Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Badger
Legal Protection
11.3.67 The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 provides full legal protection to badgers. In Scotland,
this legislation was updated by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. SNH interprets
the legislation in such a way that any sett within an active badger territory is afforded legal
protection, whether it shows signs of recent use or not. This species is also listed on the
Scottish Biodiversity List.
Desk Study
11.3.68 Records provided on the NBN gateway database show that badgers were recorded within
10km from the site between 1969-1994. The Scottish Badger Group provided records of
badger traffic victims along the A70 within 2 km of the site. Information on badger setts was
also received from SNH, indicating the presence of two historical setts (latest information
2002 and 2006 respectively) in the area. These details are provided in the Protected Species
Confidential Appendix.
Field Survey Results
11.3.69 During the survey conducted on 4 May 2012, three active setts were found within the survey
boundary. Locations of these can be found in the Protected Species Confidential Appendix.
11.3.70 Sett A is an active annex sett, with four active entrances and three disused entrances. Two
of the active entrances were large and well worn with moderate sized spoil heaps, fresh
bedding and a latrine was found next to them. There were quite obvious paths between the
four active entrances leading to a main sett (sett C) approximately 50 m away.
11.3.71 Sett B is a large active main sett. There are 13 entrances in total. Eleven are well used
entrances, with large spoil heaps covered in old bedding material. Worn paths connect the
entrances and lead away from the sett in four directions, including towards the annex sett.
One entrance is part used and one entrance is disused due to being filled in with logs and
large stones some time ago. There was a strong badger smell coming from a number of
larger holes, but no latrine was found. Snuffle holes were found all over the hill the sett is on.
11.3.72 Sett C has four part-used sett entrances. One is very large with a large spoil heap in a large
crater in the ground. All four entrances are partly worn but there are no signs of recent use.
Wind fall covered most of the area making access to and around the entrances difficult. It is
possible that there may be other entrances under the windfall. All holes are connected by
lightly worn paths.
Pine Marten
Legal Protection
11.3.73 Pine marten are protected through Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as
amended). Any development works which could affect pine marten may require a licence to
legally proceed. This species is further highlighted as a priority species within the UKBAP.
Desk Study
11.3.74 NBN and The Wildlife Information Centre hold no records of pine marten within the ecology
data search area.
March 2013 11-25 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
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