APL Laxey River - Invasive Species Management Plan

Laxey River Section 6

Invasive Species Management Plan

January 2024

Control sheet

Ecology Vannin: 7-8 Market Place, Peel, Isle of Man.	Ecology Vannin: 7-8 Market Place, Peel, Isle of Man.
Job number:	EV 23_61
Title:	Laxey River Section 6 – Invasive Species Management Plan
Client:	Burroughs Stewart Association
Prepared by:	Greg Watson - Trainee Ecologist
Verified by:	Adam Denard – Senior Ecologist
Date of Issue:	24/01/24
Version:	1
Revisions:	0
Status:	DRAFT

This report is prepared by Ecology Vannin Consultancy Services for the sole and exclusive use of Burroughs Stewart Association 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 Burroughs Stewart Association. Any biological records for wildlife found in survey will eventually be submitted to Manx Biological Recording Partnership.<br><br>Ecology Vannin Consultancy Services is the trading name for Wildlife Limited, Reg Company No: 077379C. Wildlife Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manx Wildlife Trust (MWT), Reg Company No: 005297C.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.<br><br>Signed (Author) Signed (QA)<br><br>

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• 1.0 Introduction
• 1.1 Ecology Vannin was commissioned by Burroughs Stewart Association to prepare an Invasive Species Management Plan to allow for vegetation clearance enabling the development of a new flood defence wall along the Laxey River Section 6, Laxey, Isle of Man. This is in relation to planning condition 10 (planning application 23/01057/B):

Prior to the commencement of development, including construction and enabling works, an Invasive Species Management Plan shall be submitted in writing to the Department for approval. All works must then be undertaken in full accordance with this plan.

• 1.2 The Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) (Katie Watson Consultancy, 2023) noted the presence of hybrid bluebell (Hyancinthoides non-scripta x hispanica) and cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.) with subsequent a site assessment for Invasive Species (Ecology Vannin, 2023) finding Schedule 8 invasive montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) in patches along the bank where construction of the flood wall is due to take place.

• 2.0 Legislation
• 2.1 Control of invasive non-native species comes under the Isle of Man Wildlife Act 1990 (as amended). Section 14 relates to the introduction of new species, including those listed in Schedule 8. Schedule 8 invasive non-native plants
• 2.2 Certain plant species are listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife Act due to the threat of invasive spread into native habitats. It is an offence:

“if any person plants or otherwise causes to grow in the wild any plant which is included in Part II of Schedule 8”.

• 3.0 Invasive Species
• 3.1 Schedule 8 invasive species Hybrid Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica) and Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.) were noted during an initial EcIA but their locations were not referenced in the report. The follow up assessment by Ecology Vannin has not found these plant species on site which is likely due to the time of year the assessment took place in. The lack of flowers and fruits in winter for some plant species make them illusive when attempting to detect their presence on a site. Ongoing monitoring should attempt to locate these species.
• 3.2 Montbretia can be found on a four sections of the riverbank (figure 1) within the planned area for the flood wall (photos in Appendix I). Montbretia is a non-native species which has spread widely since its introduction to the UK in 1880. It spreads

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by rhizomes and rarely by seed and can quickly out-compete native species. It has bulb-like corms underground and can re-generate from fragments of these. Soil containing Montbretia is classified as controlled waste and must be disposed of by incineration at a licenced facility. However, heavily soil-laden and wet material will not be accepted. In this case, controlled burial using 2 layers of protective membranes can be considered as an alternative.

Figure 1. Locations of Schedule 8 montbretia.

• 4.0 Management Plan Enabling / Construction Phase
• 4.1 Prior to any soil / plant material being moved or cleared, an area for storing contaminated soil will be identified and clearly marked.
• 4.2 To prevent re-growth of these plants, were appropriate, soil will be excavated to a depth of at least 50cm to remove all plant fragments.
• 4.3 The contaminated soil will be double wrapped in a protective membrane and taken, with prior arrangement, to the Suez Incinerator. Measures will be taken to ensure that the material is secured during transport to avoid any spillage. Alternatively, the material can be buried if a suitable depth of cavity can be made and a suitable covering given that will prevent future unearthing and spread of the material. The burial option will require consultation of the Ecological Clerk of Works and agreement with DEFA Ecosystem Policy Team.

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Ongoing Management

• 4.4 Montbretia will be cleared from areas of the bank where it is present, where practicable, and material taken for incineration. Further clearance in future will be undertaken if required.
• 4.5 Outside of the site clearance and construction area, Montbretia will be left undisturbed in order to prevent accidental spread of root corms. Future monitoring of the spread of Montbretia will be undertaken and further steps to reduce the spread will be taken if required.
• 4.6 Due to knowledge of the likely presence of other invasive species on site namely Hybrid Bluebell and Cotoneaster, monitoring of the site must continue during Spring/early summer months (April to June) when these species may be more easily detected. If any such plants are found, then appropriate recommendations shall be made regarding their removal and incineration.

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References

DEFA (2015). Managing our natural wealth – The Isle of Man’s first Biodiversity Strategy 2015-2025 – GD 2015/0049. IoM Gov, Douglas. Katie Watson Consultancy (2023). Laxey River – Ecological Impact Assessment. Ecology Vannin, Invasive Species Management Plan 6

Appendix I: Photographs of Schedule 8 Invasive non-native montbretia

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