Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Table 11.17 Potential Unmitigated Effects and Associated Level of Effects of
Development Establishment on Terrestrial Habitats
Habitat Type Sensitivity Magnitude Level of Effect (and Significance)
Coniferous plantation woodland Low Large Moderate or Slight (not significant)
Broadleaved woodland Low Negligible Negligible (not significant)
Wet modified bog High Small Slight (not significant)
Marshy grassland Low Negligible Negligible(not significant)
Semi-improved acid grassland Low Negligible Negligible(not significant)
Watercourses Low Negligible Negligible(not significant)
11.6.19 The potential effects on the hydrology of the site, are dealt with in Chapter 13: Hydrology,
Hydrogeology and Ground Conditions.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation for Terrestrial Protected Species
11.6.20 The development will not result in the loss of large areas of habitat for the majority of the
protected species detected on the site. The site contains sub-optimal foraging habitat for
otter and badger. The loss of coniferous plantation on site may improve the foraging habitat
for otters on site by providing a larger diversity of habitats in proximity to the water courses.
11.6.21 Where keyhole felling is employed, this will increase the area of forest edge which may
enhance the potential for foraging bats on site.
11.6.22 Where keyhole felling is undertaken around the turbine locations, a buffer of 50 m from the
proposed rotor blade tips to any feature used by bats has been employed (Appendix 11.5).
Relevant habitat features are: forestry and woodland canopy edges, water courses, and
ponds. Given the dimensions of the proposed turbines, the calculated minimum
recommended distance between feature and turbine base is 86 m, based on a 25 m
maximum tree height. This is in line with Natural England’s ‘Guidance on Bats and Onshore
Wind Turbines’ document (2009). It is also recommended that habitats close to turbines
should be managed to minimise its attractiveness to foraging bats, see mitigation and
enhancement measures. No significant bat commuting routes were detected on the site and
as such any impact due to fragmentation and habitat loss for commuting bats is likely to be
negligible. No roosts were found within 500 m of any proposed turbine location, thus the
development will have negligible effect upon local populations of roosting bats.
11.6.23 The potential effect of habitat loss and fragmentation on terrestrial species is assessed in
Table 11.18 below.
March 2013 11-34 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©