Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Phase 1 Habitat
Survey Area
Covered (Ha)
Area of Site
Covered (Ha)*
% of Site
Covered (Ha)
Cultivated/disturbed land - amenity grassland 2.01 - -
Bare ground 1.21 - -
Other habitat 0.87 - -
Road 7.44 0.12 0.07
Total 766.27 171.82 100.00
*includes entire site as covered by red line boundary, not just area covered by proposed wind farm
Coniferous Plantation Woodland
11.3.10 The survey area and site is dominated by coniferous plantation woodland containing a mix of
different aged stands. The predominant species within the survey area are Sitka spruce
(Picea sitchensis) and lodge-pole pine (Pinus contorta), with occasional stands of Scot’s pine
(Pinus sylvestris).
11.3.11 Several areas have been recently planted as a second rotation crop and the canopy has not
yet reached the thicket stage. Within these areas a number of acid and marshy grassland
species such as wavy hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa), tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia
cespitosa), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), purple moor grass (Molinea caerulea), sheep’s
and red fescue grasses (Festuca ovina/rubra), and sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum
odoratum) have been able to recolonise. The wetter areas, such as the forestry drains, have
been recolonised by rush species including soft rush (Juncus effusus) and sharp-flowered
rush (Juncus acutiflorus).
11.3.12 The forest ride and track systems throughout the survey area consist of a mixture of marshy
grassland and mire habitats dependent on the topography, drainage, and soil type of the
particular area.
Broadleaved Plantation Woodland
11.3.13 As with the coniferous plantation woodland, there are a number of areas within the survey
boundary which have been felled and restocked with broadleaved species such as silver
birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), and
alder (Alnus glutinosa). The majority of these areas are in the north of the site, with the
forestry crop still being relatively young, thus allowing marshy grassland species to coexist
within the broad-leaved crop.
Semi-natural Broadleaved Woodland
11.3.14 Throughout the survey area there are numerous mature and immature broadleaved trees,
including beech (Fagus sylvatica), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), alder, silver birch,
downy birch, ash (Fraxinus excelsior), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), penduculate oak
(Quercus robur), and rowan.
Grassland and Field Boundaries
11.3.15 The south of the survey area is dominated by areas of marshy grassland interspersed with
areas of semi-improved acid grassland. The marshy grassland is dominated by tussocks of
soft rush with abundant purple moor grass, and tufted hair-grass between the rush tussocks.
March 2013 11-16 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
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