ponds

containing Great Crested Newts, a watching brief and ground clearance will be carried

out to maintain the habitat as unsuitable for protected species. A European Protected

Species Licence will therefore not be required.



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4 HABITAT MANAGEMENT

4.1 General

The following section provides recommendations for the management of the features

described in Section 3, and shown on Figure 2, in order to maintain and enhance their

value for wildlife. The timing of management works can often be critical to their

success. Section 6 provides details of appropriate timings for different aspects of the

management plan.

Detailed prescriptions on management regimes for each habitat type are presented in

the Stansted Airport Habitat Management Plans 2015 (RSK 2015). The proposals

below are consistent with the management regimes detailed within that plan, with the

exception of habitat creation works specific to the Monks Farm site.

4.2 Features

4.2.1 Scrub Management

Objective: to create a mosaic of successional vegetation and refuges suitable for

invertebrate species and nesting habitat for birds.

Scrub re-growth around the existing pond and ditches will be periodically cut back to

prevent shading of these water features. Retained areas of scrub will be managed to

maintain their suitability for wildlife.

Use of herbicides and insecticides will be avoided. Maintenance of woody species

should only be carried out outside the nesting bird season, i.e. March to August

inclusive. This will avoid damaging or destroying bird nests in contravention of The

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Native shrubs can provide an important source of food for many different animals. This

can be achieved by pruning woody species (such as roses) in the winter and allowing

flowering plants to fully complete their cycles over the summer (i.e. allowing some

flowers to go to seed and die back before removal).

4.2.2 Ditch Management


and aquatic invertebrates.

Maintenance of ditches will be through the management of scrub regrowth to prevent

shading and promote aquatic vegetation. Cutting back of scrub should only be carried

out outside the nesting bird season, i.e. March to August inclusive. This will avoid

damaging or destroying bird nests in contravention of The Wildlife and Countryside Act

1981.

Periodic excavation of the ditches may be required should they begin to dry out or silt

up. If this is required, a watching brief for Great Crested Newts carried out by a suitably



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qualified ecologist, will be needed. Ditch excavation should be carried out on a

maximum of 25% of the ditch in any one year.

All excavated materials will be left on the ditch bank for a minimum of 1 week before

disposal, to allow for aquatic invertebrate and amphibian species to return to the

ditches.

4.2.3 Pond Management


and monitor establishment of aquatic macrophytes.

The ponds will be monitored to assess the establishment of aquatic macrophytes and

determine whether they hold water at appropriate times of the year.

The results of the monitoring will recommend whether supplementary planting of the

ponds is required.

If the ponds do not hold water, recommendations to address this will be made, e.g.

lining the ponds or increasing the depth.

Periodic excavation of the ditches may be required should they begin to dry out or silt

up. If this is required, a watching brief for Great Crested Newts carried out by a suitably

qualified Ecologist, will be needed.

All excavated materials will be left on the ditch bank for a minimum of 1 week before

disposal, to allow for aquatic invertebrate and amphibian species to return to the

ditches.

4.2.4 Vegetated Bunds

Objective: to create a mosaic of successional vegetation and refuges suitable for

Great Crested Newts, invertebrates and reptile species.

Minimal management of the bunds and hibernacula is proposed. Management of the

bunds will include spot spraying with herbicide for particular species, including Thistles

and Docks if necessary. Any Ragwort present will require hand pulling.

Periodic mowing of the bunds will take place on the same cutting regime as the

surrounding grassland (Section 4.2.5).

The aims of management are to maintain a mosaic of habitats and allow open areas of

vegetation that may be used by invertebrate species or reptiles for basking.

4.2.5 Grassland

Objective: to improve species diversity and reduce nutrient levels within the soil.

Management of the grassland from year five onwards will include the cutting back of the

sward and the removal of any arisings to reduce further the nutrient levels and improve

diversity.

The management of grasslands around the airport has been detailed in the Stansted

Airport Habitat Management Plan prepared in 2015 (RSK, 2015). A summary of cutting

regimes is provided below.



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Cutting and removal of cut plant materials annually between late-July and October (to

mid – March if all else fails), but mid-June in every 3rd year on a rotational basis (i.e.

33% of parcels in any one year). Conventional grass cutting equipment and techniques

are acceptable, but cutting should be to a minimum of 15 cm.

For areas dominated by Thistles or Docks, this should be monitored and strimmed in

early summer before flowering or can be treated with spot application of herbicide.

If any areas become dominated by Senecio jacobaea (Common Ragwort), this should

be pulled by hand in early summer, before flowering.

The requirement for re-seeding with green hay will be addressed following monitoring of

the habitats after establishment.

4.2.6 Hedgerow Management

Objective: to provide suitable foraging habitats for birds and invertebrates and

commuting routes for amphibians, small mammals and reptiles.

The establishment of the new hedgerows will be monitored closely over the first five

years. Any failure of plants during this period will require replacement. This should be

monitored by the landscaping contractor.

Woody species will only be cut back in the winter. Use of herbicides and insecticides

will be avoided. Maintenance of woody species should only be carried out outside the

bird nesting season, i.e. March to August inclusive. This will avoid damaging or

destroying bird nests in contravention of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Native shrubs can provide an important source of food for many different animals. This

can be achieved by pruning woody species (such as roses) in the winter and allowing

flowering plants to complete their cycles over the summer (i.e. allowing some flowers to

go to seed and die back before removal).



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5 MONITORING

A monitoring programme is an important aspect of this management plan. It will

determine the success of habitat creation and management activities, and monitor any

impacts of the development and habitat enhancement works on the baseline conditions

recorded prior to construction.

Botanical monitoring will also be carried out on the establishment of new habitats

including aquatic vegetation within the ponds and ditches, the new grassland areas and

the new hedgerows.

Monitoring of the ponds for Great Crested Newts or the remainder of the site for reptiles

is not considered at this time; however it may be appropriate once the ponds and other

habitats have become established.



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6 TIMETABLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Timings of site clearance, habitat creation and post construction monitoring works are presented in Table 1 below.

Table 1 gives a summary of the ecological enhancements that will be carried out at Monks Farm Habitat Creation Area

Notes

Summer

2016

Autumn

2016

Winter

2016/17

Spring

2017 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 After 5 Years

Vegetation ClearanceScrub, Trees and

Grassland STAL

Supervised by an Ecologist. Grassland cutting

carried out in Autumn 2016 and the follow ing 2

years.

Pond/Ditch Creation STAL

Vegetated Bund STAL As Required Management in line w ith grassland management

Grassland Seeding STAL As Required Seeded w ith Green Hay in Year 3.

Hedgerow PlantingSTAL/Landscape

Contractor

Establishment of hedgerow s is more successful

w hen planted betw een November and March.

Monitored for successful establishment for 5 years

follow ing planting.

Scrub and Hedgrow s

Management STALAs Required

Management as and w hen required.

Pond and Ditch

Management STALAs Required

Management as and w hen required.

Grassland

Management STAL

Cut annually betw een mid-July and October and cut

in mid-June (33%) every third year on rotation.

Botanical Monitoring Various RSKYear 10 To assess the success of habitat creation and

management techniques.

HCMP Review - RSK

Management plan is review ed to take account of the

results of monitoring.

Habitat Creation and

Management Works

Activity

Habitat/Species

Affected Company

Responsible

Post ConstructionPre/During Construction



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7 FIGURES

Figure 1 – Site Location and Phase 1 Habitat Survey map

Figure 2 – Proposed Habitat Creation and Management areas

© Crown copyright, All rights reserved. 2016 License number 0100031673

Figure 1:Monks Farm Phase 1Habitat Survey

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org.

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8 REFERENCES

Natural England (as English Nature) (2001). Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines.

RSK (2015). Stansted Airport Habitat Management Plans 2015

RSK (2015). Monks Farm and HCA Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report

RSK (2015). Monks Farm and HCA Great Crested Newt Survey Report



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APPENDIX 1 – PROTECTED SPECIES LEGISLATION

General

This section briefly describes the legal protection afforded to the protected species referred to in

this report. It is for information only and is not intended to be comprehensive or to replace

specialised legal advice. It is not intended to replace the text of the legislation, but summarises

the salient points.

Bats

All species of British bat are protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended),

extended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. This legislation makes it an offence

to:

• intentionally kill, injure or take;

• possess or control;

• intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to a breeding site or

resting place; and

• intentionally or recklessly disturb whilst the animal occupies a breeding site or resting

place.

Bats are also European Protected Species listed on The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.)

Regulations 2010 (as amended). This legislation makes it an offence to:

• deliberately capture, injure or kill;

• deliberately disturb, including 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)

hibernate or migrate, where relevant; or (b) to affect significantly the local distribution or

abundance of the species to which they belong.

• damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place; and

• possess, control, transport, sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange.

Birds

Birds (general protection)

All species of bird are protected under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as

amended). The protection was extended by the CRoW Act.

The legislation makes it an offence to intentionally:

• kill, injure or take any wild bird;



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• take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built;

or

• take or destroy an egg of any wild bird.

Birds (specially protected species)

Certain species of bird are listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as

amended) and receive protection under Sections 1(4) and 1(5) of the Act. The protection was

extended by the CRoW Act. The legislation confers special penalties where the above

mentioned offences are committed for any such bird and also make it an offence to intentionally

or recklessly:

• disturb any such bird, whilst building its nest or it is in or near a nest containing

dependant young; or

• disturb the dependant young of such a bird.

Great Crested Newts

Triturus cristatus (Great Crested Newt) is listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside

Act 1981 (as amended), and receives full protection under Section 9. This species is also listed

as a European Protected Species on Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.)

Regulations 1994 which gives it full protection under Regulation 39. Protection was extended by

the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (the CRoW Act).

Under the above legislation it is an offence to:

• kill, injure or take an individual of such a species;

• possess any part of such species either alive or dead;

• intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place or structure

used by such species for shelter, rest, protection or breeding;

• intentionally or recklessly disturb such a species whilst using any place of shelter or

protection; or

• sell or attempt to sell any such species.

The Great Crested Newt is included as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

(UKBAP) and also as a species of principal importance for the conservation of biological diversity

in England under Section 74 of the CRoW Act.

Reptiles

Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard), Natrix natrix (Grass Snake), Anguis fragilis (Slow-worm), and

Vipera berus (Adder) are listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as

amended), in respect of Section 9(5) and part of Section 9(1). This protection was extended by

the CRoW Act.

Under the above legislation it is an offence to:



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• intentionally or deliberately kill or injure any individual of such a species; or

• sell or attempt to sell any part of the species alive or dead.

Stansted Airport Limited Habitat Creation and Management Plan

Documents

Transcript of Stansted Airport Limited Habitat Creation and Management Plan