Local Development Framework – Ecological assessment of Lichfield District

Summary recommendation – Development should be avoided in the whole of the area around Leomansley to the north of the Walsall Road.

2.4g Compartment 4g: Area around Pipe Green and Leomansley

2.4g Designated Sites

Site of County Biological Importance:
Pipe Green Common – Pipe Green Common is a very diverse site and is of great ecological importance. The majority of the meadows are well drained and support a short grassland sward with a diverse range of grasses and broadleaved herbs. There are small patches of acidic grassland. The northern section was found to support bee orchid, adder’s-tongue fern and common spotted orchid. The central section, next to the Leamons Brook, supports a wide range of wetland plants including Marsh pennywort, ragged robin, marsh ragwort, marsh valerian and meadowsweet were also present. Snipe have been recorded on the site in the past.

2.4g Habitats

The compartment may be divided into three areas:

  • To the north of the Walsall Road, around Pipe Green Common and Leomansley Wood. This area has considerable semi-natural habitat, including ancient woodland and efforts in this area should focus on buffering and expanding these habitats. Development should be avoided.
  • To the south of Walsall Road and north of disused canal, the area is arable, improved grassland and species-poor semi-improved grassland, with ponds on the boundary. In this area existing habitats could form the core of any green infrastructure and be enhanced appropriately.
  • To the south of the disused canal, the area is mainly arable, with small patches of species-poor semi-improved grassland and ponds on the boundary. In this area habitats could form the core of any green infrastructure and be enhanced appropriately.

2.4g Protected species

English Name Comments Recommendations
Barn Owl Species requires areas of rough grassland and other suitable habitat. Recorded from rough grassland near disused railway. Protect semi-improved grassland, particularly near disused railway.
Brambling Wintering species Retain hedges and woodlands, or provide mitigatory habitat.
Brown Long-eared Bat Usually roosting in loft spaces,often in older buildings. Feed in open woodland and parkland. Of particular concern where building alterations, including barn conversions are proposed.
Common Frog Old record from Leomansley Pool, Probably widespread in area. Protect ponds from devlopment and / or mitigate by creating new ponds.
Common Pipistrelle Probably associated with housing and roosting in some houses; likely to be widespread in the area. New housing should ideally have a range of bat-friendly roof tiles and / or bricks. Natural habitat features for foraging should also be provided such as hedges; these would normally be provided within Green Infrastructure.
Daubenton’s Bat Roosts in buildings and bridges. Frequently found near water. Protect open water habitats, also as common pipistrelle.
Eurasian Badger Probably widespread in area. Protect where possible; mitigation will depend on size and location of badger groups affected on any given site.
European Water Vole Require well-vegetated water edge habitat, where not occupied by their main predator, mink. Any development likely to affect watercourses in area should protect the watercourse and provide a wide buffer strip of vegetation along the banks.
Fieldfare Wintering species. As Brambling.
Freshwater White-clawed Crayfish Main threat is from crayfish plague. Populations in headwater streams and isolated ponds now most likely to be free from plague. Stowe Pool SSSI. Care should be taken with small streams, ponds and lakes not to introduce plants or animals from infected sources. These areas should not be connected with main rivers.
Great Crested Newt Species breeds in still, open water and uses a range of habitats at other times of year. Recorded from Leomansley Pool. Protect ponds and surrounding habitats.
Marsh Frog Introduced species, usually found in drainage ditches. Conservation action should aim to prevent its spread.
Noctule Bat Mainly associated with trees, particularly old trees with holes for roosting. Retain hedges and trees, including dead trees. Install bat boxes in young woodlands.
Whiskered/Brandt's Bat Summer roosts in trees and buildings. May hibernate in caves or tunnels. Prefers woodlands for feeding, often near water. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation. Also as common pipistrelle.

2.4g Biodiversity Action Plan species

English Name Comments Recommendations
August Thorn Woodland and suburban habitats. Feeds on trees. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation
Brindled Beauty Woodland and suburban species, feeds on broad leaved trees. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation
Brown Hare Widely distributed in area, usually on arable or grassland. If area is developed, surveys should be carried out to see whether species is still present, if so mitigatory habitat should be provided.
Centre-barred Sallow Moth feeding on ash trees in woodlands and hedges. Retain woodlands and hedges or provide mitigation.
Common Bullfinch Found in woodlands and hedgerows. Retain woodlands and hedges or provide mitigation.
Common Linnet Widespread on farmland, especially to southwest of Lichfield. Retain hedges and grassland habitats, especially marshy grassland.
Common Snipe Species of wet grassland and related habitats. Pipe Green. Probably confined to Pipe Green Common area. Protect Pipe Green Common and retain and buffer marshy grassland elsewhere.
Common Toad Some records are now out of date, but Little Aston and Leomansley Pool areas may still have populations of toads as this species returns to its ancestral ponds. More recent records for Pipe Grange. Retain ponds and suitable surrounding habitat. Create additional habitat.
Corn Bunting Widespread around area, farmland species. Retain and buffer suitable habitat. Provide compensatory habitat where suitable habitat is lost, including farmland.
Crescent Species of damp, marshy woodland and moorland. Suitable habitat may be found around the Pipe Green area.
Dusky Thorn Woodland and suburban habitats. Feeds on ash trees. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Ear Moth Damp habitats, feeds on grasses and other plants. Suitable habitat may be found around the Pipe Green area.
Hawfinch Woodland species, feeding on shoots, seeds and fruits. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
House Sparrow Species of gardens and farmland. Retain and buffer suitable habitat. Provide compensatory habitat where suitable habitat is lost, including farmland.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Woods, parkland and gardens. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Marsh Tit Mainly found in broad leaved woodland. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Minor Shoulder-knot Damp woodland and wetlands, feeding on willow. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Neglected Rustic Heathland species. Suitable habitat may be found around the Pipe Green area.
Northern Lapwing Widespread in area, especially on farmland. Retain and buffer suitable habitat. Provide compensatory habitat where suitable habitat is lost, including farmland.
Oak Hook-tip Oak woodland and parkland, feeds on oak. Retain woodland and hedges.
Rosy Minor Grassland, feeding on grasses. Suitable habitat may be found around the Pipe Green area.
Rosy Rustic Waste ground and marshy places, feeding mainly on docks. Suitable habitat may be found around the Pipe Green area.
Sallow Damp woodland and other marshy places, around feeding on willow and other plants. Suitable habitat may be found the Pipe Green area.
September Thorn Woodland, parkland and gardens. Feeds on trees. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Shaded Broadbar Open habitats, feeding on clover and vetches. Retain and enhance grassland habitats.
Sky Lark Open grassland and other habitats. If any of area is developed, suitable habitat is likely to be lost, so mitigatory habitat should be provided.
Spotted Flycatcher Mature trees, especially in open areas. Suitable habitat is present in the Pipe Green area.
Willow Tit Willow scrub and similar habitats. Retain scrub and woodlands or provide mitigation.
Wood Warbler Woodland without shrub layer. Retain woodlands or provide mitigation.
Yellowhammer Range of habitats, compartment likely to be suitable. Retain hedges, scrub and grassland habitats.

2.4g Summary recommendations for compartment

Development should be avoided in the whole of the area around Leomansley to the north of the Walsall Road. In the remainder of the compartment habitats could form the core of any green infrastructure and be enhanced appropriately