St Mary Redcliffe Ecological Impact Assessment

2 Method
2.1 The methods adopted in the survey throughout the assessment are outlined below. They accord
with the good practice guidance documents for ecological survey and assessment produced by the
Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management 1 and the British Standards
Institute 2 .
Desk Study
2.2 To provide additional background information to the report, and to highlight any potential habitat
and/or species that may be influenced over the proposed changes to the Site, an evaluation of
pre-existing biological records was undertaken. A data search for statutory designated sites within
a 5km of the Site was undertaken as well as a data search for non-statutory designated sites, bat
records and other notable species groups within 2km of the Site.
2.3 Data was both requested and collated from the following sources:
• Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC); and
• Multi-Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside (MAGIC).
2.4 Absence of species records within the desk study from the biological records does not equate to
absence in reality. Species distributions were interpreted with caution as they may reflect surveyreporting
effort rather than actual distributions.
Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
2.5 A Phase 1 Habitat Survey was undertaken. This survey is a rapid, standardised approach to
categorising different habitat types within any given terrestrial site, and was carried out within the
Site boundary.
2.6 A DAFOR scale was applied to the species listed within each habitat type. A DAFOR scale assigns a
letter to a species based on how prominent they are within that particular habitat, it is at the
discretion of the surveyor to decide what label to assign to a particular species. DAFOR translates
as:
• D – Dominant
• A – Abundant
• F – Frequent
• O – Occasional
• R – Rare
2.7 The survey was ‘extended’ by considering the suitability of the Site for notable or protected fauna
and flora. Species considered included those identified within the desk study, or those considered
appropriate by the surveyor whilst on Site. The survey was conducted by Greg Nightingale BSc,
ACIEEM and Isaac Hogan BSc, MSc, QCIEEM on 12 th August 2019. Weather conditions were sunny
and dry.
1 Survey guidance is available at http://www.cieem.net/sources-of-survey-methods-sosm- and appraisal guidance is available at
http://www.cieem.net/guidance-on-preliminary-ecological-appraisal-gpea-
2 British Standards Institute (2013). BS42020:2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice for Planning and Development. BSI, London.
Ecological Impact Assessment for St.Marys Church, Redcliffe 7 September 2019