environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

water, fungi, protected mammal, breeding birds and rare/threatened
invertebrate data, and is also registered as a Natural History Heritage Site
(see below). Protected species records provided by RMBC which are
within 2km of the Penny Hill site (GCN and water vole) are from the Ulley
Country Park area. Spring Wood bounds the south west of the Penny Hill
study area and is registered as a Natural History Heritage Site. Natural
History Heritage site registrations include ancient woodlands, breeding
birds, ancient/species-rich hedgerows, key habitats, presence of badgers
and country parks. Morthen Brook is registered as a Natural History
Heritage Site, this includes the area around Swallow Mills pond that is
within the study area. Other Natural History Heritage Sites within 2km of
the centre of the study area are M1-M18 link road verge, Pea Carr Wood,
Sheep Dike, Lane Wood, RBG1, Turnshaw Plantation, Brampton Common
(also a Candidate Local Wildlife Site) and Long Road, Brampton.
Phase 1 Habitat Survey
7.26 The study area comprises predominantly arable land dissected by
species-poor but generally intact hedgerows. There are some „wildlife
strips‟ and „grass field margins‟ between the crops and field boundaries,
some small areas of improved and semi-improved grassland, and two
small areas of woodland. There are a number of drainage ditches, with
the two main flowing watercourses being the northern and southern
branches of Ulley Brook. There is one farm, Ulley Beeches which is within
the study area.
7.27 Similar habitat surrounds the study area. Further to the north and east is
the M1 which bounds the east of the Penny Hill study area. Further to the
south are the villages of Aston and Aughton, with Ulley village, reservoir
and country park further to the west.
Bat Survey
7.28 The habitat supported within the study area includes arable fields which
are surrounded by predominantly intact hedgerows and as such the
habitat overall is considered to be of low to medium quality for bats. There
is some habitat suitable for roosting including standard trees, and some
farm buildings. As the hedgerows are predominantly intact, their suitability
as commuting routes is high, however the surrounding arable fields
provide low quality foraging habitat. The presence of the two
watercourses (also drainage ditches) will improve the limited foraging
potential.
7.29 Survey effort was determined using results from the habitat assessment
and using Natural England Guidance (2008). Under this guidance the
study area is likely to be a low to medium risk site, as the study area is
small, has few potential roost sites, and was determined to present a low
to medium likely threat to bats. The surveys would also inform the site
layout design process, such as implementing large buffers around
potential roost sites to further reduce the risk level at this site.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement