The Landmark Practice ecologists have been monitoring the effectiveness of the great crested newt mitigation strategy at Marnel Park, Basingstoke. Monitoring has been undertaken since the commencement of the project in 2004 (on behalf of David Wilson Homes) and preliminary analysis shows that the breeding population of great crested newt in Popley Ponds Site of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC) may even be expanding.

The mitigation strategy for great crested newts at Marnel Park includes the creation and maintenance of high quality terrestrial habitat for the newts (species-rich grassland and scrub) with purpose-built hibernation sites, including two 40 m wide habitat corridors through the site linking to open countryside beyond.

To accommodate access to the development, the corridors include innovative underpasses beneath the roads. The culvert system was designed because there was a lack of evidence that great crested newts use standard amphibian tunnels and their effectiveness is being closely monitored. Amphibian-friendly road drainage systems have also been employed with dropped kerbs to avoid trapping any newts within the road network. The development also incorporates Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to minimise any adverse hydrological impact on the breeding pond.

Enhancements are also being provided, including creation of two new breeding ponds with the aim of establishing a link to a known breeding colony, approximately 2 km west of Popley Ponds.

The newt habitat has been created on a staged programme in advance of each phase of development to provide compensation for loss of habitat in those areas and the majority of the newt mitigation is now in place.

Monitoring has shown that great crested newts are utilising the corridors, that newts have been shown to pass through the culverts in both directions and usage of the corridors appear to be increasing.

To raise local awareness of the scheme, information regarding the importance of the great crested newt population, mitigation strategy and responsibility for management of the newt habitat is being provided to residents in “Home Buyers’ packs”. Interpretation boards are being provided at strategic points within the newt habitat.

The development also features a great crested newt mosaic, designed by local school children and the internationally-acclaimed artist Julieann Worrall Hood in a project sponsored by David Wilson Homes.

Recent projects have included Dunster Castle, Stembridge Tower Mill and Tintinhull House.

Dunster Castle - bat surveys of the stable block were required to inform renovation work of this Grade II listed building.

Previous survey data and surveys by The Landmark Practice identified that a small lesser horseshoe bat maternity colony used the roof void for roosting, along with a small number of grey long-eared, serotine and pipistrelle bats. The lesser horseshoe bats made use of holes in windows and between the each floor level to gain access to all parts of the building.

Mitigation included undertaking the renovation work at times of the year when the bats were absent from the roosts and installing a dormer bat entrance to provide direct access to the roof void. A screen was also placed within the roof void to provide a sheltered and warmer area for the bats to roost. Monitoring to date has revealed that the bats have readily taken to the new dormer entrance and warmer roost area (numbers have increased from 12 to18 bats).

To visit the National Trust website for information about Dunster Castle, click here

Stembridge Tower Mill - this is a thatched windmill (Grade II listed) located on the Somerset levels. Bat surveys were required to inform renovation work of the building. It was found that long-eared and lesser horseshoe bats used the building mainly as a night roost. Surveys included detailed building inspections using endoscopes and also dusk and dawn surveys. Anabat (remote recording devices) were also used to record bat activity within the building over several weeks. The renovation work is due to commence in April 2009. Sensitive working methods have been agreed, which include the retention of all roosts present and the continued provision of bat access into and out of the building. Bat activity will also be monitored over the summer.

To visit the National Trust website for information about Stembridge Tower Mill , click here

Tintinhull House - the former groom’s quarters in the stables building was due to be converted into the gardener’s mess. An ecological survey was needed before the conversion could start to identify whether there were constraints caused by roosting bats. The survey undertaken by The Landmark Practice ecologists identified that the building is used by, among others, long-eared, serotine and potentially lesser horseshoe bats. The room to be converted was used mainly as a night roost. The renovation proposals included repairing the ceiling of the room and installing a fire wall between the room, staircase and adjacent former hay store. Mitigation included undertaking the work while the bats are absent from roosts and retaining the roosts in-situ (which were located in the roof void and adjacent parts of the building). In addition, in order to provide continued access to the roof void, a large letter-box sized opening was created in the wall between the roof void of the (now) gardener’s mess and the hay store.

To visit the National Trust website for information about Tintinhull House, click here