Our ref:   P18-145 Birchover Quarry meeting notes letter Your ref:  


 
25 October 2018 


 
Nigel Morton Birchover Stone Ltd BY EMAIL ONLY 

 
 Dear Nigel 

## Re:  **Birchover Quarry Pdnpa Site Meeting Notes**

Further to your meeting with Brian Armstrong (representing BSG Ecology), Chris Drury (Senior Minerals Planner) and Hazel Crowther (Ecologist) both of Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA), please see a summary note of relevant ecology matters and actions discussed and agreed below. This note has been prepared by Brian and further to discussion with you after the meeting, Brian has added some additional detail against the actions (indicated by square brackets) to help guide effective delivery of the actions. Please also see attached annotated plans that refer to Areas 1 -3 in the text below. These notes are suitable for sharing with PDNPA if you are happy with the content and PDNPA can advise of any additions/amendments as necessary. There will then be a record of the meeting and further items agreed post meeting.  
Eastern Field: Heather seed (to be sourced from Geoff Eyre) to be sown/broadcast onto the areas where there is some bare soil following the final cut of the year. The approximate areas are shown on the attached plan (extracted from B426); ACTION NM to brief contractor undertaking seed sowing with respect to the ground to be targeted or seek further ecologist input if required. The grass cut sward height in 2019 is to be increased to 10cm to give any heather germination chance to establish. The 
10cm sward height cut will be implemented across the whole of the eastern field to avoid complicating the management regime. ACTION: NM to make arrangements with Legacy ref cut height and Legacy or other contractor ref heather seed sowing. 

Acid grassland area: (annotated '1' on the attached B433 plan), restoration aim to be refocused as natural regeneration given the degree of birch colonisation, its small size and the surrounding woodland which is seeding into it. It was also discussed that the uneven nature of the area and number of rocks within it has meant that machine cutting of the grassland has not been practical, and that this was something to bear in mind for restoration of future areas. Birch regeneration is to be thinned in patches [over a total of 1/3 of the area] by use of herbicide to encourage woodland development. Herbicide treatment of buddleja is to also be undertaken at the same time. [Two oak and three rowan trees (species as per 2015 management scheme) are to be planted within this area]. 

ACTION NM to organise this with the relevant landscape contractor as soon as possible depending on their availability. 

Tree planting on slope: (annotated '2' on attached B433 plan), to be restored to woodland creation 
(rather than heathland with groups of trees) as this better lends itself to the slope angle and future management restrictions. To this end, it will be hydro seeded with acid grassland seed mix to help stabilise the slope and planted with the woodland tree species mix as per 2015 management scheme. 

ACTION NM to organise with landscape contractor as soon as possible following any changes to the contours of the slope (this may be the early part of 2019). 

Heathland creation area: (annotated '3' on the attached B433 plan), to be prepared for sowing such that machine access for cutting/maintenance would be possible, if required, in the future and sown with heather following the methodology set out in 2015 management scheme. ACTION NM to organise with quarry and landscape contractor as soon as possible (which may be the early part of 2019 depending on their availability). ACTION NM to update plan B433 to reflect the above (and any changes to contours) and make a submission to the MPA as required. ACTION: 2019 progress reporting for Birchover Quarry to reflect the above work. If you have any queries in relation to the above, please give me a call. 

Yours sincerely 
 
Kirsty Kirkham Partner For and on behalf of BSG Ecology Approximate areas for heather sowing in Eastern Field shown by red shading discussed at site meeting 23/10/18 
 
Annotated B433 plan to show habitat areas discussed at site meeting 23/10/18 
1: natural regeneration, 2: woodland planting, 3: heathland creation.