Black Brook EIA
Decision Documents
Table of Issues (Excel Spreadsheet)
Background Information
In 1995, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust acquired Black Brook plantation as part of an extension to the existing Black Brook nature reserve. The plantation planted with conifers in the 1970s, and received little subsequent management. It was the intention to revert the conifers to open ground with a little streamside woodland. Such reversion was seen as contributing to national and local BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) targets for different habitats and species.
A felling licence was granted by the Forestry Commission in 2002 to fell conifers on 35ha over a five year period. This was halted after significant local concern after the first phase of clearance. Forest Neighbours, a local action group that was formed as a reaction to the felling, and Quarnford Parish Council opposed the tree removal and sought to retain the plantation.
A long process of negotiation between Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Forest Neighbours resulted in a compromise plan for the division of new woodland and open ground on the site and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust applied for a felling grant from the Forestry Commission. This was refused and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was adjudged to be required instead. This page presents the Environmental Statement (ES) for this EIA.
Contents
The entire EIA report can be downloaded as a collection of PDFs by clicking the icons below. The contents of each section are as follows. Due to the large size of the document, it is not possible to offer it as one PDF download.
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Legislative Framework, Methodology and Consultation
1.3 Site Description
1.4 Geology, Topography, Earth Heritage, Soils and Hydrology
1.5 Ecology Description and Evaluation
1.6 Landscape Character
1.7 Forestry
1.8 Community Issues
1.9 Cultural Heritage
1.10 Project Design
1.11 Hydrology, Earth Heritage and Soils Predicted Effects
1.12 Ecology - Predicted Effects
1.13 Landscape - Predicted Effects
1.14 Forestry - Predicted Effects
1.15 Community Effects
1.16 Cultural Heritage Effects
1.17 Compliance with Forestry Commission Policy
2.1 Background to the Project
2.2 Description of the Proposals
2.3 The Design of the Proposals
2.4 Alternative Approaches
3.1 Need for an Environmental Impact Assessment
3.2 The Formal Scoping Meeting
3.3. Summary of Consultation Process to Date
3.4 Scope of the Environmental Statement
3.5 Potential Issues That Have Been Scoped Out
4.1 General Description of the Site
4.2 Areas of Different Habitat Within the Application Area
4.3 Work Carried out to Date
4.4 Site and Habitat Designations and Habitat Connectivity
4.5 Surrounding Land-Use
5.1 Geology
5.2 Topography
5.3 Earth Heritage
5.4 Soils
5.5 Hydrology
6.1 Botanical Survey Results, Habitat Description and Evaluation
6.2 Animal Species
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Methodology
7.3 Landscape Character – Baseline Conditions
7.4 Landscape Value
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Description of Current and Future State of Tree Planted Areas
8.3 Windblow Issues
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Forest Neighbours
9.3 The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Local Group
9.4 Other Local Residents
11.1 Design Refinement Revised Proposals
11.2 The Design Habitats
11.3 Proposed Fencing
11.4 Nature on the Map Opportunities
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Hydrology
12.3 Earth Heritage
12.4 Soils
12.5 Summary
13.1 Predicted Impacts on Habitats and Plants
13.2 Impacts and Mitigation
13.3 Birds
13.4 Bats
13.5 Deer
13.6 Water Voles
13.7 Pine Martens and Polecat
13.8 Badgers
13.9 Reptiles and Amphibians
13.10 Aquatic Invertebrates
13.11 Terrestrial Invertebrates
13.12 Evaluation of Ecological Impacts
14.1 Predicted Impacts
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Harvesting and Marketing of Timber
15.3 Silvicultural Management Systems
15.4 Economic Analysis of Future Silvicultural Options
15.5 Evaluation of Carbon Flux
15.6 Health and Safety
15.7 Other Forestry Matters
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Forest Neighbours
16.3 The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Leek Group and Others
16.4 Other Community Effects
17.1 Predicted Effects
18.1 Policy Context
18.2 Policy Compliance
18.3 Conclusion
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Forestry
19.3 Habitats and Species
19.4 Landscape
19.5 Earth Sciences
19.6 Cultural Heritage
19.7 Local Community
19.8 Carbon Budget
19.9 Summary Evaluation of Impacts
19.10 Financial Viability
TABLES (ALL WITHIN THE TEXT)
4.1 Area of Main Habitats within the Application Area
4.2 Summary of Work Carried out to Date
6.1 Mean Growth Rates for Selected Recently Planted Species
6.2 Conservation Status of Birds Recorded on Site
6.3 The UK Quality of Life Wild Bird Indicators 1994-2008
6.4 Key, BoCC and Common Breeding Species
6.5 Survey Timings and Weather Conditions
6.6 The Biotic Scores in Black Brook on Two Surveys (Black Brook Biotic Scores)
6.7 Moth Larval Food Plants
7.1 Potential Visual Receptors
7.2 Description of Baseline Views from Viewpoints
8.1 The Results of the Forest Gales Model
11.1 The Phases of Conifer Replacement
11.2 Conifer Removal and Habitat Replacement Hectarages
11.3 The Proposed Abundance of Species for New Woodland in Each Soil Type
13.1 Importance of Ecological Features
13.2 Schedule of Habitat Losses and Gains
13.3 Proposed Tree Planting for the Site and the Number of Dependent Moth Larvae Compared with Some Conifers
13.4 Summary of Significance of Ecological Impacts With and Without Mitigation
14.1 Significance Threshold
14.2 Summary of Visual Impact per Representative Viewpoint
14.3 Summary Visual Impact
15.1 Gales II Predictions for Continuous Cover Forestry Management
18.1 Summary of Compliance with Forestry Commission Open Ground Policy
19.1 Summary of the Significant Effects of the Scheme
2.1 Black Brook Nature Reserve
2.2 Existing Habitats and Site Boundary
2.3 Broad Compromise Design Between Forest Neighbours and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
2.4 Formal Scoping Vision
2.5 The Current Situation (from Scoping Meeting)
2.6 The Proposed Phases of Work
4.1 Habitats Before Conifers Removed. Habitats in 2000/2002
4.2 Surrounding Habitats
4.3 BAP Priority Habitats
4.4 SSSI Units, SPA and SAC
5.1 Topography Showing Hillshade Surface and 5m Contours Derived from DTM Data
5.2 Earth Heritage Features: Gib Torr Rocks (RIGS) and Black Brook Geological (SSSI)
5.3 Broad Classification of Soil Types
5.4 Depth of Organic Horizon Derived From Interpolation of Point Samples
5.5 Site Hydrology
6.1 Vegetation Survey
6.2 Habitats of Value
6.3 Lesser Redpoll Territories and Woodland 2000/2002
6.4 Lesser Redpoll Territories and Woodland 2007/08/09
6.5 Long-Eared Owl Territories and Woodland 2000
6.6 Long-Eared Owl Territories and Woodland 2007/2008
6.7 Goldcrest Territories and Woodland 2002
6.8 Goldcrest Territories and Woodland 2007/2009
6.9 Coal Tit Territories and Woodland 2000/20002
6.10 Coal Tit Territories and Woodland 2007/08/09
6.11 Willow Warbler Territories and Woodland 2000/2002
6.12 Willow Warbler Territories and Woodland 2007/08/09
6.13 Bat Activity Survey Visit 1
6.14 Bat Activity Survey Visit 2
6.15 Distribution of Red Deer in the Peak District by 1km Square 1967-2001
7.1 Viewpoint Locations
8.1 Forestry Assessment
11.1 Final Refined Design (including Phase 3)
11.2 The Proposed Phases of Work 1 to 3
3.1 Information Relating to the Formal Scoping Meeting Held on 30th July 2010
3.2 Information Relating to the Further Public Meeting Held on 30th September 2010
3.1 Information Relating to Formal Scoping Meeting Held on 30th July 2010 (part 1)
3.1 Information Relating to Formal Scoping Meeting Held on 30th July 2010 (part 2 / letters)
3.1 Information Relating to Formal Scoping Meeting Held on 30th July 2010 (part 3 / letters)
3.1 Information Relating to Formal Scoping Meeting Held on 30th July 2010 (part 4 / maps)
4.1 Summary of the Main Habitats of SSSI Units Surrounding the Site
6.1 The 1996 Species List and Map
6.2 Methodology and Detailed Results of the 2010 Botanical Survey
6.3 Quadrat Data and MATCH Results for C10, C11 and C12.
6.4 Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Monitoring Data for C11 and C12
6.5 Bryophyte Species List
6.6 Lichen Species List
6.7 Presence and Number of Each Bird Species per Year
6.8 Ecology of Key Bird Species
6.9 Aquatic Invertebrate Sampling Results 2000 and 2010
6.10 Moths
6.11 Butterflies
7.1 Viewpoints (Appendix 5, 6 and 7)
8.1 Conifer Compartment Assessment
13.1 Ecological Impact Assessment Methodology
The EIA was approved by the Forestry Commission on 17th June 2011. If you would like to appeal against the granting of this consent, you must make an application to the High Court (England & Wales) with a copy to the Forestry Commission Regional Director (address below) within 6 weeks from 24th June 2011, the date the decision was published.
Regional Director, Forestry Commission, Sherwood Office, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. NG21 9JL
