DESCRIPCIÒN DE LOS DAÑOS MÀS COMUNES

The site was originally used for agricultural purposes until the 20^th century when the extraction of the mineral clay from the ground begun to depths of about 25-30m (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005a).

This was through the weathered Oxford Clay (Callow) and into the unweathered Oxford clay (Knotts).

The clay was used for brick making with the brickworks (London Brick Company) located on site;

planning and restoration conditions for continuation of this activity in 1981 were for the filling of the excavated areas. Landfilling of waste therefore commenced in 1983 in accordance with those provisions, but further planning applications resulted in more clay being extracted from un-worked land in 1998. The main activities of the landfill site were waste disposal, leachate collection and re-circulation, and landfill gas collection and electricity generation. Landfilling ceased in 2008 with a programme of restoration works to follow. The site is approximately 194 hectares with an average elevation of 55m AOD. Clay extractions throughout the area have consequently created a distinctive local character.

182 7.5.3 Proposed Development

A programme of planting and maintenance, along with aftercare and management of the restored site were conditions of the agreement for landfilling. A policy of the Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals and Waste Local Plan states that “all minerals and waste proposals in the Marston vale should contribute to the improvements of the environment of the vale” (Watts, 2008), which shows the consideration of the environment is important to the area. The site will be restored to post-settlement levels through phasing, soil handling and landscaping schemes. In the interests of nature conservation there will be a mixture of restoration habitats created including species-rich meadows, extensive sections of woodland, woodland rides, hedgerows, grazing land and reed bed and marginal aquatic habitats (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005a) as shown in figure 7.11 The development will contribute to the Marston Vale community forest, an environmental regeneration programme in the Bedfordshire region to improve the landscape, wildlife and recreational aspects of the region.

Around the edge of the site balancing lagoons will also be established as part of the overall proposed restoration scheme to further enhance the wildlife aspect of the site.

Figure 7.11 Brogborough Proposed Development (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2004) (Solely use key to inspect image detail)

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184 7.5.4 Soils and Geology

Soilscapes (NSRI, No date) has identified the area the site falls within as having slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils, as shown in figure 7.12. As discussed the site was used for clay extraction.

Figure 7.12 Brogborough Soilscapes Map (NSRI, No date)

The underlying geology is unlikely to affect the plantings proposed for the site, as an engineered cap of clay material will be used to isolate the landfill material from the restoration works. The developers state they have most of the capping and restoration material (approx 1.6 million cubic metres) available on site, but a further 200,000m³ of soil would need to be imported (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2008).

The restoration cap is placed over the engineering cap and provides a growing medium for the restorative planting works planned for the site. This layer will be 1.0m in depth, or 1.5m where the woodland and hedges are to be planted. The heavy texture of the clay will provide adequate soil moisture for the sites intentions and with the incorporation of bio-solids to improve soil quality, vegetation can establish and grow (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2008).

185 7.5.5 Ecology

Using the format for EQ as a model example, the ecological context, i.e. the surrounding landscape, county BAP and NCA would typically influence the choice of planting at Brogborough landfill site, as per EQ. They are therefore not discussed in relation to the landfill site, as they only inform the proposed planting design specified in this section.

The landscape surrounding the site and the sites position within the Marston Vale Community Forest area are acknowledged in the restoration scheme. The ash-maple-oak composition of the adjacent woodlands will be reflected in the sites woodland structure, although it is envisaged that the species mix of these woodlands will influence any future colonisations of the site (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005c).

Central to planning is that the ecology of the area is enhanced, and brings connection to the current fragmented landscape of the Vale, thus improving the nature conservation value of the area (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005b).

There are two important nature conservation areas nearby to the landfill site – Marston Thrift Nature Reserve, a SSSI, and Holcot Wood – an ancient semi-natural woodland. Marston Thrift is an oak-ash-maple woodland, a habitat which has limited cover in Bedfordshire and generally over its natural range in lowland England. It also supports the only colony in Bedfordshire of a nationally rare butterfly species – the Black Hairstreak butterfly (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005c). This butterfly is in decline in the UK owing to its dependency on Blackthorn that is managed on a long coppice cycle, but Blackthorn is more often managed on a short coppice cycle. The spinney woodland already existing on the landfill site will therefore be kept, as well as there being a new area of scrub planting with a high blackthorn content to ensure the provision of suitable habitat to maximise the chance of colonisation by the butterfly; this will enhance the value of the site.

Holcot Wood is mature deciduous woodland, 23ha in size, with damp ash-field maple habitat which has developed on heavy boulder clay (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005c). The environmental statement states that there will be no direct impact upon the SSSI or Holcot Wood from the proposed development. Noise and dust impact on ecological receptors outside of the site will be mitigated for.

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As the landscape is currently of low ecological quality, the restoration plans for the site and peripheral areas seeks to enhance the quality and extent of the existing habitats present, along with a more diverse array of habitats including creation of (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005c):

 New standing water and wetland habitats, which will develop and benefit dragonfly and amphibian communities

 A flower rich grassland which will attract invertebrates including butterflies

 90ha of broad-leaved native woodland with rides and glades on the landfill, along with 30ha of species-rich meadow. Species-rich meadows have declined greatly over the last 50 years so this creation will contribute to enhancing the coverage of the habitat, as well as improving the ecological value of the area.

The restoration programme also entails formation of a wildlife corridor of continuous woodland and scrub habitats between Holcot Wood and Marston Thrift SSSI, which will benefit small mammals and birds, as well as increase the wildlife diversity in the area over time (Waste Recycling Group Ltd, 2005c). The extensive consideration of biodiversity in the planning conditions exemplify that Central Beds council were undertaking their duty for biodiversity and enhancing it where possible.

Restoration schemes like that of Brogborough landfill is an exemplar of good practice.

The habitat proposals for Brogborough landfill would be taken into consideration when creating species lists suitable for the future climate at the site. By following the original landscape design, those features which are important to the site/local area can be maintained when developing the new assemblages.

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