Bailrigg Garden Village Assessment of Potentially ... Garden Village... · Bailrigg Garden Village Wintering Bird Surveys 2018 6 Wyre, Lune, Kent and Leven. It contains the largest

Bailrigg Garden Village Wintering Bird Surveys 2018

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Assessment of Potentially Functionally Linked Land

Bailrigg Garden Village Lancaster

March 2018

Golden plover


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For

Lancaster City Council

By

Greater Manchester Ecology Unit

Clarence Arcade

Stamford Street

Ashton-under-Lyne

Manchester OL6

[email protected]

March 2018


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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Functionally Linked Land

The implementation of a wide range of plans or projects can affect species or

habitats on sites which have been designated for their nature conservation

importance as European Protected Areas. Areas of land or sea outside of the

boundary of a European site may be important ecologically in supporting the species

populations for which the site has been designated or classified, particularly for

birds. Occasionally impacts to such habitats can have a significant effect upon the

special species interest of such sites, where these habitats are considered to be

functionally linked to the site.

Planners, decision makers and advisers need to judge whether the impacts on

habitats that are functionally linked to a site may adversely affect its integrity and

whether the effects are significant in light of the conservation objectives for the site.

1.2 Lancaster City Council is currently preparing plans for the potential future

development of a Garden Village on land at and around Bailrigg, Lancaster. The land

is not included within any designated European sites, but the coastline of Lancaster

to the west is dominated by the very large European Protected Areas Morecambe

Bay and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area / Ramsar, and to the East lies the

Bowland Fells Special Protection Area. These sites have been designated because

they support important populations of birds, particularly wetland and wading birds.

These ‘qualifying’ bird species can use areas outside of the designated site

boundaries for feeding, for refuge during high tides or periods of bad weather,

during periods of migration and in some cases for breeding. The loss of some of

these areas may significantly affect the bird populations, so it is possible that they

could be regarded as functionally linked land.

Lancaster City Council therefore wishes to assess sites and areas within the Garden

Village allocation to determine whether any sites could be considered to be

functionally linked land so that any future harm to these areas can be avoided,

mitigated or compensated.

1.3 Bailrigg Garden Village

Lancaster City Council’s vision for the Bailrigg Garden Village is for a self-contained

new settlement of around 3500 homes in south Lancaster - a place for living and a

focus for growth in conjunction with the expanding Lancaster University. The Village

is to be built over the next 12/15 years and is to offer a range of well-built housing,

community facilities and services close to the University main campus.

The Village is to be well designed with generous greenspace offering extensive

opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure. A rapid transit bus service is to


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connect the city centre, the Village and the University campus and good walking and

cycle routes will link also.

The proposed area of Bailrigg Garden Village is within 1km of the Morecambe Bay

and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area for birds and within 4km of the Bowland

Fells Special Protection Area for birds. It is these European designated sites which

are therefore regarded as being affected by the development of the Garden Village.

Other designated sites are regarded as too distant for significant effects to occur, or

for effects on the sites to be attributed to the Garden Village development.

Fig 1 below shows the proposed area of the Garden Village

(in blue, as supplied by Lancaster City Council)


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Fig 2 Location of the Garden Village sites surveyed in relation to

European Protected Sites

1.4 The Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA

Site description:

The SPA extends between Rossall Point in Lancashire and Drigg Dunes in Cumbria.

The site includes the former Morecambe Bay SPA and Duddon Estuary SPA and an

extension to include the Ravenglass Estuary and intervening coast and the shallow

offshore area off south west Cumbria coast. Morecambe Bay is the second largest

embayment in Britain after The Wash, at over 310 km2, and has four estuaries – the


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Wyre, Lune, Kent and Leven. It contains the largest continuous area of intertidal

mudflats and sandflats in the UK which supports a variety of faunal communities

including cockle beds. Morecambe Bay supports a wide range of other habitats

including large areas of saltmarsh and transitional habitats as well as sand dune

systems and coastal lagoons. Within the Bay there are areas of stony reef (known

locally as scars or skears) which also support blue mussel beds and honeycomb

worm Sabellaria alveolata reefs. Extensive eelgrass beds are present around Foulney

Island and in the south Walney Channel, the only examples in the North West of

England. The Duddon and Ravenglass Estuaries support saltmarsh, intertidal mud

and sand communities and sand dune systems with small areas of stony reef. The

intermediate coast comprises extensive shingle and sand beaches. The parts of the

SPA away from the coast are sandy and shallow, mostly less than 15 metres deep.

Natural England lists the conservation objectives for Morecambe Bay SPA as follows: to maintain*, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Annex 1 bird species of European importance, with particular reference to:

A026 Egretta garzetta; Little egret (Non-breeding)

A038 Cygnus cygnus; Whooper swan (Non-breeding)

A040 Anser brachyrhynchus; Pink-footed goose (Non-breeding)

A048 Tadorna tadorna; Common shelduck (Non-breeding)

A054 Anas acuta; Northern pintail (Non-breeding)

A130 Haematopus ostralegus; Eurasian oystercatcher (Non-breeding)

A137 Charadrius hiaticula; Ringed plover (Non-breeding)

A140 Pluvialis apricaria; European golden plover (Non-breeding)

A141 Pluvialis squatarola; Grey plover (Non-breeding)

A143 Calidris canutus; Red knot (Non-breeding)

A144 Calidris alba; Sanderling (Non-breeding)

A149 Calidris alpina alpina; Dunlin (Non-breeding)

A151 Philomachus pugnax; Ruff (Non-breeding)

A156 Limosa limosa islandica; Black-tailed godwit (Non-breeding)

A157 Limosa lapponica; Bar-tailed godwit (Non-breeding)

A160 Numenius arquata; Eurasian curlew (Non-breeding)

A162 Tringa totanus; Common redshank (Non-breeding)

A169 Arenaria interpres; Ruddy turnstone (Non-breeding)

A176 Larus melanocephalus; Mediterranean gull (Non-breeding)

A183 Larus fuscus; Lesser black-backed gull (Non-breeding) A183 Larus fuscus; Lesser black-backed gull (Breeding)

A184 Larus argentatus; Herring gull (Breeding)

A191 Sterna sandvicensis; Sandwich tern (Breeding)

A193 Sterna hirundo; Common tern (Breeding)

A195 Sterna albifrons; Little tern (Breeding)

Exceptional Waterbird assemblage

Exceptional Seabird assemblage

The full list of bird species for which the Bay is designated can be found at

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1982. These bird species were regarded as the

‘target’ species for this study.


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1.5 The Bowland Fells SPA

The JNCC describes the Bowland fells as follows –

“The Bowland Fells are an extensive upland area in Lancashire, in north-west

England. It [the SPA] forms a western outlier of the Pennines, with summits mostly in

the range 450-550 m. The geology is millstone grit-capped fells overlying softer

Bowland shales, resulting in predominantly acidic vegetation types. The major

habitats are heather-dominated moorland and blanket mire. It is important for its

upland breeding birds, especially breeding Merlin Falco columbarius and Hen

Harrier Circus cyaneu”.

With regard to the SPA and the individual species and/or assemblage of species for

which the site has been classified (the ‘Qualifying Features’ listed below), and

subject to natural change, the conservation objectives of the site are to –

Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and

ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive, by

maintaining or restoring;

• The extent and distribution of the habitats of the qualifying features

• The structure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features

• The supporting processes on which the habitats of the qualifying features

rely

• The population of each of the qualifying features, and,

• The distribution of the qualifying features within the site.

Qualifying Features:

• A082 Circus cyaneus; Hen harrier (Breeding)

• A098 Falco columbarius; Merlin (Breeding)

1.6 The Distribution of Waders and Seabirds in North Lancashire

The wading birds and seabirds associated with Morecambe Bay in winter are closely

associated with the mudflats within the Bay and, at high tide roosting, sites very

close to shoreline (Source – Morecambe Bay Wader Roost study 2012).

Some inland sites, particularly those with open standing water and/or marshland,

can support important numbers of water birds, wading birds and seabirds but these

sites are generally already well-known and protected by local designations.

There is some movement of birds from the Bay to breed on the high fells in summer

and numbers of these species may use inland farmland sites as stop-overs and


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feeding sites between the Bay and the fells, but the numbers of birds involved are

small; most of the important species move much farther north and east for breeding

elsewhere in Europe.

The most important bird species associated with the special interest of the Bay but

which also relies on inland sites is probably the Pink-footed Goose, which relies on

areas of open inland farmland for ‘loafing’ and feeding.

1.7 The Ecology of Pink-footed Geese

Photo 1 Pink-footed geese in flight

The Pink-footed Goose breeds primarily in central Iceland and in smaller numbers

along the east coast of Greenland, mostly from Kangertittivaq/Scoresby Sund (70°N)

to Nordmarken, northern Germania Land (77°N; Boertmann 1991, 1994) (Fig. 1). East

Greenland is a major moulting area for Icelandic breeders. A smaller population,

numbering around 37,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2002), breeds in

Svalbard and winters primarily in the Low Countries. In early autumn,

Greenland/Iceland Pink-footed Geese migrate to winter almost exclusively in Britain,

although small numbers also occur in Ireland (e.g. Colhoun 2001).

Its wintering range is now associated not just with open mudflats as found in the Bay

but also very much with farmland, and also taking advantage of reservoirs, other

freshwater bodies and estuaries for roosting (Owen et al. 1986). Large

concentrations of geese can occur in early autumn, especially in east-central

Scotland. There is considerable redistribution later in the winter especially to sites

further south, particularly Lancashire and Norfolk. Birds at the southern limit of the

wintering range begin their northward migration through Britain in late winter

probably in response to grass growth (Fox et al. 1994a). They leave Britain from mid -


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April and stage in the southern lowlands and other coastal areas of Iceland before

departing for the breeding grounds in central Iceland or east Greenland, where they

arrive from mid-May onwards.

Numbers of geese are known to usually peak around Morecambe Bay in February to

mid-March, although this can be weather dependent.

Pink-footed geese are highly susceptible to human disturbance. Research suggests

that they avoid feeding in fields less than 6 hectares (ha) in size and fields that are

close to roads and human habitation. Sudden disturbances disperse birds over a

wide area. They can however habituate to farming operations and will stay on fields

sometimes when tractors, for example, are in operation.

• It is known that the ‘flight’ (disturbance) distance of goose flocks increases with

flock size and is longer in autumn compared to spring. The disturbance distance

of roads with traffic volume of more than 20 cars per day is approx. 500 m in

autumn, less so in spring. Lanes with just 0–10 cars per day also have a

depressing effect on utilization of fields by geese.

• Windbreaks, banks, hedges etc. which hinder an open view, have a disturbance

distance for geese of approx. 200–300 m. The width of an area (hindrances in

more than one direction) generally need to exceed 500 m in order to be

acceptable to medium to large flocks of pink-footed geese (in autumn).

• The implication of these findings is that significant flocks of geese need open,

unobstructed and undisturbed landscapes in order to feed and rest effectively.

This is reflected in the known distributions of large geese flocks in Lancashire; the

largest concentrations of birds are found on and around the South and West

Lancashire Mosses, around open agricultural land in the East and North Fylde

and on open marshland and mudflats associated with the various estuaries that

lead into the Morecambe Bay.

• Desk-top survey results and communication with local Birders in the Lancaster

and Morecambe areas would indicate that large concentrations of geese are not

associated with any of the sites being considered for potential allocation as part

of the Garden Village and surveyed as part of this study, although small numbers

of geese can turn up, sometimes unexpectedly, on almost any open land close to

the Bay and/or the various Estuaries because of the large numbers of geese in

the surrounding area and the very mobile habits of geese..

• Geese are more faithful to sites where there is continuity of land management;

that is, sites with known food sources in winter and relatively undisturbed open

sites will be preferred. But geese can also be highly mobile and use different sites

in different years as land management changes, and can move large distances in

a single day if they are subject to frequent disturbance.


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• Currently geese populations are threatened by increased disturbance and by

changing agricultural practices leading to more intense land use in the winter, for

example less stubble over-wintering and increased planting of winter and spring

2 Aims and Objectives of the Study

The Aims of the study were to –

• Determine whether development on any of the sites and areas identified as

potentially being subject to development associated with the creation of Bailrigg

Garden Village could directly affect functionally linked land in relation to the

qualifying bird species associated with the European designated sites,

• Contribute to the assessment of whether development on land has the potential

to give rise to significant effects on a European designated site;

• Consider whether development of land for the creation of the Bailrigg Garden

Village has the potential to generate increased recreational pressure on any

functionally linked land, and whether this could give rise to significant effects on

the relevant European designated sites.


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3 Methods

The very large overall site was divided into a series of ‘Compartments’ based on their

size, position in the landscape, logical landscape boundaries and an assessment of

the time that it would take to survey the sites.

The Compartments were –

1. Land to the West of Lancaster Canal

2. South Lancaster Urban Extension

3. South Lancaster Safeguarded Land

4. Ellel

5. Bailrigg

6. Forrest Hills

The Distribution of the Compartments is shown in Fig 3 below.

Fig 3 Locations and Extent of Survey Compartments


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In each Compartment –

• An assessment of the habitats supported by the land in question in relation to their

potential importance to the ecology of the relevant qualifying bird species was

carried out.

• An assessment of the landscape structure and character of the land in question in

relation to its potential importance to the ecology of the relevant qualifying bird

species was carried out.

• Primary field-based surveys by experienced ornithologists were carried out to record

any qualifying bird species present on sites and areas being considered for

development. Field surveys included at least 6 hours of survey effort on each site /

land parcel being assessed. Field surveys consisted of ‘point count’ surveys in which a trained observer records all the birds seen and heard from a point count station for a set period of time.

All of the field surveys were undertaken during the period February to March 2018

inclusive, because it is the overwintering refuge and feeding that are regarded as being

of more significance than breeding sites (many of the bird species associated with the

Bay will breed in other countries some distance from the Bay).

However, breeding bird records are available for significant parts of the area under

consideration (GMEU 2017)

Field surveys were led by Stephen Atkins, an experienced ornithologist. Stephen is the

County Bird Recorder for Greater Manchester and has also undertaken bird surveys in

Lancashire over a period of twenty years. Stephen was assisted by Principal Ecologist

Derek Richardson and experienced field ecologist Zoe Barratt.

In addition, for each compartment any existing desk-top records of qualifying bird

species from the land being assessed were collected and collated. This data was

obtained from a range of sources including LERN, the RSPB, the BTO and local bird

recording groups and individuals (with a high reliance on www.lancasterbirding.org.uk)

Following the Field surveys and assessments the scoring of sites to reflect their value for

birds first set through the desk-top study was adjusted accordingly based on the birds

and habitats present and the geographical location, taking into account proximity to

housing, roads and other infrastructure and the level of disturbance from people using

the area for recreational, or other purposes (Table 1)


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Score Description Factors influencing overall site score

1 Very low potential to support overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay / Bowland Fells and to act as Functionally Linked Land

• No existing target bird species records (from available desk-top data) • No target bird species recorded during field surveys • Site further than 5km from the SPA • Field size smaller than 4ha • Lack of suitable habitats present to support over-wintering birds • Lack of suitable habitats on surrounding land to support over-wintering birds • Land use hostile to wintering birds • Site very likely to be subject to significant disturbance

2 Low potential to support overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay / Bowland Fells and to act as Functionally Linked Land

• No or few existing target bird species records (from available desk-top data) • No or few target bird species recorded during field surveys • Site further than 4km from the SPA • Field size smaller than 5ha • Lack of suitable habitats present to support over-wintering birds • Lack of suitable habitats on surrounding land to support over-wintering birds • Land use unfavourable to wintering birds • Site likely to be subject to significant disturbance

3 Medium potential to support overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay / Bowland Fells and to act as Functionally Linked Land

• Some existing target bird species records (from available desk-top data) • Some target bird species recorded during field surveys • Site further than 3km from the SPA • Field size smaller than 6ha • Lack of suitable habitats present to support over-wintering birds • Lack of suitable habitats on surrounding land to support over-wintering birds • Land use neutral for wintering birds • Site likely to be subject to some disturbance

4 High potential to support overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay / Bowland Fells and to act as Functionally Linked Land

• Site known to support overwintering bird populations (from available desk-top data) • Significant numbers of target bird species recorded during field surveys • Further than 2km from the SPA • Field size greater than 6ha • Open grassland / wet grassland habitats present • Surrounding land supports suitable habitats • Land use favourable to wintering birds • Site unlikely to be subject to significant disturbance

5 Very high potential to support overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay / Bowland Fells and to act as Functionally Linked Land

• Site known to support significant important overwintering bird populations (from available desk-top data) • Significant numbers of target bird species recorded during field surveys • Within 1km of the SPA • Field size greater than 7ha • Open grassland / wet grassland habitats present • Surrounding land supports suitable habitats • Land use very favourable to wintering birds • Site very unlikely to be subject to significant disturbance

Table 1 - Site Scoring system


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3.1 Survey Limitations

Whether or not birds will make use of a particular area on a regular basis can depend on

changes to land management, changes to disturbance patterns and changes to bird

behaviour over time. It will take a number of years to develop all of the land under

consideration for the Garden Village development, which means that bird distribution

patterns may change during this extended time period.

Given the very high numbers of birds that use the Bay in winter and the highly mobile

behaviour of most of the bird species involved it is inevitable that small numbers of the

significant bird species for which the Bay is designated will turn up on almost any parcel

of open greenspace in Lancaster. The question being addressed in this study is whether

the loss of land to development is likely to cause a long-term effect on significant

numbers of birds such that the nature conservation importance of the Morecambe Bay /

Duddon estuary SPA and/or the Bowland Fells SPA would be harmed.

There is no single accepted definition or available criteria for what may formally

constitute ‘functionally linked land’.

For these reasons the Assessments were not be able to offer an entirely definitive view

on whether or not sites and areas do in fact constitute functionally linked land. Rather,

the results of the assessments will be expressed as the potential (probability) for the

land to act as functionally linked land based on the scoring system outlined above.

Areas and sites assessed as having high or moderate potential to be functionally linked

should be considered for protection and/or enhancement as part of the wider Garden

Village Development. Further surveys of these sites will likely be needed closer to the

time that development may come forward.

The field-based surveys were undertaken during one field season only for most compartments (in early 2018). It is recognised that birds may use different sites in different years based on changes to land use and management. The birds concerned are also highly mobile in their habits.

An absence of desk-top records of species from a site does not imply that the species is entirely absent; rather, it may reflect a lack of survey effort for the site concerned. The results expressed below represent the probability (likelihood) of sites being important for birds.

February and March 2018 experienced unusual weather patterns in the UK, with very cold winds coming from the east. This should be taken into account in the interpretation of the field survey results.


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4 RESULTS

4.1 Compartment 1 – Land to the West of the Lancaster Canal

NGR (approximate centre of site) – SD 347000 457940

This Compartment at its closest point is only 750m from the boundary of the

Morecambe Bay SPA which lies to the west. There is open land (a golf course and

agricultural land) between the Compartment and the SPA, although a busy main

road (the A558) separates the land to the west from the Compartment itself..

The Compartment is dominated by pastoral, open grassland although there is a

linear woodland belt running north-south along the banks of the Canal, which forms

the eastern boundary of the compartment, and a larger block of woodland (Crane

Wood). The grassland is divided into fields separated by hedgerows and walls.

Sheep, horse and cattle grazing were the dominant land uses observed during the

surveys, although there were small areas of crop growing, closer towards the east of

the site.

Desk-top records from LERN did not indicate that the Compartment was of particular

value for birds associated with the Bay, although it was acknowledged that the lack

of records may relate to a lack of recording effort in the area. However, no areas of

the Compartment were identified by local birders as being an area of special

interest.

The Compartment narrows towards the north; the northern third of the site is never

more than 225 m from the A558, although the maximum distance between the

wider southern part of the area and the road is some 800m.

The site is not crossed by public footpaths and there is no significant housing in or

close to the site, except at the very norther boundary where there is a small housing

development at Pinewood Close.

There are one or two ponds present but in general the land is not low lying and no

areas were holding standing water at the time of survey; there were no significant

areas of wet grassland or marsh present.


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Photos 2 and 3 Typical views of Compartment 1

4.1.1 Results of Field Surveys

Compartment 1 was surveyed on the 17th February 2018 from 09.20 to 14.10 and on

the 18th February 2018 from 10.00 to 15.00.

The point count locations can be seen by following the link below –

https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/mapapp/?drawing=points&buffer=&waypoints=&path=SD46

85557635_SD4684557625_SD4675557755_SD4698557525_SD4698557535_SD4708557505

_SD4720557905_SD4708558552_SD4726557165_SD4640557145_SD4721559165_SD47195

58955

No target bird species were recorded during the field surveys.


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Several priority bird species were recorded including Dunnock, House Sparrow, Tree

Sparrow and Song Thrush and two Brown Hares were observed in a field to the south

of Brantbeck Farm.

4.1.2 Summary

Overall this compartment does not provide an open landscape with unobscured

views and wet grassland favoured by Pink-footed Geese. No SPA target bird species

were seen using the fields and the probability of this area being functionally linked to

the SPA is considered to be low due to heavy grazing, the proximity of a relatively

busy road and landscape fragmentation.

Overall Score = 2 - Low potential to act as Functionally Linked Land


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4.2 Compartment 2 South Lancaster Urban Extension


Compartment 2 is bounded by residential development to the north, by the

Lancaster Canal to the west, by a railway line to the east and by Tarnwater Lane to

the south. This compartment is fragmented into relatively small fields bounded by

hedgerows. The topography is undulating, with few large, flat open spaces with

uninterrupted views that could be favoured by geese and swans in evidence.

The fields are predominantly grazed by sheep and cattle and support improved

grassland bordered by low hawthorn hedges and fences. There were no significant

areas of wet grassland or open standing water present. The western edge of the site

is bounded by the Lancaster Canal and the slopes along the Canal are wooded with

mature trees, ash being the dominant species.

Desk-top records from LERN and others did not indicate that the Compartment was

of particular value for birds associated with the Bay, although it was acknowledged

that the lack of records may relate to a lack of recording effort in the area. However,

no areas of the Compartment were identified by local birders as being an area of

special interest.

Most of the site was viewed from vantage points along the Lancaster Canal and

Tarnwater Lane. The land appears undisturbed, the only human activity being

associated with the farms and agricultural activity. Heavy sheep grazing has led to

very short grass in many places.


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Photos 4 and 5 Typical views Compartment 2


Surveyed on 9th March 2018 from 09:00 to 11:10 hrs and the 10th March from 12

noon to 16.00. Part of this site was also surveyed in the winter of 2017. This survey

extended further north to include areas not visited in 2017. The limit of the survey

area on this occasion was the trig point at SD 4760 5817 which gave good views to

the north.

The point count locations can be seen by following the link below –


89557015_SD4788557145_SD4775557255_SD4750557185_SD4749557165_SD4736557165

_SD4782557525_SD4781557525_SD4779557635_SD4768557765_SD4758557825_SD47775

57775_SD4777557975_SD4772558165_SD4770558175_SD4762558145

The northern areas of the compartment consist of relatively small fields surrounded

by hedgerows and the distance to roads and the urban area is considered too small

to make this area attractive to the SPA target species.

The only SPA target species observed was a pair of Oystercatchers mating in a water-

logged field which suggests breeding may take place nearby.

It is of note that the area appears to support a moderate sized Tree Sparrow

population (a declining priority bird species although not a target species). The birds

recorded were associated with existing houses, especially along Burrow Heights Lane

where six birds were seen. Other priority species recorded were Dunnock, House

Sparrow, Song Thrush and Starling. Also of some interest was a Green Woodpecker

heard calling from a field at the end of the lane and a Kestrel in the same field.


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Photo 6 Tree Sparrow at Burrow Heights

Overall Score = 2 Low Potential to act as Functionally Linked Land


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4.3 Compartment 3 South Lancaster Safeguarded Land


4.3.1 Site Description

Similar in character to Compartment 2, although this Compartment is subject to

more disturbance from the Galgate residential development in the south and by

Highland Brow, a relatively busy road forming the eastern boundary.

Again the predominant land use is pastoral agriculture, with relatively small fields

bounded by hedgerows. There are few open expanses, particularly given that Park

Coppice woodland dominates the central part of the Compartment.

Desk-top records from LERN and others did not indicate that the Compartment was

of particular value for birds associated with the Bay, although it was acknowledged

that the lack of records may relate to a lack of recording effort in the area. However,

no areas of the Compartment were identified by local birders as being an area of

special interest.

Photos 7 and 8 typical views of Compartment 3


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The compartment was surveyed on 9th March 2018 from 09:00 to 11:10 hrs and the

10th March 2018 from 12 noon to 15.00. This area was previously surveyed in the

winter of 2017 so was given lighter coverage than the other compartments, given

that it had already been identified as being of low value for the target SPA species.

The following link shows the locations of the survey points –

https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/mapapp/?path=SD47875580_SD48045618_SD47925674_SD

47855690

Three Pink-footed Geese flew relatively low over the Meadow Park housing estate at

09:14 hrs on the 9th March heading SW, possibly towards the Thurnham area. The

height of these birds suggests that they may have been on fields somewhere in the

local area, but this is by no means certain. An estimated seven pairs of Lapwing were

present in the maize stubble fields on the southern edge of the land on the 9th, with

a larger flock of 32 birds which landed in an improved pasture field to the north of

the stubble.

In the afternoon of the 9th, a flock of 16 Curlew was seen flying east at high altitude,

but were too distant to record a location, and may have been to the south of the

Safeguarded Land. These birds were probably moving from their wintering grounds

on the Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA towards the Bowland Fells SPA for

the start of the breeding season, but were not making use of the survey area.

No other ‘target’ bird species were recorded during the field surveys.

Other priority (non-target) species of note recorded were Dunnock, House Sparrow

and Starling with Skylark overflying the area at high altitude.

4.3.3 Summary

The assessment of this Compartment remains unchanged from 2017 i.e. the site is

considered to be of low potential for wintering SPA target bird species, but may be

of medium potential for breeding priority species such as Lapwing.

Overall Score = 2 Low Potential to act as Functionally Linked land


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4.4 Compartment 4 – Ellel



This area to the south of the University Campus has a relatively high level of noise

disturbance from the combined impact of the adjacent A6, West Coast main railway

line and the M6 which at its furthest point is less than 500m to the east.

The fields east of the A6 and south of Hazelrigg Lane comprise improved grassland.

They were ungrazed on the date of the visit and slurry had recently been spread on

them. The three fields sandwiched between the A6 and West Coast main railway line

are on a steep slope, grazed by sheep and subject to high levels of disturbance. The

fields in the NE corner, south of Hazelrigg Lane and adjacent to the M6 appear to be

used for silage containing improved grassland.

Photos 9 and 10 Typical views of Compartment 4


24


Surveyed on 24th February 2018 from 07:30 to 13:00 hrs.



48485846_SD48155830_SD48165830_SD48105845_SD47925826_SD48525808_SD4860579

9_SD48475627_SD48435615_SD48425601_SD48725660_SD48815681_SD48135605

The only SPA target species present was a flock of c. 100 Lapwings circling over the

fields between Ellel and Ward Farm which may have been flushed from one of the

fields within the proposed allocation, possibly by a Sparrowhawk which was seen

later. These flew west in the direction of the Safeguarded land.

4.4.3 Summary

This area is too fragmented, too small and too disturbed to effectively act as

Functionally Linked Land



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4.5 Compartment 5 – Bailrigg



This compartment is adjacent to a housing estate which forms the northern

boundary and comprises medium sized fields, some with steep gradients and all

consisting of improved grassland.

Most fields were heavily grazed by sheep and as a result the grass was very short and

the sward uniform. The larger fields were adjacent to the M6 motorway and

therefore subject to a high degree of disturbance from the traffic. Additional

disturbance was caused by dog walkers and walkers using the public footpath which

runs south from Barnacre Close to Bailrigg Lane.

The fields adjacent to the A6 and north of Bailrigg Lane are relatively small and the

areas of open land are broken up into even smaller compartments by scrub. They are

also bisected by a cycleway and public footpath which links to the University and was

heavily used.

Many of the fields are enclosed by hedgerows and separated by copses of mature

trees, so do not provide the unimpeded views across the landscape favoured by

Pink-footed Geese and waders associated with the SPA.


26

Photos 11 and 12 Typical views, Bailrigg


This compartment was surveyed on 24th February 2018 from 14:30 to 17:00 hrs.



48485846_SD48155830_SD48165830_SD48105845_SD47925826_SD48525808_SD4860579

9_SD48475627_SD48435615_SD48425601_SD48725660_SD48815681_SD48135605

At the start of the survey the ground was frozen in some fields due to a heavy

overnight frost. The only SPA target species observed were a single Oystercatcher

foraging in a damp area of one of the larger fields adjacent to the M6 and one

Curlew heard calling in flight.

Priority bird species recorded included Dunnock, Tree Sparrow, Song Thrush

4.5.3 Summary

The overall conclusion is that this area has a low potential (score 2) to support

overwintering birds associated with Morecambe Bay because it is fragmented and

relatively highly disturbed.



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4.6 Compartment 6 – Forrest Hills (west of the M6)



The character of this compartment is significantly different to the others. The

landscape is hilly, interspersed with small areas of woodland and bisected by the

(sometimes steep) valley of the River Conder. In the Valley there are larger areas of

open water associated with Forrest Hills golf course / leisure area, and Blea Tarn

reservoir to the north is a known important site for birds.

Relatively busy roads run through the compartment, including Hazelrigg Lane and

Procter Moss Road. In general though the area is undisturbed, with little in the way

of built development and few public footpaths. The large golf course in the south is

disturbed and is unsuitable for use by wintering birds.

Again the main land use is dominated by pastoral agriculture.

There is a single large wind turbine in this compartment associated with the

University research station.

Desk-top records did not indicate that the area is of any value for target bird species,

although Oystercatchers have been recorded here in small numbers and Blea Tarn

reservoir to the north is a known important birding site.


28

Photos 13 and 14 Typical views of compartment 6


Surveyed on 4th March 2018 from 10:25 to 15:35 hrs, although recording began at

10:00 hrs along Blea Tarn Road, outside the boundary, and 5th March 2018 from

11.00 to 15.00 hrs.



68558375_SD4963258171_SD4956558075_SD4950457993_SD4941957871_SD4936557795

_SD4931457719_SD4924557265_SD4923557085_SD4934556965_SD4919556985_SD49095

56945_SD4989557935_SD4994557645_SD5012556955_SD4980556656

Not all of the fields were able to be surveyed and only parts of some were visible,

due to some access difficulties and to the topography which made viewing difficult

from roads and public rights of way. This was partly compensated by increasing the

number of count points to 17.

Very harsh weather conditions including heavy snow falls in the east of England and

across the Pennines, accompanied by gale force easterly winds may have caused the

displacement of some birds earlier in the week. However, on the days of the surveys

the ground was clear of snow and the wind had dropped to a moderate easterly.

Whilst most of the fields are small and surrounded by hedges there are a number of

larger fields which were being used by small numbers of Lapwing for foraging and

may well support a few breeding pairs.

The most notable bird sighting within the boundary and close to the site boundaries

were flocks Golden Plovers (maximum count of 93 birds). Also recorded were

Lapwing, Snipe and Oystercatcher.


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Fig 4 Locations of golden plover flocks (pink dots)

The valley of the River Conder may well be used as a flyway by some SPA target

species moving from their wintering grounds on the Morecambe Bay and Duddon

Estuary SPA to breeding sites within the Bowland Fells SPA and possibly the South

Pennine Moors SPA. The species most likely to use the compartment in this way are

Curlew, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.

4.6.3 Summary

Taking into account the presence of Golden Plover, Lapwing, Snipe and

Oystercatcher within and just outside the boundary there is a moderate potential

(score 3) of functional linkage between this area and the Morecambe Bay and

Duddon Estuary SPA, also with the Bowland Fells SPA and possibly the South Pennine

Moors SPA.

Overall score = 3 - Moderate potential to act as Functionally Linked Land


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4.7 Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans in fields at Thurnham

Although outside the proposed allocations this area was visited on 17th and 18th

February and provides an interesting insight into the habitat preferences of both

Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swans. A flock of Pink-footed Geese, estimated at

550+ birds was roosting in a water logged field between Jeremy Lane and Dobbs

Lane at SD447554 at 15:00 hrs. The distance between the two lanes is approximately

600m and this field is part of a large block of open improved grassland to the west of

the A588 which extends to the south over 15 square kilometres to the A588

Cockerham to Braides Road.

A flock of 87 Whooper Swans with a similar number of Mute Swans was feeding in

an improved field to the east of Jeremy Land at SD 451553 containing medium

length grass. None of these fields were grazed by livestock.

Geese flocks to the west and south numbered into the high hundreds.

This area is lower-lying, wetter, less heavily grazed and less disturbed than any of the

study areas. It is well-known to local birders and appears in regular postings of

important bird sightings. It provides a good example of high potential Functionally

Linked lane.

Fig 5 Area of known bird interest for target species (in blue)


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5 Overall Summary and Discussion

Only a part of one of the Compartments surveyed (Compartment 6, Forrest Hills) was

assessed as having moderate potential to act as land Functionally Linked to the

Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA. This mostly concerns the northern part of

the Forrest Hills compartment and an area to the north of the compartment around

Blea Tarn Reservoir, assessed as having moderate potential because of the relatively

high numbers of golden plover recorded in and close to these areas.

It is recommended that these areas are re-surveyed as part of any future

applications for development in the compartment.

Very small numbers of some other target species were observed in other

compartments. It would be expected that given the very large numbers of birds

associated with the Bay some target bird species will inevitably make some use of

the large open areas of land in some of the compartments surveyed, but there is a

lack of evidence that these sites and areas act as ‘functionally linked land’

The surveys were partly undertaken in February-March 2018; this period

experienced unusual weather patterns for north-west England, with very cold strong

winds from the east. It is acknowledged that these conditions may have influenced

the results, but if anything the very cold weather it may have been expected that

more birds would have moved inland from the exposed mudflats of the Bay.

Table 2 Summary scores for Compartments Surveyed

Compartment

no.

Compartment name Potential for the

Compartment to act as

Functionally Linked Land

1 Land to the West of the

Lancaster Canal

2

2 South Lancaster Urban

Extension

2

3 South Lancaster Safeguarded

Land

2

4 Ellel

2

5 Bailrigg

2

6 Forrest Hills 3


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It is of note that the bird sightings from sites to the south around Thurnham Moss

recorded during this survey and the results of the collection of available desk-top

data would indicate that the target bird species prefer these areas of more open,

level and wetter land than any of the sites and areas identified for the development

of the Garden Village. This result reflects what is already known about the inland

distribution of birds associated with Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.

5.1 The impact of indirect disturbance on birds using Morecambe Bay SPA / Ramsar

arising from population increases within Lancaster District

It is known that disturbance to birds using Morecambe Bay by people engaged in

informal and formal recreation – dog walking, jogging etc. – can cause harm to birds

because they use energy reserves when disturbed and sometimes cannot settle to

feed for long periods. Direct bird mortality is also observed (ref. Morecambe Bay

Partnership Recreational Disturbance Study, Footprint Ecology 2015). Since the coast

is a major recreational asset it is conceivable that a general population increase in

Lancaster City such as would result from the development of the Garden Village

could conceivably cause increased disturbance to birds.

Only one of the compartments assessed as part of this study is considered to be of

such value for birds that significant direct disturbance to birds would result from

development of the site for housing. However it is accepted that indirect disturbance

effects on more important parts of the Bay and associated estuaries could arise from

housing developments (and associated population increases) in areas distant from

important bird areas because people will travel to the coast for recreation. This

impact is difficult to empirically assess because it is difficult to determine, for

example, how many people from a particular development site will choose to visit

the coast for recreation, which parts of the site they will visit and how frequently

they will visit and for what purposes they will visit.

We would propose that, rather than restricting new housing developments because

of potential indirect impacts arising from increased recreational use of the Bay area

it would be better to develop a holistic Access, Management and Interpretation Plan

for the whole Bay area. This would manage the impacts at the Receptor rather than

at the potential Source. This is very much in line with the recommendations made in

the recent Morecambe Bay Partnership Recreational Disturbance Study undertaken

by Footprint Ecology in 2015. The summary of this study state –

“In general there is a lack of information for visitors, relatively little engagement and very

little access infrastructure (such as marked paths, formalised parking, gates, interpretation

etc.). Access [to important sites] is therefore difficult to control or manage, and options to

influence how people behave are limited. Alongside the specific recommendations for

particular locations we highlight the need for a Baywide Initiative. Given the range and scale

of the issues there is a need for coordination across sites. Piecemeal measures at individual


33

sites are unlikely to be effective and without coordination issues may be deflected to

neighbouring shorelines. Coordination will help reduce costs and consistency in branding,

messages and communication will help ensure visitors recognise the importance of the area

and take notice. With sites under a range of ownership and management, there is a need for

a single organisation to coordinate actions and bring together the key parties.”

Individual developments could then perhaps be asked to contribute towards the

implementation of this Access Plan, although this may require Policy changes and

policy coordination.


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6 REFERENCES

Winter movements and site fidelity of Pink-footed geese, Bird Study Journal,

AD Fox 1994

Pink-footed Goose – JNCC Waterbird Review Series, JNCC, Mitchell, CR and RD

Hearn 2004

Owen, M., Atkinson-Willes, G.L. & Salmon, D.G. 1986. Wildfowl in Great Britain.

2nd Edition. University Press, Cambridge.

Madsen, J. 1985. Impact of disturbance on field utilization of Pink footed Geese in

West Jutland, Denmark. Biological Conservation 33: 53 63.

Keller, V. 1991. The effects of disturbance from roads on the distribution of feeding

sites by geese (Anser brachyrhynchus, A. anser) wintering in northeast Scotland.

Ardea 79: 229-232.

P. Marsh, J. Roberts Morecambe Bay Wader Roost Study, Heritage Lottery Fund

and Wyre Council 2012


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APPENDIX 1 BIRD RECORDS BY COMPARTMENT (SEPARATE FILE)

Bailrigg Garden Village Assessment of Potentially ... Garden Village... · Bailrigg Garden Village Wintering Bird Surveys 2018 6 Wyre, Lune, Kent and Leven. It contains the largest

Documents