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Environmental Impact Assessment
Ecology
An ecological assessment has been conducted both on site and in the immediate surroundings in order to identify any areas of ecological interest that may be affected by the potential development of a wind farm.
The assessments focused on those ecological groups most likely to be affected by the development. These include both wintering and summer birds, other birds for which the site is a potential flyway, mammals and vascular plants associated with arable margins. Particular attention is paid to (a) protected animal species such as the badger, (b) Red Data Book (RDB) species and (c) Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species.
A number of mitigation strategies will reduce the ecological impact of the construction and operation of the wind farm. These include:
- Timing of major construction work to avoid disturbance of important species
- During construction, measures will be taken to make the Proposal site safe overnight (by covering open trenches) so as to ensure there are no negative effects on badgers in the vicinity.
- No turbines will be constructed within 25m of the drains and watercourses; therefore the turbines themselves will have no impact on water vole populations.
The effects of disturbance from construction will be limited to one breeding season and is unlikely to have any significant adverse impact on the local populations of these birds in the long-term.
The construction and operation of the wind farm is only likely to result in minor ecological impacts and is outweighed by the benefits a wind farm can deliver
Click here to view the Environmental Statement Documents
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