SUBMISSION 11 - Habitats - Trees
The applicants have provided few photographs showing the actual site and its habitats.
The following images are the first group of four submissions on habitats, which will show the individual trees, woodland, and specific habitats on the site.
Trees - The images P01a to P07a (below) show individual substantial trees amongst the woodland on the application site, all of which would be directly destroyed by the development, with the exception of P01a which would nevertheless be threatened as it currently overhangs one of the road ways and would be vulnerable to damage, cutting back and groundwater lowering.
The applicant claims (Reg 19 response 19-37) that there are "few mature trees" on the site.
Whilst there may not be ancient trees, there are a substantial number of trees of sufficient age and maturity to have developed wildlife value and which have grown to be specimens within the woodland blocks. They have established widening crowns, clear trunks and fissured and gnarled bark. Many are oaks. All of the trees in this group of images, apart from the one featured in P01a, are located in TPO Woodland Block W3, which would be largely destroyed by the development.
SUBMISSION 12 - Habitats - Woodland
The applicants have provided few photographs showing the actual site and its habitats.
The following images are the second group of four submissions on habitats, which will show the individual trees, woodland, and specific habitats on the site.
Woodland - The images P08a to P010a (below) show views of the TPO Woodland Block W3. All of these areas shown will be destroyed by the development. The woodland has areas where individual larger trees, many of them oaks, dominate, with a deep leaf litter and naturally fallen small branches, which provide habitat for insects. Other areas of the woodland have smaller trees and undergrowth, providing a range of habitats overall. Most of the larger trees have lichens and mosses growing on them.
Many of the woodlands in mid-Essex have a similar appearance to this. The relatively low woodland cover in the UK compared to other European countries is well documented and many authorities have policies to try and protect surviving woodlands, indeed Essex County Council has stated how important it is to protect our woodlands and trees as part of its current tree planting campaign, yet this development directly threatens several acres of established woodland.
SUBMISSION 13 - Habitats - Features supporting invertebrates
The applicants have provided few photographs showing the actual site and its habitats.
The following images are the third group of four submissions on habitats, which will show the individual trees, woodland, and specific habitats on the site.
P011a to P018a (below) show views in TPO Woodland Block W3a. All of the locations will be completely destroyed by the development.
The applicant states, in response to comments raised by Buglife (30th October 2008) that no specific survey for invertebrates was carried out as the site has "no habitat present that will be affected which is likely to support important invertebrate communities" (Reg 19 page 19-36) and that the woodland has "not developed the structural complexity ... of signifiance to the more notable invertebrate communities (eg dead wood, pealing bark, sap runs) (Reg 19 page 19-37).
Both of these statements, typically from the applicant, are weighted. There is no actual objective analysis of the habitat, just statements that rule out "important" or "notable" invertebrate communities.
As no survey has been carried out, it is impossible to verify the claim. However, as this group of images shows, there are many examples of habitats suitable for invertebrates present on the application site. These may or may not be "important" or "notable" in a national sense, but probably are important to the ecology of this woodland and its surrounds. The fact that there are over 60 species of birds, together with 5 protected species of bat and newt present on the site strongly suggests a healthy and integrated ecology, of which invertebrates are a vital part.
The site has numerous examples of standing dead wood, fallen dead branches and trunks and partially decayed standing wood, all of which provide habitat for invertebrates. The site also includes a range of further habitats identified as being supportive of invertebrates, such as rides between the trees, which in the case of Rivenhall Airfield are in places provided by the old taxiways and concrete paths. These are in places breaking up, providing further habitat niches such as standing water. There are also the remains of old airfield structures scattered throughout the woodland.
Of the nine criteria stated by Buglife (below) as important woodland features to be encouraged for invertebrates, the application site features eight, and arguably all nine. It includes all of the four stated most important native trees species, and both shrub species, has standing and fallen wood, has a varied structure, has climbers such as ivy, has wet areas and has clearings. The one element not generally believed to be strong is ground flora, although these images were taken in winter, ruling out identification of many species that may emerge in the growing seasons.
Buglife state that (extracts from website document on woodlands):
Woodlands are an extremely important component of the landscape, offering home to a wide range of British wildlife, including birds, bats and a large number of invertebrate species.
Native tree species
Encourage native species such as oak, ash, elm and willow, which support the largest number of invertebrates.
Standing dead wood
Leave dead branches on trees except where there are public safety concerns. Dead wood supports a very large number of rare invertebrates. Rot holes, hollows, sap runs, fungal fruiting bodies and all forms of decaying timber have invertebrates associated with them and should be retained.
Fallen dead wood
Leave fallen tree trunks or branches, especially large ones, where they are whenever possible, preferably on the edge of shade or in dappled sunlight. A different range of invertebrates from those in standing dead wood live in dead wood that is lying on the ground.
Varied structure
Maintain a varied age and height structure of trees to maximise the number of habitat niches for invertebrates within the wood land.
Climbers
Encourage climbing plants such as ivy and honeysuckle in order to provide food and shelter for a wide range of invertebrates. Ivy is particularly good for wildlife.
Understorey shrubs
A diverse understorey of native species such as hazel and hawthorn will enhance the biodiversity of a site, especially at the edge of open space.
Ground layer
Ground layer plants provide food, flowers and shelter for invertebrates such as ground beetles and spiders.
Wet area
Avoid draining wetter areas such as springs or seepages (or even temporary pools and ruts in rides, if at all possible), as they support very specific and scarce invertebrate communities.
Open rides and clearings
Maintain wide, open rides with sunny flowering margins to create sheltered areas where invertebrates such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies can feed on the nectar and pollen.
SUBMISSION 14 - Habitats - Airfield structures
The applicants have provided few photographs showing the actual site and its habitats.
The following images are the fourth group of the four submissions on habitats, which show the individual trees, woodland, and specific habitats on the site.
P019a to P025a (below) show various structures of the old airfield.
Throughout the woodlands and the wider site there are scattered remnants of old structures, as well as many buildings that are substantially intact, such as the hanger and various outbuildings. The outbuildings include identified bat roosts. The areas in and around them, which include trees, scrub, grassland and airfield hardstandings, are used by the bats as feeding areas. Some of the trees themselves may also be bat roosts, as has been documented in the applicant's surveys. The activity of bats has been confirmed many times by a local conservation organisation that visits the airfield and locates bats both at dusk visually, and later using a bat detector. There are at least four species of bat present on the application site and disturbing them is illegal, yet many of their known sites, including outbuildings in these images, would be destroyed by the development.
The mix of habitat over the site provides a rich opportunity for birds of prey and owls. Identified species in the last 12 months include barn owl, screech owl, kestrel, hobby, kite and buzzard.
The total loss of habitat over a large part of the airfield, the construction phase of up to 2 years involving deep, sterilising excavations, and the subsequent period of several decades of 24/7 operations, including engine and machinary noises, air emissions and light pollution, would be detrimental to many of the species currently using the site.