Markwells Wood Watch
The Pump House
Stansted Park
Rowlands castle
PO9 6DZ
25 March 2017
SDNP/16/04679/CM - Appraisal and production of oil incorporating the drilling of one side track well from the existing well (for appraisal), three new hydrocarbon wells and one water injection well, and to allow the production of hydrocarbons from all four wells for a 20 year period.
Continued objection.
Dear Ms Chilcott,
We have read the revised submission and would like to make the following observations on the Ecology and Nature Conservation sections ancient woodlands and birds.
1. The UKOG response has completely ignored the effect on the complex and fragile ancient woodland habitat. This response is inadequate.
2. The request for a bird survey has been ignored
3. We have little confidence that work will actually be stopped on account of nesting birds.
We refer you to our more detailed response below.
Yours sincerely,
Ann Stewart (Markwells Wood Watch)
Ancient woodland & BirdsSDNP have asked for / UKOG response / Our comments
· The ecological information needs to address potential impacts on the surrounding Ancient Woodland including pollution of the ground through run off and change in the woodland’s water table. / 6.52c The assessments presented in Chapter 8 Water Resources and Flood Risk, and Chapter 9 Ground Conditions and Groundwater conclude that there will be no pollution of groundwater or runoff and there will be no changes to the hydrological regime of the area or water table as a result of the Development. The impacts of polluted surface runoff and changes in groundwater on habitats, including ancient woodland, have therefore been scoped out of this assessment.
5.67 The Arboricultural Assessment (see Appendix 5.6A) has found that there will be no loss of Ancient Woodland, trees or hedgerows during drilling. The effect is therefore neutral. Accordingly, there will be no significant effect on landscape fabric. / This only considers pollution of the ground through run off and change in the woodland’s water table.
It relies on the integrity of the bund and surrounding ditch, and on the avoidance of accidental spillage. We have questioned these in the relevant sections.
An ancient woodland is more than just the trees. This ignores the complex ecology of ancient woodland.
The SDNP Local Plan 5.109 states, “Wildlife habitats are often degraded and fragmented, so a landscape-scale approach is needed to conserve, restore and reconnect habitats across the National Park. By restoring an interconnected network of wildlife sites, species will be more resilient to adapt to pressures such as climate change.”
This development will disturb this fragmented habitat further rather than restore it.
Elsewhere the impact on bats has been considered.
More complex potential impacts have been ignored.
This response is inadequate
The ecological information needs to address potential impacts on the surrounding Ancient Woodland. / Understanding of the complex ecological interactions is incomplete, as it is with many complex systems.
The Woodland Trust (Ryan L.2012) identifies a number of effects. These include chemicals, particulary Nitrogen and VOCs that alter the patterns of plant growth.
The report also considers the many problems associated with fragmentation. The site of the well pad was cleared of ancient woodland when the original well was drilled. This increased fragmentation and the problems of the “edge effect” at Markwells Wood.
However, since the site was abandoned there has been some recovery, with rushes growing in the ditch, dragonflies and plant growth on the well pad. The disturbance caused by this development with increase both fragmentation and the edge effect.
Two thirds of British moths are woodland moths. These are pollinators, and an important food source for wildlife, including bats. Their numbers have declined significantly in the UK and woodland fragmentation is considered one important cause of this decline.
The UKOG response has completely ignored the effect on the complex and fragile ancient woodland habitat.
Surveys of birds that use the Site and its environs including adjoining fields, and how they use the Site, over four seasons should be undertaken to enable the determination of appropriate and effective measures to mitigate ‘any negative effects to protected species’ / No bird nesting habitat will be lost as a result of the Development and therefore there will be no direct impact on nesting birds. Schedule 1 species, which are also protected from disturbance while nesting, will be surveyed immediately prior to the start of potentially disturbing works. As nest locations vary from year to year, there was little value in undertaking surveys to map nest site locations in 2016 / The request has been ignored
The response is about bird nesting sites and this is not the same as a bird survey.
The Woodland Trust reports that noise will affect many bird species and they will move away to avoid it. Noisy developments and fragmented habitats are associated with local extinctions.
We suggest that the claim that there will be
“no direct impact on nesting birds” would rely on the fact that the birds have frightened off.
We also have little confidence that work will actually be stopped on account of nesting birds.
Members of Portsmouth RSPB have done a monthly bird count for us since December 2016. (Appendix 1.) This is only a monthly “snapshot “, not a survey.
The following birds are those that were seen and are on the RSPB red list for endangered species.
Fieldfare
House sparrow
Marsh tit
Mistlethrush
Skylark
Yellowhammer
Ryan L, 2012. Impacts of nearby developments on ancient woodlands-Addendum. Woodland Trust [Online] Available at https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/mediafile/100168353/Impacts-of-nearby-development-on-the-ecology-of-ancient-woodland-addendum.pdf
Accessed 23 March 2017
Appendix 1.
Bird Counts around Markwells Wood
December 2016 / January 2017 / February 2017 / March 2017Woodpigeons 100s
Buzzard 2
Pheasant 3
Great spotted woodpecker 1
Blackbird 2
Robin 3
Jay 3
Long tailed tit 5
Goldcrest 1
Firecrest 1
Fieldfare 20+ flew over
Total 11 species
In surrounding farmland:
Yellowhammer 3
Mistle thrush 2
Skylark 2
Buzzard 2
Pheasant 5
Blackbird 1
Crow 4
Rook 20
16/12/16 am misty start then clear,mild
In wood:
Crow 1
Woodpigeons 100s
Buzzard 1
Blackbird 6
Robin 2
Blue tit 1
Song thrush 2
Chaffinch 1
Bullfinch 2
Great spotted woodpecker 1
Goldcrest 1
Jay 1
Total 12 species
In surrounding farmland:
Red legged partridge 8
Pheasant 15
Mistle thrush 1
Magpie 1
Fieldfare 11
Crow 2
Rook 1
Buzzard 1
Blackbird 1
Wren 1
Raven 2
Dunnock 2 / Woodpigeon ~200
Herring gull 1
Rook ~160
Kestrel 2
House sparrow 12
Pheasant 12
Great tit 5
Great spotted woodpecker 3
Chaffinch 27
Magpie 2
Jackdaw 57
Long tailed tit 15
Green woodpecker 3
Crow 4
Blackbird 8
Sparrowhawk 2
Buzzard 1
Yellowhammer 5
Skylark 12 (definitely a protected species)
Robin 5
Goldcrest 3
Coal tit 3
Marsh tit 1
Black headed gull 30
Pied wagtail 20
Mistle thrush 2
Fieldfare 5
Blue tit 4
Dunnock 7
Starling 2
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 5
Song thrush 1
Hare 2 (We know they are not birds, but they are special) / Song thrush 5
Dunnock 6
Chaffinch 5
Woodpigeon 19
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1
Blackbird 8
Marsh tit 2
Goldfinch 1
Jackdaw 3
Redwing 3
Crow & Rook 52 + several individuals
Blue tit 9
Black headed gull 23
Robin 5
Long tailed tit 3
Goldcrest 3
Pheasant 6
Great tit 4
Wren 2
Pied wagtail 1
Stock dove 3
Skylark 1
Coal tit 2
Fieldfare 3
Greenfinch 2
Bullfinch 3 (a pair + female) / Mixed flock of ~50 Black headed& Mediterranean gulls
Woodpigeons 14+
Blackbird 3
Goldfinch 7
Pheasant 3
Stock dove 2
Crow 12+
Buzzard 3 & a pair 5
Sparrow 2
Starling 1
Robin 4
Jackdaw 5
Wren 4
Jay 1
Green woodpecker 1
Magpie 2
Pied wagtail 1
Great tit a pair =2
Nuthatch 2
Firecrest a pair =2
Coal tit a pair =2
Marsh tit a pair =2
Chiffchaff 3
Long tailed tit 3
Blue tit 1
Dunnock 1 & a pair =3
Yellowhammer 1 (near last SU no.)
Skylark 1
1