APL 2300759B Condition 8 MWT Working Method Statement

Consultancy Services

Ecological Advice & Solutions

Ballamaddrell Cottage

Technical Note

January 2023

Manx Wildlife Trust: 7-8 Market Place, Peel. Isle of Man.

This report is prepared by Manx Wildlife Trust Consultancy for the sole and exclusive use of Polly Garrett and their contractors in response to their particular instructions. No liability is accepted for any costs, claims or losses arising from the use of this report or any part thereof for any purpose other than that for which it was specifically prepared or by any party other than Polly Garrett. Any biological records for wildlife found in survey will eventually be submitted to Manx Biological Recording Partnership. This report does not prevent MWT pursuing its charitable objectives in relation to planning.

This report has been prepared by an environmental specialist and does not purport to provide legal advice. You may wish to take separate legal advice.

The information which we have prepared and provided is true and has been prepared and provided in accordance with the BS42020 2013 and Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management's Code of Professional Conduct and guidelines for preliminary ecological appraisals (CIEEM 2017). We confirm that the opinions expressed are our true and professional bona fide opinions.

Signed (Author) Electronic Signature

Signed (QA) Electronic Signature

Sarah Hickey

Job number:	MWT 22_75
Title:	Ballamaddrell Cottage – Technical Note
Client:	Polly Garrett
Prepared by:	Sarah Hickey
Verified by:	Adam Denard
Date of Issue:	January 2023
Version:	1
Revisions:	0
Status:	FINAL

Contents

1.0 Introduction ..... 4 2.0 Discharge of Planning Conditions 8 - 10 ..... 5 Appendix I: Trees with potential roost features ..... 7 Appendix II: Bat and bird box plan ..... 8 Appendix III: Lizard hibernaculum ..... 10

Biographies

Sarah Hickey BSc (Hons) MRes is an ecologist with several years' experience in baseline ecological survey and assessment and specialist protected species surveys for bats, Common Lizard and Common Frog. Sarah holds a master's degree in Research in the Natural Environment from the University of Edinburgh and has contributed to the Independent Climate Action Report for the IOM Government (Appendix 10 (a) Peatlands).

Adam Denard BSc (Hons) has been a professional ecologist for over 10 years, with particular emphasis on recording and assessing habitats in England and the Isle of Man for their potential to support protected species. Adam regularly produces professional ecological reports within the Isle of Man planning system, including Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEAR) and specialist surveys for birds, bats, reptiles and amphibians.

1.0 Introduction

1.1 MWT Consultancy were commissioned by Polly Garrett in relation to a planning application for work on Ballamaddrell Cottage, Grenaby Road, Ballabeg, Isle of Man (PA 22/00473/B). The purpose of this technical note is to discharge planning conditions 8,9 and 10 :

1. Prior to the removal of any tree on site, a Pre-Felling Risk Assessment by a suitably qualified ecologist shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department, as the trees on site were found to have potential roost features for bats.

Reason: To provide adequate safeguards for the ecological species existing on the site.

1. The development hereby approved shall not be commenced until a Bat and Bird Box Plan have been submitted to an approved in writing by the Department. This plan should provide details, including the specifications and location of $1 x$ bird nest brick suitable for common starling on northern elevation of the building and $1 x$ bat box suitable for crevice roosting species on the southern elevation of the building. The Bat/Bird boxes shall be retained thereafter.

Reason: To provide adequate safeguards for the ecological species existing on the site.

1. Prior to any works (including site clearance) commencing on the site, a Precautionary Working Method Statement for lizards, breeding birds and Schedule 8 plants, written by a suitably qualified ecological consultancy, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department.

The statement shall include the provision of a new hibernacula feature for lizards in a sunny spot close to a boundary hedge or wall. The development shall not be carried out other than in accordance with the submitted Method Statement.

Reason: To provide adequate safeguards for the ecological species existing on the site. 1.2 This report is based on the Protected Species Report (MWT Consultancy, December 2021) and the Bat Emergence Survey Report (MWT Consultancy August 2022).

2.0 Discharge of Planning Conditions 8 - 10

Table 1: PWMS Ballamaddrell Cottage
Ecological Feature	Precautionary Working Method Statement
Common Lizard	Any work on hedgebanks outside the lizard active season (the active season is typically April to Mid-October) will assume the presence of hibernating lizards and will a pre-clearance assessment of the risk to lizards will be made by a suitably experienced ecologist. Advice will then be followed. Any work on hedgebanks and grassland during the lizard active season will assume the presence of lizards. Prior to work commencing, the vegetation will be cut back. This will be done on warm days (>12°C) and carried out in a single direction (north to south) that allows lizards to move into suitable adjacent habitat. The sward will be cut no lower than 10cm and will be left for at least 48hours to enable lizards to relocate. Log piles in the garden will be removed by hand. A check will be made of the stone wall to the west of the cottage if it is to be removed.

C8 – Pre-Felling Risk Assessment

2.1 Three trees on site were identified as having potential roost features (PRFs) for bats (refer to Appendix I for locations). 2.2 Prior to felling, these PRFs will be checked for roosting bats and nesting birds by a suitably qualified ecologist. 2.2 Following the inspection of PRFs, the advice of the ecologist will be followed.

C9 – Bat and Bird Box Plan

2.4 An integrated bat box suitable for crevice-roosting species i.e. Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus (recorded during bat emergence surveys). One will be included on the south facing wall, at eaves level, as shown in Appendix II.

2.5 A universal nesting brick suitable for a range of bird species will be located on the north facing wall, at eaves level, as shown in Appendix II.

C10 – Precautionary Working Method Statement

2.6 A precautionary working method statement (PWMS) for Common Lizard, breeding birds and Schedule 8 plants is shown below in Table 1.

• If any lizards (or anything suspected to be a lizard) are encountered during works, all work will be temporarily suspended and advice sought from MWT Consultancy.
• A hibernaculum will be created in the south-east corner of the site. This will be at least 2m away from the southern boundary hedge in order to prevent shading. Grass to the south of the hibernaculum will cut only during the winter months so that the hibernaculum is connected to the hedgebank via suitable lizard habitat.
• The hibernaculum will be constructed of rubble in the manner shown in Appendix II. The hole will be 50cm deep with a diameter of 1m. The use of chicken wire surrounding the rubble should be considered in order to discourage long tails.

• Vegetation clearance and the cutting back of trees and scrub will be undertaken outside of the bird nesting season where possible (the nesting season for species likely to use the site extends between 1st March and 31st August).
• Removal / renovation of the cottage roof will be done outside of the bird nesting season if possible.
• Where the above are not possible, a check for nesting birds will be undertaken by a suitably experienced ecologist no more than five days prior to clearance. If a nest is located, a suitable protection zone will be created and the nest safeguarded so that adults can safely feed their young until they are fledged and independent of the nest.

• Prior to any work on the eastern or southern hedgebanks, Montbretia will be identified and marked by an ecologist.
• Work will avoid disturbing Montbretia where possible.
• Where this is not possible, care will be taken to remove all parts of the plant above and below ground, which will then be disposed of by incineration. Material will be double bagged and taken to the Suez mass burn incinerator (Suez will be contacted ahead of delivery of plant material to agree to incineration).

Appendix I: Trees with potential roost features

Figure 3: The location of trees with PRFs.

Appendix II: Bat and bird box plan

Legend

• Universal nest brick
• Integrated bat box

Example of an integrated bird brick suitable for a range of species (available from nhbs.com) Example of integrated bat box suitable for crevice-roosting species (available from nestbox.co.uk)

Appendix III: Lizard hibernaculum

Legend

• Hibernaculum location

Hibernacula construction process (Top: Dig a hole, Middle: Infill with recycled materials, Bottom: Cover with cotton sheet, soil and turf) (From Preston Montford Field Centre)