5.2 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey

5.2.1           Habitats

The Study Area for the Phase 1 habitat survey encompassed the Site and 250 m buffer, excluding the area seaward of the MHWS. The habitats recorded within the Study Area are detailed below and shown in Figure 7.1.4 and Figure 7.1.5 and Target Notes (TNs) are detailed in Annex D, Table D.1, and shown on Figure 7.1.4 and Figure 7.1.5 Scientific names of plant species are provided in Annex D. Twenty-nine habitats were recorded during the survey and are listed in Table 5 below.

Table 5: Habitats recorded within the Site and 250m buffer

5.2.1.1     Broadleaved, semi-natural woodland (A1.1.1)

Mature broadleaved, semi-natural woodland extends along the Braidwood Burn (TN1), Thornton Burn (TN2) and Thurston Burn (TN3) corridor through the centre of the Site. The canopy is dominated by ash, beech and sessile oak with occasional Scots pine. Gorse, hawthorn, elder and bramble were recorded in the understorey. Ground flora included great wood-rush, male-fern, butterbur and bracken. Part of this woodland forms Thornton Glen SWT which borders the Site. A small area of broadleaved, semi-natural woodland borders the Site to the east of Thorntonloch Holdings (TN4). This woodland is listed on the AWI as LEPO 2b.

5.2.1.2     Broadleaved, plantation woodland (A1.1.2)

An area of broadleaved plantation woodland surrounds Orchard House in Skateraw, outwith the Site (TN5).

5.2.1.3     Coniferous, semi-natural woodland (A1.2.1)

A strip of coniferous, semi-natural woodland lies along the road to the west of Branxton Cottage (TN6). This woodland is listed on the AWI as LEPO 2b.

5.2.1.4     Coniferous, plantation woodland (A1.2.2)

An area of coniferous plantation dominated by Scots pine borders the A1 trunk road to the south of Skateraw (TN 7). The woodland extends north and south along a drainage ditch.

5.2.1.5     Mixed, semi-natural woodland (A1.3.1)

Mixed, semi-natural woodland can be found at the south-east of the study area (TN8 and TN9) where it provides excellent badger habitat and along the Dry Burn at the north-west of the Phase 1 habitat Study Area and along Skateraw Dean (TN10)

5.2.1.6     Mixed, plantation woodland (A1.3.2)

Mixed, plantation woodland was recorded within the Site to the north of Skateraw, bordering arable fields (TN11) and within the Viridor site outwith the western Site boundary.

5.2.1.7     Dense/continuous scrub (A2.1)

Dense scrub is found within the Site running adjacent to the Thornton Burn (TN12) and Braidwood Burn (TN13), Dry Burn and bordering an arable field at the west side of the Site (TN14).

5.2.1.8     Scattered scrub (A2.2)

Scattered gorse scrub is found adjacent to Dry Burn (TN15) and bordering areas of dense scrub within the study area.

5.2.1.9     Broadleaved scattered trees (A3.1)

Scattered broadleaved tree lines were recorded along roadsides (TN16) and field margins (TN17).  This habitat was also often recorded around properties.

5.2.1.10  Semi-improved neutral grassland (B2.2)

Semi-improved grassland recorded at the north-west of the Site lying between coastal grassland and arable land as it following the North Atlantic coastline from north to south before reaching Torness power station (TN18), along access track to the south of the Thornton Burn (TN19), along roadside edges (TN20) and bordering coastal grassland at the north-west of the Site (TN21).

5.2.1.11  Improved grassland (B4)

Improved grassland is the dominant habitat type found within the Site and wider Study Area often used for grazing sheep or horses. Typical examples of this habitat are provided in TN22-24.   

5.2.1.12  Bracken (C1.1)

Area of continuous bracken found at the southern reaches of the study area (TN25).

5.2.1.13  Tall ruderal (C3.1)

Area of tall ruderal along the Branxton Burn where it ends at the North Atlantic (TN26).

5.2.1.14  Bryophyte dominated spring (E2.3)

Bryophyte-dominated spring vegetation occurs locally within a c 100 m length of coastal cliff in the southeast of the Study Area (TN54). It is dominated by the bryophyte Palustriella commutata and red fescue, with other species including colt’s-foot, sea plantain, marsh thistle, ragwort, marsh marigold and marsh horsetail. Water drips through the community and areas of bare mud are present, suggesting local slippage. The vegetation conforms with the M37 Palustriella commutata[1]-Festuca rubra spring community of the NVC.

5.2.1.15  Standing water (G1)

Six waterbodies were identified within the study area. One waterbody is fed by Kames Well (TN27), one is fed by Ogle Burn (TN28) and one lies within woodland at Skateraw (TN29). Three waterbodies lies within the Viridor site (TN30, TN31 and TN32), but there was no access to this area to fully survey.

5.2.1.16  Running water (G2)

Running water within the study area includes Braidwood Burn, Thornton Burn (TN33 and TN36), Skateraw Dean (TN34), the Dry Burn (TN35 and TN37), Thurston Mains, Ogle Burn and Branxton Burn. Weirs were present along Thornton Burn, Dry Burn and Bilsdean Burn that were impassable to fish. 

5.2.1.17  Intertidal mud/sand (H1.1)

Found along the coastline at the east side of the study area (TN38) and at Skateraw harbour.

5.2.1.18  Intertidal Boulders/rocks (H1.3)

Boulders and rocks both intertidal and above the high tide mark are found to the west of Torness Point (TN39) and south-east of Thornton Loch Caravan park.

5.2.1.19  Shingle above high tide mark (H3)

Shingle above high tide lies between coastal grassland and intertidal mud/sand at south-eastern reaches of the study area (TN40) and to the west of Torness Point along Skateraw Harbour.

5.2.1.20  Dune grassland (H6.5)

A small area of dune grassland is found to the south-east of Thornton Loch Caravan Park within the eastern reaches of the Site, running adjacent to the coastline. This habitat is also associated with the Barns Ness Coast SSSI to the west of the Site.

5.2.1.21  Coastal grassland (H8.4)

Coastal grassland was recorded along the edge of the rocky intertidal habitat within Barns Ness SSSI (TN41).

5.2.1.22  Arable (J1.1)

Arable land comprises approximately 20% of the Site. Examples of this habitat type are given in TN42-46.

5.2.1.23  Intact, species-poor hedge (J2.1.2)

Species-poor, intact hedgerow border improved and arable fields throughout the study area (TN47).

5.2.1.24  Defunct, species-poor hedge (J2.2.2)

Species poor, defunct hedgerow dominated by hawthorn are also commonly found throughout the study area, bordering improved grassland and arable fields (TN48-49).

5.2.1.25  Wall (J2.5)

Stone walls are frequently found throughout the study area as field boundaries and around properties. The height of walls vary considerably from c.0.5 m to over 2 m. A typical boundary wall is shown in TN51.

5.2.1.26  Buildings (J3.6)

Multiple residential and farm buildings can be found throughout the Site and wider study area.

5.2.1.27  Bare ground (J4)

Bare ground is found associated with residential and farm buildings for the movement and storage of vehicles, plant or machinery. Often small areas of <0.1 ha.

5.2.1.28  Other (incl. roads/railway line) (J5)

The A1 trunk road runs through the east to the west of the Site with smaller roads criss-crossing the Site. The East Coast Main Line (ECML) railway also runs from the north-west of the Site to the south-west, passing under the A1 trunk road. Ground within the boundaries of residential properties and farms was also mapped under this code.

5.2.2           Invasive Non-Native Species

5.2.2.1     Japanese knotweed

One area of Japanese knotweed was found within the Site at the north side of Thornton Burn estimated to be c.50 m² in area (TN50).

5.2.2.2     Himalayan balsam

Two areas of Himalayan balsam were found within the Site during the PEA walkover surveys. One area extends for c.50 m along a roadside ditch next to a stone wall (TN51) and the other extends for c.100 m along a roadside ditch next to an unmanaged hedgerow (TN52). In addition to this, an area of Himalayan balsam was identified during preconstruction checks by the ECoW ahead of site investigation works (pers. comm. Mohr Environmental, 12.07.2022) in July 2022 (TN55).

5.2.3           Groundwater-dependent Terrestrial Ecosystmes (GWDTEs)

M37 bryophyte spring is likely to be highly groundwater dependent (SEPA, 2017). M37 occurs on ground kept permanently moist by irrigation with base-rich, calcareous and generally oligotrophic waters. The community is known to occur near coastal areas in East Lothian (Averis et al. 2014).

5.2.4           Protected or Otherwise Notable Species

5.2.4.1     Foraging and commuting bats

The Site and immediately surrounding areas present a variety of suitable foraging, commuting and potential roosting habitat for bat species, with a mix of woodland edge habitat, tree lines, hedgerows, field margins and open spaces. A number of watercourses traverse the Site and the associated riparian vegetation provides high quality foraging and commuting habitat for bats including water habitat specialists such as Daubenton’s bat. Linear features are also in abundance within the Site, including hedgerows, walls, strips of scrub and arable field boundaries which provide bats with connectivity to the wider area and a large potential resource of commuting and foraging habitat beyond the Site. No incidental evidence of bat use was recorded during the survey.

5.2.4.2     Otter

The desk study found records of otter within the Site. During the survey one otter spraint was found underneath a bridge within the Site next to the Thornton Burn beneath a railway underbridge. The watercourses within the Site and wider study area provide excellent foraging and commuting habitat for otter, connecting the coastline to inland habitats. The Thurston Mains Burn, Thornton Burn and Braidwood Burn in particular provide optimal otter habitat with bankside mature tree root systems and rock formations providing numerous opportunities for resting sites. Dense scrub habitat along Dry Burn and Ogle Burn also provide sheltered commuting routes for otter and potential resting site habitat.

5.2.4.3     Water vole

The desk study found one record of water vole within 2.3 km south-east of the Site. No incidental evidence of water vole was observed during the survey. The main watercourses within the Site including Dry Burn and Thornton Burn, and smaller watercourses such as the Branxton Burn, are considered to provide suitable habitat for water vole due to slow flowing water and suitable bankside vegetation cover.   

5.2.4.4     Badger

The desk study found records of badger within 2 km of the Site, the closest record was within 0.7 km north of the Site. The habitats within the Site and adjacent areas including woodland, scrub, arable and grassland fields are considered highly suitable for badger providing numerous opportunities for sett building, quality foraging habitat and habitat corridors to facilitate badger dispersal and movement within the wider landscape. 

No badger setts were identified within the Site, however four badger setts were identified within the wider Study Area.  Full details of the setts are contained within Confidential Volume 5, Appendix 7.2 (ITPEnergised, 2022).

A number of established mammal paths were found throughout the areas of woodland that could be used by badger though roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were also noted during the survey.

5.2.4.5     Reptiles

The desk study found records of common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) within 2 km of the Site and adder (Vipera berus) within 4 km of the Site. The habitats within the study area are considered less likely to support adder; however, areas of rough, tussocky grassland along field margins and burn corridors, overgrown rubble piles, stone walls and scrub habitat provide suitable terrestrial habitat for common lizard. The areas where these types of habitats are often encountered is at the centre of the Site close to the Thornton Burn, along the Dry Burn corridor and the south-west of the Site. Arable fields and improved grassland, which form the majority of the Site, are largely suboptimal for reptiles with suitable habitat confined to the field margins in these areas.

5.2.4.6     Great crested newt

The desk study found records of great crested newt within 3.8 km of the Site. There are six waterbodies within the study area that would be suitable for amphibians, including ponds formed from the Kames Well (TN27) which lies 300 m south-west of the Site boundary, the Ogle Burn (TN28) which lies 315 m south of the Site boundary, the Skateraw burn (TN29) which lies within the northern reaches of the Site and three ponds within the Viridor site (TN30-32), outwith the north-west Site boundary.

Kames Well is surrounded by a mix of scattered scrub with dense areas of gorse to the north side. The terrestrial habitat for great crested newt in this area of the Site is good and it allows covered commuting access to other waterbodies such as the drainage pond fed by the Ogle Burn to the east.

The drainage pond off of the Ogle Burn is surrounded by rough grassland, a stone wall to the west, woodland to the east and scrub habitat.  These habitats provide suitable foraging, commuting and refugia habitat.

The small waterbody of the Skateraw burn lies within an area of woodland, is completely shaded and has no suitable aquatic vegetation.

Two waterbodies within the Viridor site, could be viewed from a distance and appear to be situated within rough grassland, surrounded by scattered gorse scrub. This is likely to provide good terrestrial habitat.

An HSI assessment of the accessible waterbodies was conducted, the results of which are detailed fully in Annex E. In summary, Kames Well scored 0.71 (Good) and the waterbody fed by the Ogle Burn scored 0.78 (Good). The waterbody fed by the Skateraw Burn scored 0.46 (Poor). The waterbodies within the Viridor site could not be accessed to complete the HSI assessment.

5.2.4.7     Other Amphibians

The desk study found records of common frog and common toad within 1.1 km of the Site.  No incidental evidence of amphibian species were recorded during the survey. The waterbodies described above in 5.2.3.5 would also support other amphibian species. Rough grassland, woodland and scrub vegetation adjacent to watercourses within the Site were also considered to provide good refugia and foraging habitat for amphibians.

5.2.4.8     Breeding Birds

Habitats within the Site including woodland, tree lines, scrub, arable fields and grasslands provide high quality foraging and breeding habitat for a variety of farmland bird species. Sand martin (Riparia riparia) burrows were found along the sandy banks of Branxton burn (TN53).

Habitats within the Site such as the arable land to the north of the A1 trunk road were observed to be in use by pink-footed geese for feeding and loafing. This species is a qualifying interest of both the Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA and Firth of Forth SPA.  

5.2.4.9     Fisheries

Due to the presence of substantial weirs on Thornton Burn, Dry Burn and Bilsdean Burn, migration of fish upstream is considered unlikely. Therefore fish are not considered further.