Washington Township School District Parent & Student Handbook 2011 ...

Impacts of nearby development
on the ecology of ancient woodland








1 2 1Corney, P.M. , Smithers, R.J. , Kirby, J.S. ,
3 4 4Peterken, G.F. , Le Duc, M.G. & Marrs, R.H.

1. JUST ECOLOGY Limited (www.justecology.com)
2. The Woodland Trust (all correspondence)
3. Independent consultant
4. University of Liverpool





October 2008











i Notice to Readers

This report is based on the information collected during the period of study and within
the parameters of and resources available for the project. We cannot eliminate the
possibility of important information being found through further investigation.
Reference to sections of text or particular paragraphs of this document taken out of
context may lead to misrepresentation.


















Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Jenna Buss, Robert Frith, Ben Garnett and Mike
Lush of JUST ECOLOGY for their valuable assistance with literature capture and
synthesis, and Keith Kirby for helpful comments on the draft report.

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Contents
1 Executive summary ........................................................................................... 1
2 Introduction........................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Ancient woodland in the UK............................................................................. 5
2.2 Inventories of ancient woodland ...................................................................... 6
2.3 Extent of ancient woodland.............................................................................. 6
2.4 Restoration of plantations on ancient woodland sites ...................................... 6
2.5 Threats to ancient woodland............................................................................ 7
2.6 Threats to ancient woodland from development............................................... 9
2.7 Research objective ........................................................................................ 10
3 Methodology.................................................................................................... 12
3.1 How might ancient woodland be affected by nearby development?............... 12
3.2 Literature search............................................................................................ 13
3.3 Scientific literature ......................................................................................... 14
3.4 Grey literature................................................................................................ 15
3.5 Weighting ...................................................................................................... 16
3.6 Source origin ................................................................................................. 17
4 Development types and impacts...................................................................... 18
4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 18
4.2 Housing ......................................................................................................... 18
4.2.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 18
4.2.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 20
4.2.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 22
4.2.4 Invasion by non-native plants.................................................................. 23
4.2.5 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 23
4.3 Transport....................................................................................................... 23
4.3.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 24
4.3.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 27
4.3.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 28
4.3.4 Invasion by non-native plants.................................................................. 29
4.3.5 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 29
4.4 Commercial and industrial development ........................................................ 30
4.4.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 30
4.4.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 33
4.4.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 34
4.4.4 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 34
4.5 Intensive livestock units................................................................................. 34
4.5.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 35
4.5.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 36
4.5.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 36
4.5.4 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 36
4.6 Energy........................................................................................................... 37
4.6.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 37
4.6.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 37
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4.6.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 38
4.6.4 Invasion by non-native plants.................................................................. 38
4.6.5 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 38
4.7 Quarrying and mineral extraction................................................................... 39
4.7.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 39
4.7.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 39
4.7.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 40
4.7.4 Invasion by non-native plants.................................................................. 40
4.7.5 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 41
4.8 Waste disposal facilities................................................................................. 41
4.8.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 41
4.8.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 42
4.8.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 42
4.8.4 Invasion by non-native plants.................................................................. 42
4.8.5 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 42
4.9 Leisure and sport........................................................................................... 43
4.9.1 Chemical effects ..................................................................................... 43
4.9.2 Disturbance ............................................................................................ 44
4.9.3 Fragmentation ........................................................................................ 47
4.9.4 Cumulative effects .................................................................................. 47
4.10 Military activity ............................................................................................. 48
4.10.1 Disturbance .......................................................................................... 48
4.10.2 Fragmentation....................................................................................... 49
4.10.3 Invasion by non-native plants................................................................ 49
4.10.4 Cumulative effects ................................................................................ 49
4.11 Water management ..................................................................................... 50
4.11.1 Disturbance .......................................................................................... 50
4.11.2 Fragmentation....................................................................................... 50
4.11.3 Invasion by non-native plants................................................................ 51
4.11.4 Cumulative effects ...