Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Soils and Peat
13.3.30 The Soil Survey of Scotland map indicates that the site soils are dominated by peaty gleys of
the Rowanhill soil association with the parent materials comprising drift deposits from
Carboniferous geologies (sandstone, shale and limestone). The vegetation and landscapes
characterised by the Rowanhill association include blanket bog and heather moorlands.
13.3.31 In addition to the Rowanhill association, in the far southeast of the site the Humbie/Biel
association extends onto the site from the southeast. This association comprises a mix of
peaty gleys, humic gleys, peaty podzols and peat with parent materials consisting of drifts
derived from Lower Carboniferous geologies. The landscapes and vegetation characterised
by the Humbie/Biel association are dominated by bog, blanket bog and moist heather
moorland. Details of the soil types at the site are included in Table 13.12.
Table 13.12 Soil Types
Map
unit
Soil
association
Component
soils
Parent material Landforms Vegetation
470 Humbie / Biel Peaty gleys,
humic gleys,
some peaty
podzols and
peat
Drifts derived
from Lower
Carboniferous
and Upper Old
Red Sandstone
sediments and
lavas
Undulating
lowlands and
uplands with
gentle and
strong slopes
Moist Atlantic
heather moor;
rush pastures
and sedge
mires; blanket
bog
450 Rowanhill Peaty Gleys
(very poorly
drained)
450 Rowanhill Peaty Gleys
(poorly drained)
Drifts derived
from
Carboniferous
sandstones,
shales and
limestones
Undulating
foothills with
gentle and
strong slopes
Blanket bog;
moist Atlantic
heather moor
13.3.32 Initial peat assessments and depth surveys were undertaken at the feasibility stage and
during the initial design stages. Surveys were undertaken in December 2011, March 2012
and September 2012 by RPS staff and included a survey of peat depth using probing.
13.3.33 A detailed map of peat depth for deposits of peat located within the site is included in Figure
TA13.2.5 in Appendix 13.2. The peat within the site is deep towards the centre of the site,
north of the Crosswood Burn. In this area the maximum peat depth is approximately 7 m. In
other areas of the site the peat depth is generally much shallower or absent with depths
varying between 0 and 3 m approximately. Areas with no peat or peat shallower than 1 m
account for almost 60 % of the site area. The distribution of peat depths within the surveyed
areas is shown in Table 13.13 below.
March 2013
13-14
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Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Ground Conditions