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LAND AT THE BUTTS CENTRE, COVENTRY
ECOLOGICAL SURVEY
Prepared on behalf of
Midlands & City Developments Ltd
Richard Tofts Ecology
Stonewell Cottage
Church Street
Meysey Hampton
Nr Cirencester
GL7 5JX
T/F 01285 850373
E [email protected]
RTE118_02. 011205
Ecological Survey
CONTENTS
1.0
INTRODUCTION
.....2
2.0
METHODS
.....3
3.0
RESULTS
.....5
4.0
EVALUATION AND DISCUSSION
.....9
REFERENCES
.....10
Plan RTE118_01 follows page 10
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Ecological Survey
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1
This report has been prepared by Richard Tofts Ecology on behalf of
Midlands & City Developments Ltd, on the instructions of LMP Consultants
Ltd. It sets out the results of an ecological survey at The Butts Centre,
Coventry.
1.2
There are proposals to redevelop the site, retaining the original part of the
main building, removing other parts and another building in the western part
of the site. The new proposals would include housing, retail, hotel and
conference facilities.
1.3
The present study was commissioned in order to identify any ecological
issues that might constrain the proposed redevelopment and to make
recommendations as appropriate.
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2.0 METHODS
2.1
A Phase 1 survey (JNCC, 2003) was undertaken on 19th August 2005 by Dr
Richard Tofts. This is a recognized standard baseline survey that involves
mapping the main vegetation types and making records of species evident at
the time of survey. The Phase 1 survey was extended to include a
consideration of the likely or potential presence of protected species, since
not all species are necessarily evident at any particular time and some require
specialist survey techniques to reveal their presence or ascertain their
population size. Where accessible, potentially suitable bat roost sites were
investigated during the course of the survey. This included investigation of
roof voids.
2.2
Binoculars (8 x 32) were used as necessary to assist with observations of
fauna.
2.3
Badger records were obtained from the Warwickshire Badger Group to
supplement the data obtained during the fieldwork. Records were also
requested from the Biological Records Centre, but, owing to rearrangements
at the Centre, it was not possible to obtain data sufficiently quickly for
inclusion within this report.
2.4
Names of plants follow Stace (1997), those of fungi follow Legon & Henrici
(2005) and those of birds follow Snow & Perrins (1998).
Evaluation
2.5
The habitats and features of the site have been evaluated using guidance
developed by the Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM
2002) as a basis. This guidance is reproduced in Table 1 overleaf.
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Level of Value
International
National
Regional
County /
Metropolitan
District / Borough
Parish /
Neighbourhood
Ecological Survey
Examples

An internationally designated site or candidate site (SPA, pSPA, SAC, cSAC, pSAC , Ramsar site,
Biogenetic Reserve) or an area which the country agency has determined meets the published selection
criteria for such designation, irrespective of whether or not it has yet been notified.

A viable area of a habitat type listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, or smaller areas of such habitat
which are essential to maintain the viability of a larger whole.

Any regularly occurring population of an internationally important species, which is threatened or rare in
the UK. i.e. it is a UK Red Data Book species or listed as occurring in 15 or fewer 10km squares in the UK
(categories 1 and 2 in the UK BAP) or of uncertain conservation status or of global conservation concern
in the UK BAP.

A regularly occurring, nationally significant population/number of any internationally important species.

A nationally designated site (SSSI, ASSI, NNR, Marine Nature Reserve) or a discrete area, which the
country conservation agency has determined meets the published selection criteria for national
designation (e.g. SSSI selection guidelines) irrespective of whether or not it has yet been notified.

A viable area of a priority habitat identified in the UK BAP, or of smaller areas of such habitat which are
essential to maintain the viability of a larger whole.

Any regularly occurring population of a nationally important species which is threatened or rare in the region
or county (see local BAP).

A regularly occurring, regionally or county significant population/number of any nationally important species.

A feature identified as of critical importance in the UK BAP.

Viable areas of key habitat identified in the Regional BAP or smaller areas of such habitat which are
essential to maintain the viability of a larger whole;

Viable areas of key habitat identified as being of Regional value in the appropriate Natural Area profile;

Any regularly occurring, locally significant population of a species listed as being nationally scarce which
occurs in 16-100 10km squares in the UK or in a Regional BAP or relevant Natural Area on account of its
regional rarity or localisation;

A regularly occurring, locally significant number of a regionally important species;

Sites which exceed the County-level designations but fall short of SSSI selection guidelines, where these
occur.

Semi-natural ancient woodland greater than 0.25 ha;

County/Metropolitan sites and other sites which the designating authority has determined meet the published
ecological selection criteria for designation, including Local Nature Reserves selected on County /
metropolitan ecological criteria (County/Metropolitan sites will often have been identified in local plans);

A viable area of habitat identified in County BAP;

Any regularly occurring, locally significant population of a species which is listed in a County/Metropolitan
“red data book” or BAP on account of its regional rarity or localisation;

A regularly occurring, locally significant number of a County/Metropolitan important species.

Semi-natural ancient woodland smaller than 0.25 ha;

Areas of habitat identified in a sub-County (District/Borough) BAP or in the relevant Natural Area profile;

District sites that the designating authority has determined meet the published ecological selection criteria for
designation, including Local Nature Reserves selected on District/ Borough ecological criteria (District sites,
where they exist, will often have been identified in local plans)

Sites/features that are scarce within the District/Borough or which appreciably enrich the District/Borough
habitat resource;

A diverse and/ or ecologically valuable hedgerow network;

A population of a species that is listed in a District/Borough BAP because of its rarity in the locality or in the
relevant Natural Area profile because of its regional rarity or localisation;

A regularly occurring, locally significant number of a District / Borough important species during a critical
phase of its life cycle.

Areas of habitat considered to appreciably enrich the habitat resource within the context of the Parish or
neighbourhood, e.g. species-rich hedgerows.

Local Nature Reserves selected on Parish ecological criteria.
TABLE 1: Approach to valuing ecological receptors. Where species or habitats occur in
more than one category above, the highest value is applicable.
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3.0 RESULTS
3.1
WIDER CONTEXT
England has been divided into a series of 120 Natural Areas by English
Nature. Each Natural Area has a characteristic association of wildlife and
natural features. The site is located at the junction between two Natural
Areas, the Humberhead levels and the Trent Valley and Rises. These
Natural Areas are described1 as follows:

Natural Area 22: Humberhead levels. This Natural Area encompasses the open, flat
plain that is dominated by the major river systems of the Ouse and Trent which feed
the western end of the Humber Estuary. Parts are now below sea-level and are
maintained as agricultural land by pumping. The Natural Area contains a patchwork of
fields, some small, some large, bounded by dykes and occasionally by hedgerows. By
far the most important feature of the Natural Area is the peatland of Thorne, Crowle,
Goole and Hatfield Moors, and the smaller peatlands of Epworth Turbary and Haxey
Turbary. This peaty wilderness is internationally important for its nature conservation
features and renowned for its specialised plants and animals.
Rivers and river floodplains also feature in the Humberhead levels, with floodplain
grasslands and localised areas of fen and reedbeds. Although the landscape is mainly
arable, it is criss-crossed by extensive ditch systems which harbour some rare aquatic
and emergent plants.

Natural Area 33: Trent Valley and Rises. Most of the Natural Area comprises a
geology that produces a fertile soil ideal for agriculture. Despite a large part of the
area being under intensive agriculture there are a number of important habitats
remaining. These include neutral grassland, which is the most common type of
unimproved grassland, and a number of acidic and calcareous grassland sites
associated with local differences of geology.
Wet floodplain grasslands along the Soar and Trent rivers support some of the richest
wildlife and are important for many breeding birds such as the redshank. The Natural
Area is poorly wooded but significant concentrations of important sites are scattered
throughout. Important woodlands present include ancient semi-natural stands, wet
woodland and parkland. Standing water habitats of particular wildlife interest are
restored gravel pits, reservoirs and canals; there are no natural large standing waters.
There are numerous gravel pits along the River Trent and its main tributaries of which
some have been restored to provide habitat for breeding and wintering birds such as
reed warblers. Many of these gravel pits and reservoirs have a diversity of associated
habitats such as marsh, swamp and reedbeds. Rivers, streams and their associated
habitats are also a significant feature of the Natural Area, and are dominated by the
Rivers Trent and Soar.
3.2
1
The site is situated within urban Coventry. It is bounded by roads and
buildings to the north, east and south. Off-site to the west, some rough
ground and a railway embankment provide a potential 'green corridor'
connecting The Butts Centre with off-site habitats.
Descriptions taken from
www.english-nature.org.uk, accessed 06/10/05.
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3.3
3.4
Ecological Survey
THE SITE
Habitats
The main habitats of the site are described on the following pages and are
shown on the plan at the back of this report.
Lawns
There are several areas of lawn within the grounds. All are closely-mown and
similar in species composition. A generic description is therefore provided
below.
3.5
Dominated by perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne, additional grasses include
scattered individuals of coarser species such as Timothy Phleum pratense,
Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus and cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata with others
including annual meadow-grass Poa annua, common bent Agrostis capillaris
and creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera. Forbs include daisy Bellis perennis,
common cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata, self-heal Prunella vulgaris, creeping
buttercup Ranunculus repens, yarrow Achillea millefolium, white clover
Trifolium repens, lesser trefoil Trifolium dubium, greater plantain Plantago
major, ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata, sorrel Rumex acetosa, smooth
hawk's-beard Crepis capillaris, field speedwell Veronica persica, slender
speedwell Veronica filiformis and common mouse-ear Cerastium fontanum,
with a more ruderal element in trampled, scuffed or disturbed patches that
includes shepherd's purse Capsella bursa pastoris, knot-grass Polygonum
aviculare, hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale, spear thistle Cirsium vulgare,
common ragwort Senecio jacobaea, curled dock Rumex crispus, prickly
lettuce Lactuca serriola, pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea and scented
mayweed Matricaria recutita.
3.6
Several species of fungi were recorded from the lawns, some of which were
associated with trees along the edges of the lawns. These included
Dermoloma phaeopodium, Laccaria laccata, Paxillus involutus, Scleroderma
verrucosum, Panaeolus foenisecii and Inocybe curvipes.
3.7
Immediately off-site to the west lies a square plot of rough grassland
supporting competitive species such as creeping thistle Cirsium arvense.
3.8
Mature planted trees of various species, often non-native, are present within
the grounds, particularly around lawn margins. They include Norway maple
Acer platanoides, tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima, Italian alder Alnus
cordata, horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, beech Fagus sylvatica,
lime Tilia sp., wild cherry Prunus avium, Turkey oak Quercus cerris and ash
Fraxinus excelsior. Various shrubs including laurel Prunus laurocerasus,
roses Rosa spp. and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna also occur within the
grounds and around the site margins.
3.9
Buildings
The main building (Figure 1, overleaf) dates from 1932. It is faced with stone
at the front but is elsewhere of brick construction with cavity walls and a flat
roof. The window frames are of close-fitting metal construction. There is no
roof void proper, but access hatches are located in the ceilings above each
floor. They lead into low voids (circa 60 cm high) through which services run.
The south-western part of the main building is a modern brick extension,
again with flat roof and close-fitting window frames.
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3.10
Part of the main building complex is occupied by a theatre (Figure 2, overleaf)
which is of brick construction with a pitched slate roof and sarking. The void
is large and contains walkways that are used for access during theatre
productions.
3.11
The former laboratories are attached to the northern part of the main building.
It was not possible to investigate this part of the building in any detail because
it was being used for examinations at the time of the visit. But it appears that
almost all the internal voids are regularly used and many seem to be wellilluminated by natural daylight as well as artificial light owing to the presence
of a glass pitched roof (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: The main building viewed from the north. The former laboratory
buildings are seen at the right hand side of the picture.
3.12
3.13
3.14
The stadium building is situated to the west of the main building. It is of brick
construction with a flat roof and close-fitting metal window frames. The
western-most part is taller than the rest and very well illuminated by large
windows.
Fauna
Feral pigeon Columba livia, woodpigeon Columba palumbus, house martin
Delichon urbica, house sparrow Passer domesticus and magpie Pica pica
were observed around the site during the visit on 19th August.
The lawns provide potentially suitable foraging for badgers Meles meles,
although no evidence of this protected species was observed during the
survey. The Warwickshire Badger Group has only one sett record within 2km
of the site – a main sett on Hearsall Golf Course some 1.5 km to the southsouthwest. A road casualty was also reported on the A429 adjacent to the
golf course. Neither of these records is of significance in connection with
proposals at The Butts Centre.
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3.15
Ecological Survey
There is some potential for bats to be roosting within the buildings of the site.
No evidence of bat roosts was found, but some species (such as common
pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus) roost in small cavities where physical
evidence of roosting may be very hard to find and may therefore have been
overlooked during the present survey. Such sites include cavity walls and
minor crevices within the main building.
Figure 2: The main building viewed from the west. The Theatre is the
slate-roofed part in the right-hand side of the picture.
3.16
No significant potential for other protected species was noted.
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4.0 EVALUATION AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Most of the site is occupied either by buildings, hard standing or lawns with
planted trees. These habitats or features were found to support little of
ecological note and are therefore judged to be of negligible ecological value.
4.2
The lawns are potentially suitable as badger foraging habitat, although no
evidence of badgers was seen during the field visit and no significant records
were supplied by the Warwickshire Badger Group. There is therefore no
reason to suppose that the redevelopment of the site will cause impacts to
badgers.
4.3
The buildings (particularly the main building) contain cavities and crevices (eg
cavity walls) that are potentially suitable as bat roost sites, although no
evidence of bat roosts was found in those parts of the buildings that could be
investigated during the present survey. Works affecting such cavities and
crevices have the potential to cause impacts to bat roosts, although changes
to the internal structure of the buildings are considered unlikely to affect
roosting bats owing to the current unsuitability of the rooms and the shallow
voids between the floors. Development works affecting bat roosts requires a
DEFRA licence which can only be applied for once planning permission has
been obtained. Bats change roost frequently through the seasons and the
most practicable approach to avoiding impacts is therefore to identify exactly
what works are required and whether they will affect potentially suitable roost
sites that could not adequately be investigated during the physical survey of
the buildings. If so, additional survey should be focused on the places
affected. It should be undertaken sufficiently far in advance to allow enough
time to apply for a DEFRA licence should it be required, but not so far in
advance as to render the survey results out of date. A survey some two or
three months in advance of works is considered appropriate, with the proviso
that a survey of inaccessible features would need to include an assessment
of emergence and would therefore need to be undertaken during the activity
period (typically April to September but dependent also on weather
conditions).
4.4
Trees and shrubs are likely to be occupied by breeding birds during the
period from March/April to August inclusive. With the exception of a few
common 'pest' species that can be destroyed by appropriately licensed
persons, all birds and their eggs/active nests are protected under the Wildlife
and Countyside Act 1981 (as amended). It is therefore recommended that
any tree or shrub removal or works to trees should take place outside the
nesting season.
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REFERENCES
IEEM 2002. Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment. Amended Pilot,
November 2002.
JNCC (2003). Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey. JNCC, Peterborough.
Legon, N. W. & Henrici, A. (2005). Checklist of the British & Irish
Basidiomycota. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic:
Concise Edition. Oxford University Press.
Stace, C. (1997). New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press.
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