Correspondence

Annex B: Provisions relating to licensed actions on or around protected sites in Gloucestershire

Published 15 May 2020

Applies to England

Licence annex B: provisions relating to licensed actions on or around special areas of conservation (SACs), special protection areas (SPAs), sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), and/or ramsar sites within the county of Gloucestershire.

SSSI name	European Designated Site name (where applicable)	Licence condition
Alderton Hill Quarry		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Ashleworth Ham		No access from 1 March to 1 August and from 19th October to 1 March. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Astridge Wood SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of rhododendron or conifer plantation.
Aust Cliff SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Badgeworth		All vehicles and people must be restricted to existing tracks.
Barnsley Warren		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Barton Bushes		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Bigsweir Woods SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Blaisdon Hall SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 15 April to 15 October.
Bourton Down		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Box Farm Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Boxwell		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Brassey Reserve and Windrush Valley		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Brooks Head Grove SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to the woodland area of the SSSI only. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows.
Buckshraft Mine and Bradley Hill Railway Tunnel SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 15 April.
Bull Cross, The Frith and Juniper Hill		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Bushley Muzzard, Brimpsfield		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit		No additional conditions imposed.
Caerwood and Ashbuerry Goose House SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	No licensed activities from 15 April to 15 October.
Chaceley Meadow		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Clarke’s Pool Meadow		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Cleeve Common		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Coaley Wood Quarries		No additional conditions imposed.
Cockleford Marsh		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Collinpark Wood		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Coombe Hill		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Coombe Hill Canal		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Cotswold Commons and Beechwoods	Cotswold Beechwoods SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Sensitive areas within fenced enclosures to be excluded.
Cotswold Water Park		No additional conditions imposed.
Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Daneway Banks		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Dean Hall Coach House and Cellar SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 15 April to 15 October.
Devil’s Chapel Scowles SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 15 April.
Dingle Wood SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of rhododendron or conifer plantation.
Dixton Wood		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Within any sett footprint, decaying wood must be moved intact and no further than is necessary to enable suitable trap placement.
Dymock Woods		No licensed activities from 1 March to 31 July to avoid bird breeding season. All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks.
Easter Park Farm Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Edge Common		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Edgehills Quarry SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Elmlea Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Foss Cross Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Frampton Pools		No licensed activities from 1 March to 31 August to avoid bird breeding season. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. No licensed activities from 1 September to 31 March in, immediately adjacent to, nor across any large waterbody nor intertidal habitat. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Garden Cliff		No additional conditions imposed.
Hampen Railway Cutting		No additional conditions imposed.
Haresfield Beacon		No additional conditions imposed.
Harford Railway Cutting		No additional conditions imposed.
Highbury Wood SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint within woodland or conifer areas. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows.
Hobb’s Quarry, Longhope SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Hornsleasow Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Hornsleasow Roughs		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Hucclecote Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Huntsman’s Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Innsworth Meadow		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Jackdaw Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Juniper Hill, Edgeworth		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Kemble Railway Cuttings		No additional conditions imposed.
Kempley Daffodil Meadow		No access until after mid-July. All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. No cage traps to be dug in, on the site.
Kingscote and Horsley Woods		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Knap House Quarry, Birdlip		No additional conditions imposed.
Land Grove Quarry, Mitcheldean SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Lark Wood		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Lineover Wood		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Longhope Hill SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Lower Wye Gorge SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Exclude the littoral sediment and supralittoral sediment and shingle zones. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint within woodland or conifer areas. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows.
Lydney Cliff		No additional conditions imposed.
May Hill		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Meezy Hurst SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Midger		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Minchinhampton Common		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or on improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Nagshead SSSI		No access from 1 March to 1 July to avoid bird breeding season. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
New Park Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Nibley Knoll		No additional conditions imposed.
Notgrove Railway Cutting		No additional conditions imposed.
Oakenhill Railway Cutting SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Old Bow and Old Ham Mines SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 15 April.
Old River Severn, Upper Lode		No licensed activities from 1 March to 31 August to avoid bird breeding season. All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Except on existing tracks, no vehicle use nor placing traps alongside any watercourses or waterbodies, nor within any wet area, fen, bog or mire. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Oridge Street Meadows SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Pennsylvania Fields, Sedbury SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub. No access to nor activities within any intertidal or saltmarsh habitat.
Pike Corner		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Poor’s Allotment SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Puckham Woods		All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Puddlebrook Quarry SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Purton Passage		No additional conditions imposed.
Range Farm Fields		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
River Wye	River Wye SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Any decaying wood located within the sett footprint is to be left in situ if possible. If decaying wood must be moved then it should be moved no further than is necessary. No use of any cage trap within 100m of any watercourse and avoid placing any cage trap in any marshy, reed-bed, riparian or other type of wet habitat. Do not dig in any cage traps for one hour either side (i.e. 2 hours) of sunset and sunrise [Note. the setting open of traps to catch during these periods is permitted]. Do not use any fish- based bait.
Robin’s Wood Hill Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Rodborough Common	Rodborough Common SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Rough Bank, Miserden		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Salmonsbury Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Scully Grove Quarry SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Selsley Common		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Severn Estuary	Severn Estuary Ramsar Severn Estuary SPA Severn Estuary/ Môr Hafren SAC	No access to nor activities within any intertidal or saltmarsh habitat. Except for vehicle use on existing roads and tracks, no access or licensed activities within 200 metres of any intertidal, saltmarsh, fen, reed-bed or grazing marsh habitats and/or any established high tide roosts.
Severn Ham, Tewkesbury		No licensed activities from 1 March to 31 August to avoid bird breeding season. All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. No cage traps to be dug in, on the site. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Shorn Cliff and Caswell Woods SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint within the conifer area. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows. Delay access until after hay-cut, mid-July.
Slade Brook SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Soudley Ponds SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Avoid placing traps alongside watercourses or pools and not within wet areas, fens, bogs and mires. Any decaying wood located within the sett footprint is to be left in situ if possible. If decaying wood must be moved then it should be moved no further than is necessary.
Speech House Oaks SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Stenders Quarry SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.
Stinchcombe Hill		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint.
Stony Furlong Railway Cutting		No additional conditions imposed.
Strawberry Banks		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Swanpool Wood and Furnace Grove SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of rhododendron or conifer plantation.
Swift’s Hill		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Sylvan House Barn SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	No licensed activities from 15 April to 15 October.
The Hudnalls SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of the conifer plantation. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows. Delay access until after hay-cut, mid-July.
The Malvern Hills SSSI		Avoid woodland areas. No access from 1 March to 31 July and from 1 October to 15 April. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Any decaying wood located within the sett footprint is to be left in situ if possible. If decaying wood must be moved then it should be moved no further than is necessary.
Tudor Farm Bank SSSI		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or improved/ semi-improved grassland/scrub areas
Turvey’s Piece		Exclude SSSI
Upham Meadow and Summer Leasow		No licensed activities from 1 March to 31 August to avoid bird breeding season. No licensed activities from 1 September to 31 March in, immediately adjacent to, nor across any large waterbody nor intertidal habitat. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Upper Severn Estuary	Severn Estuary Ramsar Severn Estuary SPA Severn Estuary/ Môr Hafren SAC	Exclude SSSI from all activities (shooting, trapping and vehicle use). Except for vehicle use on existing roads and tracks, no access or licensed activities within 200 metres of any intertidal, saltmarsh, fen, reed-bed or grazing marsh habitats and/or any established high tide roosts. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Upper Wye Gorge SSSI	Wye Valley Woodlands SAC	No access from 1 March to 31 July and from 1 October to 15 April. Avoid woodland areas. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Exclude the littoral sediment and supralittoral sediment and shingle zones. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Any decaying wood located within the sett footprint is to be left in situ if possible. If decaying wood must be moved then it should be moved no further than is necessary. The licensee must assist Natural England with the gathering of information on fox control taking place on, and in the vicinity of, this SSSI (see Notes A and B).
Veizey’s Quarry, Tetbury		No additional conditions imposed.
Wainlode Cliff		No additional conditions imposed.
Walmore Common	Walmore Common Ramsar, Walmore Common SPA	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 31 March. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Only cross ditches at crossing points. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub. Except for vehicle use on existing roads and tracks, no access or licensed activities within 200 metres of any high tide roost, intertidal, saltmarsh, fen, reed-bed or grazing marsh habitats.
Wellacre Quarry		No additional conditions imposed.
Westbury Brook Ironstone Mine SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 15 April.
Whelford Meadow		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Wigpool Ironstone Mine SSSI	Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Bat Sites SAC	Exclude SSSI from 1 October to 15 April.
Wildmoorway Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July.
Winson Meadows		All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub.
Wood Green Quarry and Railway Cutting SSSI		No additional conditions imposed.

Notes to Annex B

General note on interpretation

Protected sites that are listed above are not necessarily part of any active operations. Active operations can and will only occur on protected sites where landowner/occupier permission has been granted.

Within the licence conditions, use of the word ‘avoid’ denotes a prohibition, i.e. it indicates that an area must be excluded from relevant activities or that activities must not be undertaken during the time period stated or in the manner described. Similarly, the word ‘restrict’ means that activities must be confined to the areas or time periods stated.

For further details on each protected site and its notified features of special interest and/or European Site qualifying features please enter the site name into the following link: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteSearch.aspx.

Individual notes

Note A

Natural England will inform the licensee from time to time of the information it requires. This is likely to focus on whether fox control is routinely undertaken on the relevant site and/or on areas of participating land within a few kilometres of the site. The licensee is expected to use reasonable endeavours to assist Natural England with the gathering of this information.

Note B

Natural England may form the judgment that measures should be introduced to secure the protection of species associated with this site, such as fox control, anti-predator fencing, habitat management, or buffer zones in which badger control is not undertaken. Such measures may be secured through cooperation between licensees, landowners, occupiers, and/or public bodies. If it considers it necessary to do so, Natural England may: exercise its powers under sections 28J-K of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 or regulation 20 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017; and/or revoke and re-issue this licence with revised terms (provided that such terms will be reasonable and proportionate in all of the circumstances).

Note W

European protected species are listed in Schedule 2 (animals) and Schedule 5 (plants) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Nationally protected species are listed in Schedule 5 (animals) and Schedule 8 (plants) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Under these laws (regulations 43 and 47 of the 2017 Regulations and sections 9 and 13 of the 1981 Act), it can be an offence to:

• deliberately capture, injure or kill any wild animal of a European protected species
• intentionally kill, injure or take a nationally protected wild animal
• deliberately disturb wild animals of any European protected species
• intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy any structure or place which a nationally protected animal uses for shelter or protection, disturb such an animal while it is occupying such a structure or place, or obstruct access to any such structure or place
• damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of any wild animal of a European protected species
• deliberately take or destroy the eggs of any wild animal of a European protected species
• deliberately pick, collect, cut, uproot or destroy a wild plant of a European protected species
• intentionally pick, uproot or destroy any nationally protected wild plant

Great crested newt, otter, dormouse, and sand lizard are European and nationally protected species.

Note Y

All birds, their eggs and nests (while in use or under construction) are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This licence does not allow you to take or destroy such nests. Birds species listed under Schedule 1 of that Act have additional legal protection so care must be taken to avoid their disturbance during the breeding season.

Note Z

All bats and their roosts (even when not occupied by bats) are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and by The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. This licence does not allow you to enter or obstruct any bat roost, nor to disturb any bat whilst it is occupying a roost. Care must be taken to avoid sustained human presence near, or artificial illumination of cracks and cavities in trees and man-made structures, and of any mounted boxes. | Woodchester Park | | Exclude area immediately around bat roost within Unit 1 from 15 April to 15 October. All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint or areas of scrub. | | Wotton Hill | | All vehicles must be restricted to existing surfaced tracks. Limit location of traps to the woodland area of the SSSI only and ideally in the conifer area. Traps should only be dug in, on boundary edges in these areas, such as hedgerows. Avoid Unit 2. | | Yarley Meadows | | All vehicles must be restricted to existing tracks. Limit location of traps to existing sett footprint. Delay access until after hay cut, mid-July. |