Biodiversity @ ICL Boulby
For over a decade ICL Boulby has worked with the Industry Nature Conservation Association (INCA) in monitoring and managing the wildlife which lives in close proximity to the mine. Key to this process is the Site Biodiversity Action Plan (Site BAP) operated by ICL Boulby within its operational area. The site BAP is designed to conserve the key habitats and species which live at the site, and is assisted by INCA annually. In 2018, as part of the ecological survey work by INCA, the key elements were bat hibernation roost check, breeding bird survey of Mines Wood and a reptile survey.
Breeding Birds
As part of the Biodiversity Action Plan for the ICL Boulby site INCA staff undertook a breeding bird survey (three visits) of approximately 36ha of non-operational land in the spring of 2018.
A total of 25 species were recorded as confirmed/probable or possible breeding birds in the survey area. The maximum total number of breeding pairs was 147, of which 71 assigned to the “confirmed/probable” category. Three species (Marsh Tit, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush) are red-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 4, while a further four species (Bullfinch, Dunnock, Tawny Owl and Willow Warbler) are amber-listed.
In addition, a further five species were noted within the survey area but were not thought to have bred there. These comprised Grey Wagtail, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Jay and House Martin.
25 species of breeding birds have been located at ICL Boulby
Bats
No bats were observed anywhere in the tunnel, including the bat boxes, during the annual check of bat hibernation roost in Mines Wood. The winter of 2017/2018 was one of the coldest within the last 10 years, so it is possible that overwintering bats were hibernating in less exposed areas of the tunnel within the stonework. There were incidental records of Brown Long-eared Bat in Mines Wood during the late summer of 2018, as well as one sighting in mid November.
Reptiles
INCA had already determined that a significant Slow-worm population existed in the central part of the woods, but the 2018 study sought to ascertain more detail about the wider distribution of this animal in the location, particularly around the northern margin of Mines Wood where it interfaces with the grassland and scrub bordering the operational part of the mine site.
A total of 52 Slow-worms were found during the course of the work and they were seen in almost all of the areas studied, except open arable areas where the habitat is less suitable. The data from 2018 suggest, in addition to the existing data from INCA from other parts of the site, that Slow-worm is prolific across the site.
There are more than 200 moth species, as well as 20 species of butterflies, at ICL Boulby
