The Halton Phase-1 Survey:

The last Phase-1 Habitat survey for Halton was carried out in 1998, as part of the Biodiversity Audit of Halton, 1999. This information needs to be updated as part of the overall Borough GIS database. There have also been significant changes to the planning system since the last survey, with a result that the Borough also requires more information than traditionally gained from a Phase-1 Survey. By using the term “Enhanced Phase 1 Habitat Survey”, the project will encompass:

  • Updating the 1998 habitat data. This original survey was a desktop exercise. The brief is to include ground truthing in three main rural areas of the borough, along with collation of existing habitat information from paper based survey’s and other sources for the more urban areas. The output of both tasks will be GIS-based, using Mapinfo software.
  • Selection of key species to be recorded during the ground truthing. These are to taken from the Halton BAP and from the Schedule-74 list in Planning Circular 06/05 (see also PPS 9 page 7). The list will certainly include Skylark, Song Thrush, and some alien species.
  • Analysis of recent species database of around 80,000 Halton records held at RECORD. To include a varied output to include thematic mapping of chosen species, species distribution, wildlife corridor mapping, species hot spots, location of future nature projects, the value of brownfield sites for nature and access to nature mapping.

The project was scheduled for completion by September 2007, involving 2 recording seasons. There is also an on-going monitoring element to the project, as part of the Annual Monitoring Review for the Local Development Scheme.

Species checklist for 2006 Phase-1 Habitat Survey:

  • Bluebell (English / Spanish / hybrid)
  • Orchid species
  • Cuckooflower
  • Skylark
  • Linnet
  • Reed Bunting
  • Tree Sparrow
  • Grey Partridge
  • Bullfinch
  • Song Thrush
  • Water Vole
  • Brown Hare

The work is to be undertaken during 2006 and 2007 partly by RECORD and partly by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, each organisation surveying separate parts of the Borough.

Data and maps for the survey work undertaken by RECORD during 2006 (Hale area, and the area around Runcorn Docks and the chemicals firms down the estuary towards the M56) were delivered to Halton Borough Council for digitisation within their MapInfo GIS system in September 2006. 

RECORD commenced work on the Phase-1 Habitat Survey of the urban areas in Halton in late Spring 2007, concentrating on urban greenspace, parks, gardens, and amenity areas.

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