Professional Documents
Culture Documents
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
W
Wisley
y Airfield:
Sitte of Natu
ure Cons
servation
n Importa
ance (SN
NCI) Rep
port
1
Guiildford Bo
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NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Co
ontents
Quaality contro ol ................................. ................................................................................... 6
Site
e descriptio on ............................... ................................................................................... 7
Previous reas son for sele ection ........ ................................................................................... 7
Ownership......................................... ................................................................................... 8
Habbitat descriiption and target note es ................................................................................ 9
Othher non-pla ant species s ................. ................................................................................. 15
Asssessment of o Wisley AirfieldA 2007 7 reasons for SNCI selection ussing 2008
Guidelines forr Surrey...................... ................................................................................. 16
Tabble 1: Summ mary Plant Conservattion Status s ............................................................. 16
Asssessment of o Wisley AirfieldA aga ainst SNCI selections using
u 2008 Guidelines s for
Surrrey ................................................ ................................................................................. 19
Genneral guide elines .......................... ................................................................................. 23
Site
e condition n .................................. ................................................................................. 24
Bouundaries ....................................... ................................................................................. 24
Signs of dama age ............................. ................................................................................. 25
Currrent site managemen
m nt ............... ................................................................................. 25
Mannagement advice a ........................ ................................................................................. 25
Potential gran nt aid ........................... ................................................................................. 27
Refferences / Bibliograph
B hy .............. ................................................................................. 27
Higher plant liist ............................... ................................................................................. 29
Tabble 2: Plantt Species Recorded R n 2016 ...................................................................... 30
in
Tabble 3: All Re ecorded Plants with C Conservatiion Status ............................................. 39
Apppendix 1: Habitat
H guid delines...... ................................................................................. 48
Apppendix 2: Species
S guiidelines .... ................................................................................. 59
Apppendix 3: General
G guiidelines .... ................................................................................. 65
2
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Summary
In 2
2007 the Wisley
W Airfiield SNCI reasons fo or selectionn were reccorded as: – ‘This
site
e is selectted for its importancce for rep ptiles, plannts and b birds. 9 notable
Surrrey plant species
s ha
ave been rerecorded on n the site. In additioon 3 RSPB
B red list
bird
ds speciess and 7 RS SPB ambe er list birds
s species have
h beenn recorded
d on the
site
e. This site
s has ana exceptio onal popu ulation of Grass Snnakes as well as
suppporting go ood popullations of Slow-worm ms, Comm mon Lizard rds and Common
C
Froogs.’
Thee following provides a summaryy of the eva aluation off the site ass surveyed
d in
20116 against the SNCI selection
s ccriteria. Fo
or informatiion on the final decis
sion of
the Surrey Loocal Sites Partnership
P p (LSP), please see the
t LSP m inutes of 29 2 th
Marrch 2017.
Assessmen nt of Wis
sley Airfiield 2007
7 reasons
s for SNC
CI selecttion
usiing 2008
8 Guidelin
nes for SSurrey
20 R
Reptiles b.
b Populatio
ons of 3 orr more natiive reptile species.
Bird
ds
3
Guiildford Bo
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ys 2016: Existing
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Assessmen nt of add
ditional fe
eatures of
o Wisleyy Airfield
d against
SN
NCI selec
ction usin
ng 2008 G Guidelin
nes for Surrey
1WWoodland e. Wet wo
oodland fa
alling withiin NVC typ
pes W1, W
W2, W4c, W5,
W W6
and
d W7.
8 S
Standing Open Wa ater c) Wa ater bodies or clusters of waater bodies
s which
sup
pport a significant population
n of a sp pecies as discussedd in the species
guid
dance.
12 O
Open Mossaic Habitats on Pre eviously Developed
D d Land.
a) O
Open Mosaaic habitat sites wherre;
6 or moore of the characteris
c stic feature
es are foun
nd
form paart of a wid
der compleex of similaar areas, prroviding lo ng term ha
abitat
opportu
unity
There is a signific
cant invert ebrate asssemblage
Criteria is met as
a the IAPA A score would
w sugg
gest that WWisley Airrfield is
of UKK / Countty Importtance. The T majorrity of th e records s have
restric
cted, scatttered disttribution from
f the arable
a fie lds, runw
way and
westerrn end of the
t site.
4
Guiildford Bo
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This suggests
s that the criteria has been met. Thee main arreas of
interes
st for bats
s are the w
western en
nd and alo
ong the so
outhern ed
dge.
19 Amphibia
ans c. Supports
S p
populations
s of four or more native am
mphibian
spe
ecies.
Furthe
er inverteb
brate surv
vey work is
i recommmended ovver severa al days
during
g a full season b by an ex xperience
ed entom ologist to o fully
ascertain the co
onservatio
on status for
f Wisleyy Airfield fo
or invertebrates.
5
Guiildford Bo
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ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Qu
uality con
ntrol
Thee informatio on and data which h has been prepared
p and provideed is true and
a has
beeen prepare ed and pro ovided in aaccordancee with the ‘Guidelinees for Prelliminary
Ecoological Ap ppraisal’ an
nd ‘Code oof Professio
onal Conduuct’ issuedd by the Ch hartered
Insttitute of Eccology andd Environm mental Mannagement (CIEEM). We confirm that
the opinions expressed
e are our tru
ue and professional bona
b fide oopinions.
Wiisley Airfie
eld SNCI Report
R v1 .2 (21 Julyy 2017) Datee
Su
urvey Ecolo ogist Isob
bel Girvan B
BSc (Hons) MCIEEM
M Surveey dates 20th May,
9th Juune, 22nd June & 13th
July 22016
Re
eport Autho
or Isob
bel Girvan B
BSc (Hons) MC
CIEEM Date passed on for
authoorisation 14//12/2016
Revissed 22/06/2017
Ap
pproved byy Claire Gibbs BS
Sc (Hons) MSc MCIEEM Date authorised as
compplete 12/01/2 2017
Authoorised as coomplete
Dan
nial Winchesster BSc (Hons) MCIEEM for ammended rep port v1.2
21/077/2017
*The e following survey was carried o ut by SWT on behalf of Guildfordd Borough Council.
At tthe requestt of the land owner th e SWT surrveyor was accompannied by one e of their
Ecoological Con nsultants, Andy
A Cross of EPR. However,
H this report reepresents th
he views
of S
SWT.
6
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Sitte description
Wissley Airfieldd Site of Nature
N Connservation Importanc ce (SNCI) is located at Elm
Corrner, Ockham, south of the A3 . Immedia ately to the
e north liess the Ockham and
Wissley Comm mon Site off Special S
Scientific In
nterest (SSSSI) whichh forms parrt of the
Thaames Basin Heaths Special Prrotection Area A (SPA A). Other bboundaries s of the
site
e consist off woodland d (some ow
wned by Su urrey Wildlife Trust) aand farmla
and with
a smmall collecction of hou
uses south of Elm Laane.
Thee site sits on Higher Terrace geology, with Bags shot Beds to the no orth and
Allu
uvium runn ning along the Stratfford Brook
k. This giv
ves rise too a River Terrace
T
called Hucklesbrook, a loamy,
l sanndy soil.
Thee survey to ook place over fourr days and d although the wholee of the site
s was
visitted, additio
onal time and effort was focused on the e western section, non visits
werre made affter July as s site cond
ditions mea
ant that furrther surveeys would be sub-
optiimal. As such,
s altho
ough everyy effort wa
as made to o locate alll key and historic
speecies, it has
h not be een possiible to make a de efinitive staatement on
o their
presence/ abssence.
Pre
evious re
eason fo
or selecti on
Wissley Airfield
d was orig ginally idenntified as a candidate SNCI inn 1995 ba ased on
exissting inform
mation froom Surreyy Flora Co ommittee (now
( knowwn as the Surrey
Bottanical Socciety), at th
hat time it was not clear
c who the
t ownerss of the site were
andd as such non formal SNCI
S surveey took plaace. Howe ever, the S
SNCI guide elines in
use
e at the time did alloww for sites tto be conssidered usin
ng relevannt information from
a suuitable alte
ernative so
ource, in this case thee local reco
ording grouup.
As such the western end e of the site (see Figure 2) was conssidered ba ased on
ormation submitted by
info b the Surrrey Flora Committe ee and waas selected d as an
SNC CI on 31st October 1996.
1 Thee reason fo
or selection at that tiime was given
g as
‘Reecommende ed by JE ES (Joyce Smith – Surrey Fllora Comm mittee) forr Heath
Cud dweed, Yeellow Bartssia, Bee Orrchid, Annual Knawe el and Knootted Clove er, all of
whiich are rare
e in Surrey
y.’
7
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In 2
2005 the wider parrt of Wisle ey Airfield, including
g SWT Snnakes Field, was
proposed and d selected based on informatioon providedd by Surreey Amphibian and
Repptile Group
p (SARG) for
f ‘its exce
eptional poopulations of reptiless and amph
hibians.’
Seee Figure 2.
In a
addition Stratford Brid
dge Wood was surve eyed separrately from
m Wisley Airfield in
20007 for the SNCI
S proje
ect, howev er it was not
n selected by the LLSP at the time for
the following reason ‘Itt was deciided that the t site wa
as not of ssufficient value
v to
sele
ect as SNC CI. Howev ver it is no ted that this site mayy have goood potentia al if well
man naged.’ An extract frrom the re levant section of the 2006 SWT T SNCI Re eport for
Straatford Brid
dge Wood dland (Gib bbs, 2006)), Nature Conservattion Intere est and
Prootected Spe ecies Pote
ential howe ever stated d that ‘Wet woodlandd is not a common
c
habbitat in Surrrey and th
herefore thhis site is a valuable example oof that hab bitat.’ It
shoould also be
b noted th hat LSP w ere consid dering the ecologicall value of this
t site
theyy were using the 199 98 Selectio an the updaated current 2008
on Criteria,, rather tha
SNC CI Guidelinnes.
Ow
wnership
p
The
e site is ow
wned by a private
p land
downer.
8
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Habitat des
scription
n and targ
get notes
s
Thrroughout th he descripttions, plan
nts are refe
erred to by
y their com
mmon name es. For
refe
erence the full specie
es list in Ta
able 2 at th
he end of the report l ists both common
c
andd scientific names.
Bro
oad-leaved d Semi-natu ural Woodlland
Thiss habitat tyype is show
wn in gree
en on Figure 1. Therre are seveeral linear lines of
broad-leaved woodland mainly on n the boun
ndary edge
es of the a irfield and has for
the most part, naturally colonised (for example west of Elm Cornner and alo ong Old
Lanne).
9
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Dennse Scrub
Thiss habitat tyype is show
wn as crosss hatched d green lines on Figuure 1 and is
i found
sca
attered acro oss the site
e. The foll owing thre
ee areas arre given ass examples
s.
Sca
attered Scrrub
Thiss is shown
n as green crosses o
on Figure 1. Scattere
ed scrub iss found acrross the
edg
ges of the site
s as a mix
m with othher habitats
s.
Bro
oad-leaved d Scattered
d Trees
The
ese are shown as green dotts on Figu ure 1. There are several areas of
sca
attered tree
es, mainly confined
c o the boundary edges.
to
10
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Sem
mi-improveed Neutral Grassland d
Sho
own in light orange and labelled
d SI on Fig
gure 1.
The
ere is one area of grassland
g ttowards th
he western n end, nort
rth of the runway.
r
Thiss supportts abunda ant Yorksh hire-fog and Annua al Meadow w-grass, frequent
f
Commmon Bird d’s-foot Trrefoil, Creeeping Thisstle, occas
sional Fielld Forget-me-not,
Cre
eeping Butttercup, Common R Ragwort, White
W Clov
ver, Germaander Spe eedwell,
Sprringy Turf--moss, Se elf-heal, aand rare Curled Do ock, Commmon Mou use-ear,
Chaanging Forrget-me-no ot, Perforatte St. John
n’s-wort and Commonn Stork’s-b bill.
Souuth of Elm
m Corner and by th he Mount Pleasant Cottages is rough course
grassland dom
minated byy grasses including frequent
f Yorkshire-foog and False Oat-
grass with Co
ock’s-foot, Soft Bromme, Roughh Meadow--grass, Baarren Bromme, Red
Fesscue and Sweet
S Vern
nal-grass.
Thee grasslan nd on the northern edge of Stratford Bridge Woood comp prises a
spe
ecies rich ‘m meadow’ ofo grasslan nd and tall vegetation
n. Speciess include frequent
f
to occasional False Oat-grass,
O Curled Dock, Com mmon Kna pweed, Creeping
C
Butttercup, Germander
G r Speedw well, Agrimmony, Wild Teaseel, Yorksh hire-fog,
Perrforate St. John’s-wort, Creep ping Cinquuefoil, Cleaavers, Coommon Birrd’s-foot
Trefoil, Wild Parsnip,
P Creeping
C C
Cinquefoil, Red Clove er, Lesserr Stitchworrt, Hairy
St. John’s-wo ort, Cleaverrs, Creepin
ng Thistle, Broad-leaaved Dock,, Field Forget-me-
not,, Red Bartsia, Ribwo ort Plantain
n, Tufted Vetch,
V Wild Basil and Dwarf Mallow. In
a sllight hollow
w was whe ere over 700+ Southern Marsh Orchid
O (122 flowering spikes)
werre recorded d.
Snaakes Fieldd
Snaakes Field is divided into two (wwestern an nd eastern) fields by a path an nd linear
wooodland. Th he eastern side is a l ittle more varied
v andd certainly tthe northern edge
hass a slight acidic
a feel from the underlying g local soils. Here Sheep’s Sorrel
S is
loca
ally abundant, in a wide
w bandd with freq quent Germ mander Sppeedwell, Ribwort
Plantain, Yarrow, Common Mousse-ear, Lesser Stitch hwort and Rough Meadow-
M
grass. More occasiona ally are LLesser Tre efoil, Sweeet Vernall-grass, Creeping
C
Butttercup andd Common n Bird’s-foo
ot Trefoil. Whilst
W Field Forget-mme-not, Yo orkshire-
fog and Com mmon Ragwort (spra ayed) are rare. She eep’s Sorrrel is alsoo locally
abuundant in the weste ern field in
n a very small
s patc
ch close too the Wild derness
Cotttage.
Thee rest of th
he field co
omprises frrequent Yo orkshire-fog with occcasional Creeping
C
Thisstle, Creeeping Butttercup, Ro ough Mea adow-gras ss, Germaander Spe eedwell,
Ribwort Planttain, Comm mon Sorre el, Greaterr Stitchworrt and Fieeld Forget-me-not.
Lussher parts are marke ed out by ta
aller lusher grasses and herbss in addition to the
aboove locallyy frequent Common n Knapwee ed, Field Wood-russh, Smooth h Tare,
11
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In a
addition thee following
g were reco orded in th
he last few
w years by a local rec
corder -
Wildd Basil, Wild
W Marjo
oram, Yello ow Rattle,, Common n Eyebrighht and To ormentil.
Alsiike Cloverr was recorded at th e eastern end of Sn nakes Fieldd, one pla
ant only.
Alsoo local pattches of Bird’s-foot a
and Trailing
g St. John’s-wort on the edge of
o wood
by E
Elm Corne er.
Sem mi-improve
ed Neutral Grassland d with Ephe emeral /Shhort Perennnial species
Thiss represen
nts parched d ground o
on shallow w soils towaards the wwestern end d of the
site
e. It is oftten grazedd by rabb its and soome are lo ocally charracteristic of acid
grassland. Species are a varied for example locally y frequent Early Hair-grass,
Littlle Mouse--ear, Field Forget-m
me-not, Bitting Stonecrop, Com mmon Stork’s-bill,
Com mmon Mouse-ear, Sticky
S Mouuse-ear, Parley-piert
P t, Changinng Forget-me-not,
Earrly Forget--me-not, Procumban
P nt Pearlwo ort, Scarlet Pimpernnel, Squirre el-tailed
Fesscue, Thale e-cress, Creeping C inquefoil, Ribwort
R Plantain andd tufts of Bugloss,
B
Com mmon Rag gwort, Hard d Rush, S pear Thisttle, Perfora
ate St. Johhns-wort an nd Field
Forrget-me-noot. Rue-leaaved Saxifrrage is rare
e, as is Silv
ver Hair-grrass.
ntinuous Bracken
Con B
Sho
own in terracotta on Figure
F 1. T There are several sm
mall areas of dense Bracken
B
ove
er the site
e, mainly associated d with wooodland edge
e towaards the northern
n
bou
undaries annd the wes
st of the sitte.
Theere are dense areas of Brackeen located on the eddge of Snaakes Field, part of
the woodland ecotone. As well ass other are
eas of Brac
cken particcularly towa
ards the
wesstern end of
o the runw
way, west o
of the wet depression
d n (Target NNote 11).
Talll Ruderal
Sho own as terrracotta dia es on Figurre 1. Therre is a patcchy distrib
agonal line bution of
tall ruderal ve
egetation across
a the
e site and it is often an intimatte mix with semi-
impproved neu utral grassland and sscattered scrub, thereefore only the more obvious
areas have be een mappe ed. See allso Target Note 5 forr additionall informatio
on.
12
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Forr example weedy sp pecies ofteen cropped d up on th he edge oof the airsttrip and
arable fields being
b map
pped as a linear line, including False Oaat-grass, Creeping
C
Thisstle, Cow Parsley. Germand der Speed dwell, Scarlet Pimpeernel, Dov ve’s-foot
Cra
ane’s-bill, Hawthorn saplings, Bramble,, Field Fo orget-me-nnot, Broadd-leaved
Docck, Commo on Ragworrt, Spear T
Thistle, Yorrkshire-fog and Commmon Nettlee.
Thee extensive
e stands off tall ruderral species s east of Sttratford Briidge includ
de large
patcches domiinated by Hemlock,
H B
Bramble and
a Common Nettle, occasiona ally with
Blackthorn and
a Sycam more as w well as False
F Oat--grass, WWhite Dead d-nettle,
Commmon Rag gwort, Cree eping Butttercup, Cre eeping Thistle and C Common Ragwort.
R
As well as pa atches with h an affinitty towards
s a grassla and mosaicc such as Barren
Bro
ome, Comm mon Bird’s s-foot Trefo
oil, Smallerr Cat’s-tail, Commonn Nettle, Common
C
Raggwort, Cre eeping Th histle, Peerennial Rye-grass,
R Rough H Hawkbit, Ribwort
Plantain, Dovve’s-foot Crane’s-bi
C ll, Yarrow
w, Prickly Sow-thistlle, Yorksh hire-fog,
Lessser Trefoill, Soft Brom
me and Ne ettle with Hemlock.
H
Sta
anding Watter
Thee temporarry wet dep pressions aand season
nal flushes
s are not m
mapped on
n Figure
1, b
but referred
d to by Tarrget Note 1
11.
In a
addition paarallel surv
veys by Co onsultants RPS and EPR noteed other po
onds on
the site, and where
w relev
vant are diiscussed fu
urther.
Runnning Wateer
Shoown as a blue line on Figure e 1, it show
ws the len
ngth of thee Stratford
d Brook
running throug
gh the Stra
atford Bridg
ge Wood.
Araable
Shoown with a white bac ckground a and labelle ed A on Figure 1. T he majority of the
site
e north, sou
uth and east of the aiirstrip is wo
orking arab
ble fields.
See
e also targe
et notes fo
or additiona
al species information.
Inta
act Native Species-ric
S ch Hedge
Shoown as a straight
s green line w
with green side dashes on Figuure 1. Th
here are
twoo main hedges on thee site.
13
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The
ere is one
e planted hedge/sha
aw by Mou
unt Pleasa
ant Cottagges of Syc
camore,
Bra
amble and fruit trees.
In a
addition by Bridge En
nd Farm th ere is a sh
hort section
n of hedge with English Elm,
Peddunculate Oak,
O Hawtthorn, Elde
er, Dog Rose, Common Ivy andd Common Nettle.
By Hyde Lane, the trac ck leading off the sitte to the south
s of thhe site, the
ere is a
variied tall ruderal vegeetation inccluding Coommon Ne ettle, Barreen Brome, White
Cammpion, Com mmon Stork’s-bill, Yaarrow, Bitin
ng Stonecrrop, Cut-leeaved Cran ne’s-bill,
Grooundsel, Cleavers,
C Red Fesscue, Pric ckly Sow--thistle, C Common Mallow,
Commmon Field Speedwell, Red De ead-nettle, Field Forget-me-noot, Bramble e, Spear
Thisstle, Greatter Plantain, Mugwo rt, Thyme--leaved Sa andwort, WWhite Dead d-nettle,
Ribwort Planttain, Comm mon Bird’s -foot Trefo
oil, Commo on Mouse--ear, Perfo orate St.
Johhn’s-wort, Soft
S Brome, Nipplew wort, Hemlock, Fat-h hen, Field Bindweed d, False
Oatt-grass, Prickly Letttuce, Scarrlet Pimpe ernel, Grouundsel, Coommon Evening-
E
prim
mrose and Field Pans sy.
Buililding
The
ere is one disused building in tthe south east
e er of the sitte, Target Note 3.
corne
The
ere is also a beacon in the sam
me corner, Target
T Notte 4.
14
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Barre Ground
Shoown as a white background w with black dots on Figure 1 annd represe ents the
gravvel at the western
w en
nd of the ru
unway, which is gradually scrubbbing up.
Tarrget Notes
Shoown as a reed circle and numberred from 1 to 12 on Figure
F 1.
Oth
her non-plant species
A ffew casuaal notes onn birds w
were made during th he 2016 ssurvey – Skylark,
S
Buzzzard, Green Woodp pecker, Pheeasant, Woodpigeon
W n. On onee visit a Fie
eld Vole
wass seen as well
w as a Common
C T
Toad. Rabb bits dropping were allso noted. A local
recoorder madde a note of severaal butterflie
es during summer 22016 in pa articular
Snaakes Field such as Green
G Hairsstreak, Commmon Blue e and Smaall Copper.
Oth
her additionnal survey summary information is included in this rreport from
m recent
EPRR and RP PS survey ys, commisssioned by
b the site e owners and supp plied by
Guiildford Boro
ough Coun ncil.
15
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Assessmen nt of Wis
sley Airfiield 2007
7 reasons
s for SNC
CI selecttion
usiing 2008
8 Guidelin
nes for SSurrey
Thee current re eason for the
t Wisleyy Airfield SNCI selecttion from 22007 is giv ven as –
‘Thiis site is selected forr its importtance for reptiles,
r plants andd birds. 9 notable
Surrrey plant species
s ha
ave been re recorded on n the site. In additioon 3 RSPB
B red list
bird
ds speciess and 7 RS SPB ambe er list birds
s species have
h beenn recorded
d on the
site
e. This sites has an
a exceptio onal popu ulation of Grass Snnakes as well as
suppporting go ood popullations of Slow-worm ms, Comm mon Lizard rds and Common
C
Froogs.’
Pla
ants
Tab
ble 2 (at th
he back of this reportt) provides
s the specie es recordeed in 2016. Table
3 provides a list of thos
se plants th
hat have been
b recorrded on thee site that have a
con
nservation status, (als
so see not es attacheed to table)). These aare:
Tab
ble 1: Su
ummary Plant Co
onservatiion Statu
us
Statu
us Type Histo
orical Total Tottal for 2016
Grasssland Indiccators 56 (11 in bold) 40 (5 in bold))
Axiop
phytes 62 34
Notab
ble Speciees:
U
UK BAP Prriority / SPI 2 -
G
GBRL: End dangered 3 -
G
GBRL: Vulnerable 1 1
G
GBRL: Nea ar Threatened 2 1
E
ERL: Near Threatene ed 4 1
V
VC17 Rare e 3 -
V
VC17 Scarrce 4 1
Important Arablle Plants (IIAPA score
e) 47 po
oints 33 points
16
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Wissley Airfield
d (not inclu
uding Snakkes Field)
*Loose Silky-b bent – GBR RL NT – la
ast seen arrable field edges
e 201 4
*Ha
airy Rock-ccress – ER RL NT – lasst seen western end 2014
2
*Co
ommon Cu udweed – GBRL NT T – last see
en southe ern centrall 2016
*Co
orn Spurre ey – GBRL L V – last s
seen soutthern centtral 2016
Annnual Knawe el – GBRL L E – last s een 2007
** i..e. 2 ERL NT
N since 2010,
2 thus meeting th
he criteria.
Wissley Airfield
d (excludinng Snakes Field)
*Loose Silky-b bent – lastt seen arabble field edges 2014
*Ha
airy Rock-ccress – lastt seen wesstern end 2014
2
*Co
ornflower – last seen arable ffields 2016 6
**Common Cudweed
C – last seenn southern n central 2016
2
*Co
ommon Ra amping-fu umitory – llast seen 2016
2
Yellow Bartsia a – last seeen Elm Coorner 2006
Annnual Knawe el – last se
een 2007
**Corn Spurrrey – last seens soutthern centtral 2016
17
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Rep
ptiles
20 R
Reptiles b.
b Populatio
ons of 3 orr more natiive reptile species.
Commments – RPS (2013) Reptile Survey co hat the sitee supports ‘Low’
omments th
Pop
pulations of
o Adders and
a Comm on Lizard and ‘Good’ Populatioons of Slow w-
worrms and Grass Snakes.
The
e site qualifies as a key reptile ssite under Froglife gu
uidelines (F
Froglife, 19
999).
Com mments – EPR (201 17) Techni cal Note 2 state that ‘Using thee 2013 datta those
parrts of the siite where reptiles
r occcur score six
s points, using the 22015 data the site
sco
ores four po oints and using
u the 2
2016 data the
t site sco
ores five pooints.’
Bird
ds
18
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
eva
aluation wa as thereforre carried out using Wisley Airrfield, Surrrey: Breediing Bird
Surrvey, Com mmon Bird Census, Little Ringed Plove er Survey,, Nightjar Survey
(RP
PS, 2014). 43 specie es were id entified du
uring these
e surveys. 32 consid dered to
be breeding on the site. 6 UK K BAP Priiority Spec cies / Speecies of Principal
P
Imp
portance (S SPI) – Dunnnock, Hou use Sparroow, Linnet, Skylark, Song Thru ush and
Starling all of which werre found too be breeding on the site.
Assessmen nt of Wis
sley Airfiield against SNCI selectio
on using
g 2008
Gu
uidelines for Surrrey
The
e site meetts the SNC
CI selection
n guidelines under the followingg criteria:
1WWoodland e. Wet wo
oodland fa
alling withiin NVC typ
pes W1, W
W2, W4c, W5,
W W6
and
d W7.
Commments – This relates to the 5 5.08ha wett Alderwood referred to in this report
r at
Stra
atford Bridge Wood in the sou th west co orner of the
e site. Altthough a full NVC
wass not unde ertaken, in
n the opin nion of thee surveyorr, the wooodland is likely to
sup
pport W6 anda W7 coommunitiess. This wo oodland ha abitat is coonsidered to be a
UK BAP Prio ority Habita
at / Habita at of Princiipal Importtance (HPPI) and is within
w a
Bioddiversity Opportunity
O y Area (B BOA) RO4 4 – River Wey (andd tributarie es). In
adddition nine Ancient Woodland
W Indicators (AWI) we ere recordeed here inncluding
grasses Gian nt Fescue, Bearded Couch, Wood W Spurge and H Hairy Bromme (see
spe
ecies list ta
able for oveerall site A
AWI list). In addition the 2007 SNCI surv vey saw
19
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
add
ditional AW
WI species - Moschattel, Wood Meadow-g
M rass, Fieldd Rose and
d Wood
Spe
eedwell.
8 S
Standing Open Wa ater c) Wa ater bodies or clusters of waater bodies
s which
sup
pport a significant population
n of a sp pecies as discussedd in the species
guid
dance.
20
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
12 O
Open Mos
saic Habitats on Pre
eviously Developed
D d Land.
a) O
Open Mosaaic habitat sites wherre;
6 or moore of the characteris
c stic feature
es are foun
nd
form paart of a wid
der compleex of similaar areas, prroviding lo ng term ha
abitat
opportu
unity
There is a signific
cant invert ebrate asssemblage
In a
addition when
w usingg the crite ria set ou
ut in the UKU Biodiveersity Actio on Plan
Prio
ority Habittat Descripptions: Oppen Mosaic Habitats s on Prev iously Dev veloped
Lannd (July 20
010) it is su
uggested thhat each off the criteria are met,, listed belo
ow:
Commments – The score for thosse plants seens in 2016 have bbeen calculated to
be 33 using the
t Important Arable e Plant Are
eas documment (Byfieeld & King,, 2005),
which indicate
es that the
e site is of County Im
mportance for sandy and free draining
d
21
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
soils. The ovverall scoree for speccies found across the e site sincee 1985 is 47, this
placces it in the category
y for qualifyying for Plantlife Imp
portant Araable Areas for Site
of U
UK Importa ance.
Alth
hough que estions hav ve been assked as to o the ‘arable’ nature of some ofo these
recoords SWT T ES feel that
t the fa
act that the ey are on site is an indicator of both
currrent and potential vaalue of this habitat. The
T ephem meral naturre of arablee plants
makkes evalua ation of the
e distributiion of thesse species
s in a sing le year diffficult to
asssess. Whilst some of these sp ecies have e not been
n seen in thhe last few
w years,
with
h a little disturbanc ce or corrrect clima ate condittions therere could well
w be
resuurgence inn populations. Althou ugh it is ac
cknowledgeed that currrent mana agement
is u
unlikely to produce this. This is backed d up by thee Plantlife (2005) Immportant
Araable Plant Areas
A ‘Forr practical purposes records dating
d backk to 1985 may be
connsidered.’
Criteria is met as
a the IAPA A score would
w sugg
gest that W
Wisley Airrfield is
of UK K /County y Importa ance. Th he majoriity of thee records s have
restric
cted, scatttered disttribution from
f the arable
a fie lds, runw
way and
westerrn end of the
t site.
Commments – RPS (2013) Bat Su urvey repoort states ‘The site wwas assess sed has
havving ‘High’’ bat intereest’ and th
hat ‘The ve egetated boundaries
b s of the siite (tree
aveenues, hed dgerows, scrub
s corrid
dors and woodland),
w were founnd to be th he area
of m
most value e to bats ono the sitee bring of ‘High’ bat interest. These thre ee keys
area provide a variety of o habitats for bats to
o forage annd commuute. No ba ats were
deteected in th
he open arrable fieldss during the
e three acttivity surveeys which suggest
s
thesse habitatts offer lim
mited forag ging and commuting
c g opportunnities.’ Durring the
20113 surveys a total of five
f specie
es were reccorded - Common Piipistrelle, Soprano
S
Pipistrelle, Myyotis sp, Se
erotine andd Noctule.
Durring the 20016 EPR Bat Surve ey four to five species were rrecorded on o each
survvey, mostlyy from Commmon and d Soprano Pipistrelle bats – Coommon Pip pistrelle,
Sopprano Pipisstrelle, Noc
ctule, Myottis sp., Natthusius Pip
pistrelle & LLeisler’s ba
ats.
This suggests
s that the criteria has been met. Thee main arreas of
interes
st for bats
s are the w
western en
nd and alo
ong the so
outhern ed
dge.
22
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
19 Amphibia
ans c. Supports
S p
populations
s of four or more native am
mphibian
spe
ecies.
Commments – The upda ated EPR (2 2015) Amp phibian surrvey statess ‘survey work
w
hass identified that areas s potentially
ly supportin
ng up to fo
our amphibbian specie es
with
hin the site e are limited to pondss 2 and 3 and
a suitable e connecteed terrestriial
habbitat (i.e. th
he northernn, western and south western part
p of the ssite only).’
The
e data from
m the EPR (2013 & 2 2015) surve eys identiffied Smootth Newt, Common
C
Toa
ad and Common Fro og on the ssite. In ad
ddition Gre eat Crestedd Newt ha
ave also
bee
en found on
o the site,, although not found to be bre eeding in thhe ponds, and by
unrelated surrveys on Surrey
S Wiildlife Trus
st land to the northh and it co ould be
sug
ggested thaat ‘this ma
ay represeent a potential metapopulationn.’ (D Winc chester,
SW
WT ES/SAR RG pers. coomm.). Th herefore this criteria is met for P
Pond 3.
22 Invertebrattes.
It iss of the op
pinion of twwo local e
entomologissts who kn now Wisleey Airfield that
t the
site
e has poten ntial to be of
o conservation intere
est for inve
ertebrates.
Furthe
er inverteb
brate surv
vey work is
i recommmended ovver severa al days
during
g a full season b by an ex xperience
ed entom ologist to o fully
ascertain the co
onservatio
on status for
f Wisley or invertebrates.
y Airfield fo
Ge
eneral gu
uidelines
The
e SNCI selection guid delines (Giibbs, 20088) state that “sites thaat are close
e to, but
do not quitee meet the e detailedd habitat and speciies guidellines … may m be
con
nsidered foor selection
n where thhey are ju udged as important uusing the general
guid
delines” wh
hich are baased on th e Ratcliffe Criteria (R
Ratcliffe, 19977).
23
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Sitte condittion
Unffavourable Declining – The site e combine es a patchw
work of haabitats and
d arable
field
ds that ha
ave provided a uniq que assem mblage of rare and unusual species.
s
How wever, apa
art from th he arable fields and d Snakes Field (Surrrey Wildliffe Trust
reseerve and under
u differrent ownerrship) it is not
n currenttly being m
managed.
Bo
oundaries
s
In g
general terms, the booundaries o
of the site as defined
d in 2006 aare still con
nsidered
to bbe an acccurate reflection of the qualiffying naturre conservvation inte erest as
desscribed by this report. Howeve r two boun ndary changes are reecommended (see
Figuure 3).
Bouundaries of
o some fe eatures we ere not originally shoown on thhe GIS bas se map
howwever, thiss has cha anged, ass such th he followin
ng changees on und derlying
ordinance surrvey base map are re ecommend ded. The garden
g areeas around
d Mount
Pleasant Cotttages and Wildernesss Cottage are remov ved, as theey are deem
med not
to b
be of sufficcient qualitty to be in cluded in the SNCI and can bbe easily reemoved
duee to the ow
wnership bo oundaries a and bound daries on th
he GIS maap layer.
24
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Sig
gns of da
amage
Theere is some
e evidencee of spoil a
and during the course
e of the su rvey large piles of
tyre
es were put across th
he runway.
Cu
urrent site
e manag
gement
The
e majority of the site
e is manag
ged as ara able fields. The restt of the site is left
unm
managed, except
e for Snakes Fi eld, which is manageed by Surrrey Wildlife
e Trust.
Ma
anageme
ent advice
Woodland
In o
order to maximise
m the
t biodive
ersity of woodland,
w it is impoortant to create
c a
dive
erse structture. This will include
e a canopyy of mature trees, a shrub laye
er and a
proportion of open
o spacce. Trees sshould be of a range of ages annd speciess.
Thee presence e of decaying wood w within wooodland is very importtant for a range
r of
speecies, particcularly fungi, inverteb
brates andd mammals s such as bbats. A mixture of
stannding and fallen dea adwood iss importantt as they provide diifferent conditions
andd support different
d species. O Only fell de
ead trees where
w neccessary for health
andd safety re
easons and d if possib
ble only remove the dangerouss branches s rather
thann the whole tree.
When carrying out work k in woodl ands it is best to avoid the birrd nesting season
(Maarch-Augusst) and to avoid carrrying out work when the grouund is parrticularly
softt to avoid damagingg the soil. Whereve er possible
e avoid pllanting as natural
regeneration of
o woodlannd is most beneficial to the loca
al ecology.
Wet Woodland
Wet woodland d is often found by sstreams an
nd other water
w bodiees and is normally
n
domminated byy Ash, Aldeer and Will ow specie
es. It often
n supports an interes
sting but
frag
gile ground
d flora and invertebra
ate assembblage.
Scrrub
Scrrub is oftenn a compo onent of otther habita ats and is often viewwed as a negative
n
elem
ment that needs
n to be
b controlle ed. Howev ver it suppo
orts a widee range of species
andd the tran nsitional zone
z betw
ween scrub b and oth her habitaats is parrticularly
impportant for many spec cies includ ing inverte
ebrates, bre
eeding birdds and reptiles.
25
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Som
me trees and
a scrub are an imp portant component ofo grasslannd habitats
s. They
sho
ould howevver be conffined to sm
mall scatterred groups.
Ara
able
The
e following informatio
on is taken
n from the Arable Plants of Laangley Vale
e (King,
201
14).
26
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
fertiliser or herbicide
h should
s be applied. When a crop has been harrvested,
stubbbles shouuld be left over
o winterr.
asive speccies
Inva
Him
malayan Ba alsam
Thiss species should
s be controlled as it is verry invasivee and will reeduce species
dive
ersity. It iss importantt that it doe
es not spre ead further particularlly into the ditches
on tthe site. This
T speciees will requ ire on-goin ng control by
b pulling oor cutting
annnually before it sets seed.
s The species is listed on Schedule
S 9 the Wildlife and
Couuntryside ActA 1981 which
w mean ns that it is an offence
e to plant oor cause thhe
speecies to sprread in thee wild. Care e should be taken if moving
m thee species off
o site
for disposal.
References
s / Biblio
ography
27
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Dav vies, R. (2011); A Re evision of tthe Ancient Woodland Inventory ry for Surre ey,
Surrrey Biodiversity Inforrmation Ce entre, Pirbrright
EPR R (2015) Appendix
A 8.13
8 Evaluaation Methodology & Metadata for Update e
Surrvey Work. EPR
EPR R (2015) Research
R innto the Pro ovisional Ancient
A Woodland Staatus of Elm m
Corrner Wood d and Hunts s Copse, O Ockham, Surrey.
S EPR R
EPR R (2015) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Ecologic cal Mitigation Phasingg Plan. EP PR
EPR R (2015) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Suitablee Alternativve Natural G Greenspac ce –
Outtline habitaat Creationn and Mana agement Plan.
P EPR
EPR R (2016) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Bat Surv vey. EPR
EPR R (2016) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Invertebbrate Surve ey. EPR
EPR R (2016) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Reptile Survey.
S EPPR
Gibbbs, C (20 008) Guid dance for tthe Selecttion of Sittes of Natture Conse ervation
Impportance (S SNCIs) in Surrey.
S Suurrey Wildlife Trust.
JNC CC (2010) Handbook k for Phase e 1 habitatt survey: A techniquee for
envvironmenta al audit. JNCC, Peterrborough
Kinng M (2014 4) Arable Plants
P angley Vale. Forestry
of La y Commisssion
Lawwes Agricultural Tru ust (1983) Soil Surve ey of Engla and and W Wales.
Rotthamsted Experimen
E tal Station .
Plaantlife (20110) Plantlife
fe, Here tod day, here tomorrow?
t ? Horizon sscanning for fo
invaasive non-n native plannts, Plantliffe.
Rattcliffe, D (1
1977) A Na ature Consservation Review.
R Caambridge U University Press.
RPS S (2014) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Amphibiian Survey y. RPS
RPS S (2013) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Bat Surv vey. RPS
RPS S (2014) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Breeding g Bird Survvey, Comm mon Bird Census,
C
Littlle Ringed Plover
P Surrvey, Nightjtjar Survey y. RPS
RPS S (2014) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Ecologic cal Apprais sal 2014. RRPS
RPS S (2013) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Invasivee Species Method
M Staatement. RPSR
RPS S (2013) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Otter & Water Vole e Survey. R RPS
RPS S (2013) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Reptile Survey.
S RPPS
RPS S (2014) Wisley
W Airfiield, Surreyy: Winterinng Bird Surrvey. RPS
RPS S/Shakesp peare K (2 2013) Wisle ey Airfield,, Surrey: Badger
B Surrvey. RPS
RPS S/Shakesp peare K (2 2014) Wisle ey Airfield,, Surrey: In
nvertebratee Survey. RPSR
Eas ston M, Ae ebischer N, N Brown A A, Hearn R,R Lock L, Musgrovve A, Boble e D,
Stro oud D& Gregory R (2015) BoC CC 4: the population
p status of bbirds in the
e UK,
Cha annel Islannd and Isle of Man. B British Birdss 108, 708-746.
San nkey, A. ED,
E (2016) Surrey Co ounty Rare Plant Reg gister. In p reparation
(Occtober 2016 6).
Staace C.A. (2010) Ne ew Flora of the Brritish Isles s (3rd ediition). Cam mbridge
University Pre ess.
Stro oh, P.A., Leach,
L S.J
J., August , T.A., Walker, K.J., Pearman , D.A., Rumsey,
F.J., Harrowe er, C.A., Fay, M.F., M Martin, J.P P., Pankhu urst, T., Prreston, C.D D. &
Tayylor I. (2014) A Vasc cular Plant Red List fo or England d. Botanicaal Society of o
Brittain and Ire
eland, Bristtol.
Surrrey Wildliife Trust (2 2012) Surrrey non-na ative invasiive speciess list.
Unp published.
28
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
H
Higher plantt list
29
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
6
Important Arable Plant Areas based on critteria in Append
dix 2 of Plantlife
e’s Important Arable
A Plant Are
eas project (By
yfield & Wilson,
2
2005).
T
Table 2: Plan
nt Species Recorded
R in 2016
Scientific Name Common Nam
me DAFOR* Gra
assland Axiophytes2 Countty Ancieent ve
Invasiv
Notabble, GBRL
Ind
dicator / Englland Red
Wood dland speciess5
Speecies1 Data Lists
L ators4
Indica
3
(ERL)
Acer campestre Field Maple R
Acer platanoides Norway Maple R
Acer pseudoplata anus Sycamore R
Achillea millefoliu
um Yarrow R
Aesculus hippoca astanum Horse-chestnu ut R
Agrimonia eupato oria Agrimony R
Agrostis capillariss Common Bentt R
Agrostis stolonifeera Creeping Bentt R
Aira caryophylle ea Silver Hair-graass R VC17 Scarce
Aira praecox Early Hair-grasss R
Ajuga reptans Bugle R
Alnus glutinosa Alder LA
Anagallis arvensiis Scarlet Pimperrnel R
Anchusa arvensiss Bugloss R
Anisantha diandrra Great Brome R
Anisantha steriliss Barren Brome R
Anthoxanthum od doratum Sweet Vernal G Grass R
Anthriscus sylvesstris Cow Parsley R
Aphanes arvensiis Parsley-piert R
Aphanes inexspe ectata Slender Parsleey-piert R
Arabidopsis thalia ana Thale Cress R
Arctium lappa Greater Burdocck R
Arctium minus Lesser Burdocck R
Arenaria serpylliffolia Thyme-leaved Sandwort R
30
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
31
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
32
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
33
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
34
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
35
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
36
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
37
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
38
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
T
Table 3: All R
Recorded Plants with C
Conservation
n Status
Scientific Name Common Grassland Axiophytes2
A Cou
unty Notable, IA
APA Date of
o Last ors Comments EPR
Surveyo E 2015 and
GBRL / England 6
Name Indicator d Data Lists
Red
Score
S Knownn SWT 20016
Species1 (ER
RL)
3 Recordd
Adoxa Moschatel
moschatellina
Aethusa Fool’s 19.7.20
006
cynaphium Parsley
ssp.agrestis
Aira Silver Hair- VC1
17 Scarce Summeer EPR: No ot seen on the 2015 survey. Only
caryophyllea grass 2016 small areas of habitat with
h potential for
this spec
cies at the westerrn end of the
runway.
SWT: Recorded in the 20 016 survey,
western end of the runwa ay.
Aira praecox Early Hair- Summe er SWT: Fo ound in western end
e of airstrip in
grass 2016 short gra
assland in 2016. New
N Record.
Alopecurus Marsh 18.6.20
005
geniculatus Foxtail
39
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
40
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
41
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
42
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
43
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
44
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
45
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
46
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
47
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
A
Appendix 1: Habitat guidelines
SSNCI selection Habitat Guidelines (Gibbs, 2
2008), summaryy of results and
d rationale with
h the rationale based upon the findings of th
he
ssurvey.
48
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
Bearded Couch
Wood Spurge
Bluebell
Giant Fescue
49
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
4) Neutral Grasslan
nd
a) All sites supporting the following NVC communitie
es not unlikely to b
be present. See below.
NVC C communities; MG G4, MG5 or
MG8 8.
b) Grassland sites which support a As shown in Tab
ble 3 and Appendix 2 Criteria 24, Snnakes Field meets s the criteria to qu
ualify as an SNCI in its Criteria
a met
high diversity of speciees typical of own right. Howe
ever it was surveyyed here as part of a wider unit and as such contributtes to the site as a for Snaakes
grasssland of conserva ation interest in whole. Field.
Surre ey. As a guidelinee, sites which
supp port 15 or more off the species In addition, in the
e opinion of the su urveyor, the disturrbed grassland tow
wards the western n end of the site is
s likely Criteria
a may
listed
d in Table 1 includ
ding at least 2 to contain popula ations of 15 or mo ore Grassland Indicator Species. EPRE (2017) Techn nical Note 2 sugge ests be met with a
of thee species in bold are likely to be ‘There are small areas of disturbe ed grassland. For example, one is an a area used for the
t A3 works com mpound, restricte
ed
of SNNCI quality. one was used fo or historic landfill, ssome are associaated with ground works
w for building the runway and distribution in
taxiways. There is much imported d material in these
e areas. These grrasslands may ha ave 15 or more ind dicator the wes stern
species in them.’ end of the
t
runway y.
Below are those Grassland Indica
ator Species recorrded during the 20
016 survey for Sna
akes Field. There
e are a
total of 17 (none are bold).
Bugloss
Sweet Vernal Grrass
Wild Basil
Lesser Stitchworrt
Common Eyebrig ght
Yellow Pimperneel
Oxeye Daisy
Rough Hawkbit
Common Bird’s-ffoot Trefoil
Red Bartsia
Wild Marjoram
Bird’s-foot
Tormentil
50
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
Yellow Rattle
Common Sorrel
Sheep’s Sorrel
Heath Speedwelll
Below are those Grassland Indica ator Species recorrded during 2016 from
f Wisley Airfie
eld as a whole (note
species recorded d from Snakes Fieeld or Stratford Brridge Woodland arre not included he ere) total 39 (with 6 bold)
and although the ey have a scattere
ed distribution ove
er the site and oveer several different habitat types (i.e
e. not
necessarily all on
n neutral grasslan
nd) there is a conccentration at the western
w end of thee site.
51
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
Blinks – western n end
Changing Forgett-me-not – commo on short swards/aairstrip/western en
nd
Early Forget-me--not – common sh hort swards/airstrip/western end
Red Bartsia – we estern end
Bird’s-foot – wesstern end
Smaller Cat’s-taiil
Buck’s-horn Plan ntain – scattered a
across/western en nd
Common Sorrel – scattered
Sheep’s Sorrel – scattered westerrn end
Biting Stonecropp – very common a across airstrip/western end
Sand Spurrey – southern central
Lesser Stitchworrt
Knotted Hedge--parsley – central airstrip
Goat’s-beard
Hare’s-foot Clove er – western end, southern central
Vervain
c) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
5) A
Acidic Grassland
a) All sites supporting the following Sandy swards arre part of the mossaic, and a very sm mall area of U1 is likely to be preseent on the northern
n edge See Criteria
NVCC communities; U1 1, U2, U3, U4 of Snakes Field. However a full N NVC was not carrie ed out. In addition EPR note on their Technical Note e 2 that 4) Neuttral
or U2
20a. whilst they do no
ot consider U1 gra assland is presentt on the site, that they
t do recognisee ‘the open, ephemmeral Grasslaand
vegetation west of the runway is o of conservation intterest.’ section.
b) Grassland sites which support a Several plant speecies on the SNC CI Grassland Spec cies Table 1 with affinities
a to an acid
d grassland have been See above
high diversity of speciees typical of recorded on the site, however as a majority are ass sociated more with h neutral grasslan
nd habitats it is Criteria
a 4)
grasssland of conserva ation interest in discussed in detaail in Criteria 4) Neutral Grassland section. Neutrall
Surre ey. As a guidelinee, sites which Grasslaand
supp port 15 or more off the species categorry.
listed
d in Table 1 includ
ding at least 2
of thee species in bold are likely to be
of SNNCI quality.
c) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
52
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
6) C
Calcareous Gras
ssland
a) All sites supporting the following Not pre
esent.
NVC C communities: CG G2, CG3, CG4,
CG5 5, CG6 or CG7.
b) Grassland sites which support a Not preesent
high diversity of speciees typical of as this is not
grasssland of conserva ation interest in a chalkk
Surre ey. As a guidelinee, sites which grasslaand
supp port 15 or more off the species setting.
listed
d in Table 1 includ
ding at least 2
of thee species in bold are likely to be
of SNNCI quality.
c) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in thee species guidancce.
7) Heathland
a) All areas of heathlaand vegetation; Not pre
esent.
including matrices of d dwarf shrub,
bare ground, grasslan nd, valley mires
and sscrub should be cconsidered.
Heatthland over 2ha w would
automatically qualify.
b) Arreas of heathland which are Not pre
esent.
heavvily afforested or h
have
succceeded to mature woodland with
potential to be restoreed to heathland
and eeither;
retain sufficientt remnants of
heathland or
are contiguous with, or form
53
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
an integral pa
art of an area of
heathland.
c) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
8) Standing open w
water
a) Anny lake classified by the UK Not pre
esent.
Lake es HAP joint steerring group as
Tier 1 or Tier 2 where not already
coveered by other desig gnations.
b) Poonds which qualifyy under the Not pre
esent.
criterria for UK BAP priority habitat.
c) W
Water bodies or clu usters of water See Appendix 2 Criteria 19 c) whe
ere the value of Pond 3 is presented. Criteria
a met,
bodie es which support a significant for Ponnd 3.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in thee species guidancce.
9) W
Wetlands
a) All reedbeds over 2 2ha. Not pre
esent.
b) Reeedbeds of betwe een 0.25 and Not pre
esent.
2ha wwhere they form p part of a wider
habittat mosaic.
c) Fe
ens, mires, swamp ps and Not pre
esent.
marsshes over 2ha with h flora
charaacteristic of the fo
ollowing NVC
comm munities: M6, M21, M24, M25,
M27, M29, S3, S4, S5 5, S6, S7, S8,
S9, S
S10, S12, S13, S1 14, S15, S16,
S19, S22, S23, S26, S S27, S28.
d) Fe
ens, mires, swamps and Not pre
esent.
marsshes (NVC as abo ove) of between
0.25 and 2ha where th hey form part of
a wid
der habitat mosaicc.
54
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
e) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
10) F
Floodplain Gra
azing Marsh
a) All floodplain grazin
ng marsh over Not pre
esent.
5ha tthat is not designaated as SSSI.
b) Floodplain grazing marsh of less Not pre
esent.
than 5ha where it form ms part of a
wideer habitat mosaic oof water-
depe endent habitats, or where it links
SSSIs.
c) Sites which supportt a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidancce.
11) R
Rivers, Canals and Streams
a) Ch halk stream. Not pre
esent.
b) Riiver classed by the Environment Not pre
esent.
Agen ncy as Grade A w within the GQA.
c) River with a HMS o of 0 (classified Not pre
esent.
as “ppristine” by RHS).
d) Riiver with a conserrvation Not pre
esent.
evalu uation of either “C
Critical” or
“Important” within stra ategic RCS.
e) Riiver which supporrts viable Not pre
esent.
popu ulations or spawniing sites of
animmals listed in guideelines.
f) Sittes which support a significant See Appendix 2.
popu ulation of a speciees as discussed
in thee species guidancce
12) O
Open Mosaic H
Habitats on Prev
viously Developed Land
a) Open Mosaic habita
at sites where; Sites where 6 or more of the chara acteristic features
s listed (in the SNCCI Guidelines) wo ould qualify as an SNCI Criteria
a met
6 or more of the for this criteria. T
The relevant featu
ures found on thiss site are Floristic & habitat diversity
y, Soil type and for the
55
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
characteristic features are structure, Topography, Succession, Bare ground an nd Shelter. There e is very good poteential for a signific
cant westernn part
found invertebrate asse emblage, although h the current surv
vey data does not support this last statement.
s The western
w of the site.
s
form part of a wider complex end of the runwa ay is of potential cconservation intereest for this habitatt type. There are also other areas of o with
of similar area
as, providing characteristic fea
atures scattered a across the rest of the
t site, and whils st on their own are
e not significant, could
c
long term hab bitat opportunity be seen as impo ortant as part of a complex mosaic of o habitats within thet site as a wholle.
There is a significant
invertebrate aassemblage In addition whenn using the criterria set out in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priorrity Habitat Descrriptions:
Open Mosaic Ha abitats on Previou
usly Developed La and (July 2010) itt is suggested tha
at each of the crite
eria are
met, listed below
w:
Open mosaic habitats are conssidered UK BAP Priority Habitat / Habitat of Prin ncipal Importance
e (HPI).
e western end off the runway and on the
Although scatterred across the sitte the main areas are towards the
southern boundaary by Hyde Lane (track).
b) Sites which supportt a significant See Table 3 andd Appendix 2 Crite
eria 24.
popu ulation of a specie
es as discussed
in the
e species guidelinnes.
13) A
Arable
a) Meets criteria for Im
mportant Arable The score for tho ose plants seen inn 2016 is calculate
ed to be 33, whichh indicates that the
e site is of Countyy a is
Criteria
Plant Areas and not co overed by Importance. The e overall score forr species found ac
cross the site sinc
ce 1985 is 47, this places it in the ca
ategory met as the
other designation. for qualifying for Plantlife Importan
nt Arable Areas foor Site of UK Impoortance. IAPA sc core
would
The arable weed ed distribution across the
e site do have a restricted, scattere
ds that have been recorded over the sugges st that
whole of the site. Wisley
Airfield is of
Although questioons have been askked as to the ‘arable’ nature of som me of these recordds SWT ES feel th hat the UK /Co ounty
fact that some arre on the site this is an indicator of both current and potential value off this habitat. The Importa ance.
56
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
Hab
bitat Notes Resultt
ephemeral naturre of arable plantss makes evaluation of the distributio on of these speciees in a single yearr The ma ajority
difficult to assesss. Whilst some off these species haave not been seen n in the last few ye
ears, with a little of the
disturbance or co orrect climate con ence in populations. Although it is
nditions there coulld well be resurge recordss have
acknowledged th hat current manag gement is unlikely to produce this. This is backed up p by the Plantlife (2005) restricte
ed,
Important Arable e Plant Areas ‘Forr practical purposees records dating back to 1985 may y be considered.’ scattereed
distribution
EPR (2017) Tech hnical Note 2 also
o state that ‘The IA
APA score, for thee species we have e information on, isi from thee
indicative of pote
ential County Impo
ortance.’ With the proviso that theyy have ‘a very resttricted distribution and arable fields,
f
almost all are ab
bsent from nearly a
all of the arable la
ands, therefore alm
most all have no arable
a species of runway y and
conservation inteerest at all.’ western n end
of the site.
s
Bugloss – 1 – lasst seen Wisley Airrfield across the site
s 2016
Loose Silky-bentt – 6 – last seen WWisley Airfield arable fields 2014
Slender Parsley--piert – 1 – last se
een Wisley Airfieldd western end 201 16
Cornflower – 8 – last seen Wisley Airfield arable fieelds 2016
Common Stork’ss-bill – 1 – last seeen Wisley Airfield scattered across 2016
Common Cudwe eed – 6 – last seen n Wisley Airfield southern
s central 2016
2
Small-flowered CCrane’s-bill – 2 – last seen Wisley Airfield
A 2016
Sharp-leaved Fluuellen – 2 – last seen Wisley Airfield arable fields 2016
Dwarf Mallow – 2 – last seen on a arable edges southern/north of runw way 2016
Annual Knawel – 8 – last seen Wisley Airfield 2007
Corn Spurrey – 7 – last seen Wisley Airfield southe ern central 2016
Knotted Hedge-p parley – 3 – last seen Wisley edge central strip 2016 6
b) Suupports a significa
ant population See above, Table 3 and Appendixx 2 Criteria 24.
of a sspecies as discusssed in the
speccies guidance.
57
G
Guildford Boro
ough SNCI Su
urveys 2016: E
Existing Site
58
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Ap
ppendix 2:
2 Specie
es guide lines
SNC CI selectio
on Species
s Guidelin
nes (Gibbs
s, 2008), summary
s oof results and
ratio
onale baseed upon su
urvey
59
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
The data from tthe EPR (20 013 & 2015) surveys
identified Smoooth Newt, Co ommon Toa ad and Com mmon
Frog
g on the site
e. In additio
on Great Creested Newtt have
also been found e, although not found too be
d on the site
bree
eding in the ponds, and ed surveys on
d by unrelate
Surrey Wildlife T t the north and it couldd be
Trust land to
sugggested that ‘this may reepresent a potential
p
metaapopulationn.’ (D Winchester, SWT T ES/SARG pers.
comm.).
60
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Sppecies Note
es Result
d)) 'Exception
nal' populations Not present. Does not
off any amphiibian specie es. me
eet criteria.
e)) 'Good' poppulations off 3 or Not recorded du
uring site su
urveys. Does not
more
m native a
amphibian me
eet criteria.
sp
pecies.
20
0) Reptiles
a)) Supports ppopulationss of Suita
able habitatt for supporrting populations of Sm mooth Not present.
Smmooth Snakke or Sand Snakke or Sand Lizards are e not presen nt and weree not
Lizard. recorded in the Reptile Surrvey.
b)) Population
ns of 3 or more
m RPSS (2013) Re ptile Survey y comments s that the siite Criteria met,
na
ative reptile
e species. suppports ‘Low’ P
Populations s of Adders and Comm mon repptile interestt
Lizard and a ‘G ood’ Popula ations of Slo
ow-worms aand is confined
c to
Grasss Snakes. the
e western
parrt of the site
e
EPRR (2015) Re ptile Survey
y concludess that the sitte andd the
suppports ‘Low’ P
Populations
s of Slow-wo
orm, Comm mon norrthern
Lizard and Grasss Snake. bouundary.
EPR
R (2016) Re ptile Survey
y comments s that the siite
supp
ports a ‘Goo
od’ Populatiions of Slow
w-worm andd
Com
mmon lizard and ‘Low’ Population
P of
o Grass Snnake.
61
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
62
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Snak
kes Field on
nly
Com
mmon Eyebrright – ERL NT – last seen
s 2010
Torm
mentil – ERL
L NT – last seen 2016
Heatth Speedweell – ERL NT
T – last see
en 2010
** i.e
e. 2 ERL NT
T since 2010, thus mee eting the critteria.
b)) Supports aan importan
nt Two UK BAP P riority Spec cies / Specie
es of Princippal Wh hilst
as
ssemblage or (SPI) Importancce of plant have
h been recorded
r at the preesent,
po
opulation(s)) of a UK BA
AP site. unlikely to be
prriority species. connsidered
Cornnflower wass last recordded in 2016 and Annuaal ‘important’ on
Knaw wel was lasst seen in 20
007 at Wisle
ey Airfield. the
eir own.
c)) Supports a nationally No Nationally
N S
Scarce spec cies have been
b recordded on Criteria not
sc
carce speciees. this site.
s meet.
63
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Sppecies Note
es Result
d)) Supports sspecies See Tables 1 an
nd 3. Criteria met,
identified by Surrey for species
Bootanical Society as rarre Wisley Airfield ((excluding Snakes
S Field) fou
und
annd notable wwithin Surre
ey. *Loo
ose Silky-be ent – last se
een arable field edges 22014 scaattered
*Hairy Rock-cre ess – last se
een westernn end 2014 distribution
*Corrnflower – last seen arable
a fields 2016 acrross Wisley
Red--tipped Cud dweed – las st seen 19688 Airffield and
**Co
ommon Cu udweed – la ast seen southern
s ceentral also Snakes
20166 Fie
eld.
*Commmon Ram mping-fumitory – last seen 20166
Heatth Cudweed d – last see
en Elm Cornner 1988
Yello
ow Bartsia – last seen Elm Cornerr 2006
Annuual Knawel – last seen n 2007
**Co
orn Spurrey y – last see
en southern central 22016
* 6 seen
s since 2
2014 acrosss Wisley Airrfield
** 2 seen during
g the 2016 survey
s
64
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Ap
ppendix 3:
3 Genera
al guidellines
Site
es which are close too, but do no
ot quite me
et the deta
ailed habitaat and species
guid
delines later in the report mayy be considdered for selection
s w
where they are
judg
ged as impportant usinng the gen
neral guide
elines below
w.
Se
election Criteria Analysiis of site against
a criteria
Ra
arity The folloowing rare e or scare habitats w were recorrded
wet Ald er woodland, arable e fields andd criteria may
be met for Open Mosaic Ha abitat. Raare plants with
conservvation statu us have been recordeed.
Diversity The sitte is con nsidered tot be bootanically and
structuraally diverse
e.
Sizze The site
e 123 ha in size, repre esenting a large area a.
Naaturalness s The sitee is an olld airfield with a ruunway running
down thhe centre ofo the site.
Other p parts of th he site aree taken uup by working
arable fiields.
Deliberaately plan nted non n-native species and
acciden tally introdduced inva asive plannt species are
present these being b Buttterfly-bushh, Himala ayan
Balsam and Japan nese Knotw weed.
Tyypicalness s The hab bitat is noot typical of
o the surro rounding area,
a
althoughh there are othe er arablee fields and
connectting woodla and close by.
b
Frragility The site
e is large enough to be b sustaineed. The arreas
of ann nual and ruderal communnities req quire
occasion nal disturb
bance.
Reeplacabilitty It wouldd be very y difficult to
t replicatte the unique
mosaic of habita ats and species pre resent on the
scale.
Poosition in The site
e falls within a networrk of similaar arable fields
eccological unit
u / to the soouth and mixed
m wooodland to thhe north. The
Co e Stratford
onnectivity with the d Brook an nd woodlaand continuues its cou urse
lanndscape to the ssouth of thhe site. The site is therefore well
connectted to othe er habitats
s. The Sttratford Brrook
and surrrounding woodland
w is within a BOA RO O4 –
River WWey and trib butaries.
Edducational value The sitee is not currently
c open to thee public other
o
annd value foor the than twoo public foootpaths.
apppreciationn of
naature.
65
Guiildford Bo
orough SN
NCI Survey
ys 2016: Existing
E Siite
Se
election Criteria Analysiis of site against
a criteria
Po
otential va
alue This site
es acts as a buffer to o the nearbby SPA an nd is
a key arrable site. The value e of the sitte is in its rare
habitatss, plants and othe er groups.. Contin nued
sympath hetic mana agement willw help tto secure the
site for the futuree. Joined up managgement off the
wider arrea will also help to enhance
e thhe future off the
area.
Re
ecorded history Several local orga anisations have recoorded overr the
an
nd cultural site oveer many years
y inclu
uding Surre rey Amphibian
as
ssociations and Rep ptile Group (SARG) and parti cularly Su urrey
Botanica al Societyy (SBS) (p previously Surrey Flora F
Committtee).
66
Key
Survey Area
Dense/Continuous Scrub
Scattered Scrub
Dense Bracken
Tall Ruderal
A Arable
Running Water
Track
Hardstanding
Bare Ground
SI
SI
A
A
A
A
A
SI
A
SI
SI
SI
A
A A
A A A
Key
SNCI Boundary
GBC Adopted Local Plan 2003
Revised SNCI Boundary
SNCLG 2005
Revised SNCI Boundary
SNCLG 2007
Key
Current SNCI
Boundary