HELEN WIGHT & GLORIA SEARLES LAND OFF CWMGARW ROAD, BRYNAMMAN REPTILE SURVEY REPORT - Geraint John Planning
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HELEN WIGHT & GLORIA SEARLES
LAND OFF CWMGARW ROAD, BRYNAMMAN
REPTILE SURVEY REPORT
24 OCTOBER 2012
Llanmaes
St Fagans
Cardiff
CF5 6DU
029 2002 2320
info@wildwoodecology.com
www.wildwoodecology.com
Vat No. 938019610
Directors: Richard Crompton, B.Sc. (Hons), CEnv, MIEEM
Richard Dodd, B.Sc. (Hons), MIEEM
Wildwood Ecology Limited. Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 6646654
Registered Office: c/o PJE, 23 College Street, Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7DYHelen Wight & Gloria Searles
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
Client: Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Grid Reference: SN 71660 14196
Report: Reptile Survey Report
Report ref: WWE120512/R02
Date of survey: 06th September – 12th October 2012
Surveyed by: Jacqueline Hartley
Architect/Agent: Phil Baxter (Associate Director)
Issue: Revision: Stage: Date: Prepared by: Approved by:
1 Draft, for review 24/10/2012 Matt Davies
FINAL 18/11/2019
Disclaimer
This document has been prepared by Wildwood Ecology Limited for Helen Wight & Gloria
Searles solely as a Reptile Survey Report. Wildwood Ecology Limited accepts no responsibility
or liability for any use that is made of this document other than by the Client for the purposes
for which it was originally commissioned and prepared.
I, [ ] of [ ], have read the
contents of this document and understand my legal obligations regarding any protected
species and habitats that may be present at this Site.
Signed [ ]
Date [ ]
Page 2 of 9 © Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
Report Summary
• All common reptiles (i.e. adder, grass snake, slow worm and common lizard)
are protected against intentional killing or injury under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). No licence is required to capture or
disturb them, or to damage their habitats. However, the reptiles themselves
are still protected. Reptiles are active above ground usually between mid-
February and late October (depending on temperature) and brumate
(overwinter) underground throughout the remaining period of the year.
• As development is likely to require the displacement of grassland habitat
features that could potentially support common reptiles, Wildwood Ecology
was commissioned by Helen Wight and Gloria Searles (the Client) to
undertake a reptile survey of a greenfield area adjacent to Cwmgarw Road,
Brynamman within the Carmarthenshire UDP and centred at grid reference
SN7166014196 (the Site). A planning application is to be submitted for
residential accommodation (the Development). The reptile survey was carried
out between 6th September and 12th October 2012.
• This report outlines the methodology and results of the reptile survey at the
Cwmgarw Road site, and recommends any appropriate and proportionate
reptile avoidance, mitigation or compensation measures.
• No reptiles were found on site during any of the visits.
• The broad impact level of the Development across the Site on the reptile
populations present is categorised (according to Natural England Technical
Information Note TIN102) as ‘Negative: negligible’.
• It was considered the proposed development would be unlikely to impact upon
protected widespread reptiles
© Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012 Page 3 of 9Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 5
2. Methodology 5
Survey limitations 6
Quality assurance 6
3. Results 7
4. Interpretation and assessment 8
5. Conclusions and recommendations 8
6. References 8
APPENDIX I - REPTILE SURVEY PLAN 9
Page 4 of 9 © Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 All common reptiles (i.e. adder, grass snake, slow worm and common lizard)
are protected against intentional killing or injury under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). No licence is required to capture or disturb
them, or to damage their habitats. However, the reptiles themselves are still
protected. Reptiles are active above ground usually between mid-February and
late October (depending on temperature) and brumate (overwinter)
underground throughout the remaining period of the year.
1.2 As development is likely to require the displacement of grassland habitat
features that could potentially support common reptiles, Wildwood Ecology was
commissioned by Helen Wight and Gloria Searles (the Client) to undertake a
reptile survey of a greenfield area adjacent to Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
within the Carmarthenshire UDP and centred at grid reference SN7166014196
(the Site). A planning application is to be submitted for residential
accommodation (the Development). The reptile survey was carried out between
6th September and 12th October 2012.
1.3 This report outlines the methodology and results of the reptile survey at the
Cwmgarw Road site, and recommends any appropriate and proportionate
reptile avoidance, mitigation or compensation measures.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1 No universally agreed upon methodology for surveying reptiles is currently
available. Therefore, the methodology employed in this survey was adapted
from the following reptile survey publications:
• Evaluation of Reptile Survey Methodologies. English Nature Research Report
No. 200 (1996).
• Advice Sheet 10 Reptile Survey: An introduction to conduction and interpreting
surveys for snake and lizard conservation. Froglife (1999).
• Natural England (2011) Technical Information Note TIN102, Reptile mitigation
guidelines (withdrawn).
• Herpetofauna Workers’ Manual. JNCC, (1998).
2.2 A visual encounter survey (VES) using transects along suitable habitat features
such as edge habitat along woodland, bramble or gorse stands was employed.
In addition an artificial refugia survey (ARS) was carried out in order to
determine the presence or likely absence and also the breeding activity of
reptile species at the proposed development site. This type of survey technique
exploits the affinity of reptiles for microhabitats created beneath objects on the
ground, warmed by the sun. In this survey, artificial refugia made from squares
of roofing felt (50cm2) and sections of bitumen corrugated sheeting (1.5m 2)
were utilised.
© Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012 Page 5 of 9Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
2.3 Despite the lack of any south facing slopes, the undulating topography and
diverse structure of flora on the Site provided suitable habitat for the presence
of reptiles. A total of 70 numbered refugia were positioned around the Site in
habitat areas of importance to reptiles, e.g., marginal vegetation, woodland,
scrub, grassland, tall ruderal vegetation and exposed substrates such as rubble
piles (see Appendix I). The artificial refugia comprised a total of squares of
roofing felt, pressed down onto herbaceous vegetation in order to facilitate a
good range of microclimate and humidity. These were allowed to ‘bed in’ for
over 10 days, prior to the start of the survey.
2.4 A total of 11 separate reptile searches (VES and ARS) were conducted during
the survey over a 37 day period from the 6th September and 12th October
2012. In addition to this, a search of natural refugia (e.g., rocks and stones) and
anthropogenic refugia (discarded rubbish) was also undertaken.
2.5 Natural England Technical Information Note TIN102, Reptile mitigation
guidelines provides broad guidance parameters regarding reptile search timings
and weather conditions. Aside from the winter period, reptile surveys can be
carried out at any time of the year, optimally during April, May and the first half
of June. Searches may take place any time between 0700 to 1800hrs.
Generally, surveys should be targeted to the following weather conditions, air
temperature: 10-20°C; wind: none to moderate; precipitation: none. This survey
was carried out in September and early October and all searches took place
between 09:30 and 15:45hrs. Temperatures were within the range of 11.1 -
17.4°C, wind was variable from visit to visit ranging from none, to winds of
14mph. No visits were made in rainy conditions.
Survey limitations
2.6 This survey was limited to indicating presence or likely absence plus the
likelihood of any breeding activity.
2.7 The survey focused only on reptile populations within the survey area.
Individuals observed within the Site could be members of an expanding
population or could be indicative of a small fragmented population.
Quality assurance
2.8 Ms Jacqueline Hartley is a full member of the Institute of Ecology and
Environmental Management (IEEM) and follows the Institute’s code of
professional conduct when undertaking ecological work.
Page 6 of 9 © Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
3. RESULTS
3.1 During the course of the survey no reptiles were encountered on the proposed
development site.
3.2 Table 1 (below) shows the results of the reptile survey performed at the
proposed development Site.
Date Weather conditions including temperature and time of Results
survey
Check 1
06/09/12 60% cloud cover, wind speed 4mph south south easterly, air Nothing
temp – 15.9oC Survey started at 09.30 found
Check 2
07/09/12 70% cloud cover, wind speed 5mph westerly, air temp – 16.1oC Nothing
Survey started at 09.45 found
Check 3
08/09/12 40% cloud cover, wind speed 0mph, air temp - 16.4oC Survey Nothing
started at 09.30 found
Check 4
10/09/12 80% cloud cover, wind speed 14mph south westerly, air Nothing
temperature – 17.4oC Survey start time 12.25 found
Check 5
111/09/12 35% cloud cover, wind speed 12mph west north westerly, air Nothing
temp - 16.1oC Survey started at 15.05 found
Check 6
12/09/12 65% cloud cover, wind speed 4mph west south westerly, air temp Nothing
– 16oC Survey started at 10.05 found
Check 7
13/09/12 10% cloud cover, wind speed 3mph west south westerly, air temp Nothing
– 16.1oC Survey started at 11.30 found
Check 8
27/09/12 70% cloud cover, wind speed 9mph west south westerly, air temp Nothing
– 14.5oC Survey started at 12.00 found
Check 9
28/09/12 95% cloud cover, wind speed 8mph westerly, air temp – 14.6oC Nothing
Survey started at 12.30 found
Check 10
29/09/12 40% cloud cover, wind speed 10mph west north westerly, air Nothing
temp – 12.9oC Survey started at 11.30 found
Check 10
12/10/12 50% cloud cover, wind speed 6mph westerly, air temp – 11.1oC Nothing
Survey started at 10.00 found
Table 1. Reptile survey results. NB Wind data collected from BBC weather website for Ammanford
prior to the start of survey. All other weather data collected on site at the start of each check.
© Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012 Page 7 of 9Helen Wight & Gloria Searles
Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman
Reptile Survey Report
Document ref. WWE120512/R02
4. INTERPRETATION AND ASSESSMENT
4.1 No reptiles were encountered on the Site, despite the presence of a variety of
vegetation at different stages ranging from short grass to scrub providing shelter
and foraging areas.
4.2 Areas adjacent to the Site (west and east) exhibit similar habitat structure. This
provides further potential habitat suitable for reptile populations.
4.3 The broad impact level of the Development across the Site on the reptile
populations present is categorised (according to Natural England Technical
Information Note TIN102) as ‘Negative: negligible.
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 No reptiles were encountered on the proposed development site during the
survey and so the presence of reptiles can be described as unlikely.
5.2 It is considered that the proposed Development will be unlikely to impact upon
protected widespread reptiles.
6. REFERENCES
Edgar, P., Foster, J., Baker, J. (2010) Reptile Habitat Management Handbook.
Bournemouth: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
Gent, T., Gibson, S. (2003) Herpetofauna Workers’ Manual. Peterborough: Joint
Nature Conservation Committee.
Natural England (2011) Technical Information Note TIN102, Reptile mitigation
guidelines (withdrawn).
Reading, C.J., (1996) Evaluation of Reptile Survey Methodologies. English Nature
Research Report No. 200. English Nature, Peterborough.
Page 8 of 9 © Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012Helen Wight & Gloria Searles Document ref. WWE120512/R02 Land off Cwmgarw Road, Brynamman Reptile Survey Report APPENDIX I - REPTILE SURVEY PLAN © Wildwood Ecology Limited 2012 Page 9 of 9
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