APPENDIX 8A - National Infrastructure Planning

3.0 WATER VOLE & OTTER SURVEY RESULTS
Habitats
3.1 The proposals site is characterised by intensively managed agricultural fields with
an associated network of steep sided and generally actively managed (either by
the Inland Drainage Board or the Environment Agency) field drains.
3.2 At the time of survey many of the field drains were dry, but the survey was
undertaken in August at the height of summer and 2011 had been an
exceptionally dry year. Furthermore, most drains were either clear of vegetation
or contained stands of phragmites or typha indicating they contain water during
at least part of the year. Very few drains contained scrubby vegetation such as
bramble and saplings, which would indicate the drain no longer held water.
3.3 The River Narr, which is part designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI) runs north south through the proposals site. In the north the River is
heavily managed, with steep sided, close mown banks which are largely devoid
of trees. Although a fringe of marginal vegetation is maintained along the
water’s edge for much of this section and aquatic vegetation is visible within the
watercourse.
3.4 In the south (where the river is designated as a SSSI) the habitat is more varied
with shallower banks at the water’s edge, although engineered earth banks (for
flood defence) are present, they are set back from the main water course. The
banks are tree-lined with species including white willow, weeping willow,
common alder, Lombardy poplar and hawthorn. There is a varied mix of marginal
vegetation along the banks forming relatively wide areas extending into the
channel and onto the low banks of the river. Aquatic vegetation is visible within
the watercourse.
Field Evidence
3.5 The location of the surveyed drains is presented on Drawing G1907.101 and a
summary of the findings is given in the table below:
Drain
Number
Notes
1 Water vole burrows, feeding remains and droppings present.
2 Water vole burrows, feeding remains and droppings present.
3 Water vole burrows, feeding remains and droppings present.
4 Drain dry at the time of survey.
5 Drain dry at the time of survey.
6 Water vole burrows, feeding remains and droppings present.
7 Drain mainly dry at the time of survey, although some water was present
at the north end adjacent to the roundabout.
8 Drain dry at the time of survey.
9 Drain dry at the time of survey.
10 Drain dry at the time of survey.
11 Drain 11 runs for nearly 2km along the toe of the engineered earth bank
that separates the River Narr in the west from the agricultural fields in the
east. Access to survey this drain was restricted in places due to the
File ref: 1907.071 Page 2 of 4