dunsland cross windfarm
Ecology
A comprehensive program of ecological surveys has been carried out at the site between December 2006 and June 2008. The site is located in the Culm Natural Area and comprises predominantly pasture farmland. The interior of the site has no hedges or banks and is segregated into fields by wire fences. The site perimeter comprises tall, bushy species-rich hedges with trees and lengths of woodland edge.
The site was evaluated for its potential to support protected species. This evaluation excluded the likelihood of water vole and great crested newt occurring on site based on habitat quality and regional distribution of these taxa. Surveys were then conducted to establish the presence and distribution of other protected mammals known to occur, including bats, dormice, badgers, otters and birds.
Bat surveys were undertaken throughout summer and autumn 2007, and spring and summer 2008. At least five bat species using the site were recorded but no roosts were identified within the site. Mitigation to minimise collision risk to bats is likely to involve measures to reduce the likelihood of bats foraging in areas surrounding turbines (e.g. locating turbines away from hedges and woodland and appropriate management regimes).
Dormice were found within the hedges bordering the north and west of the site, and thus may also occasionally occur throughout the hedges and woodland to the east and south. Severance of the western hedge for a new access to the site is likely to impact this species, and mitigation will incorporate measures to avoid harming dormice and to retain connectivity between the two sections of hedge.
There is very limited habitat suitable for otters on site and no field signs of this species were found, although their transient presence cannot be ruled out in ditches along the perimeter hedges. A badger was recorded during bat surveys and a probable disused sett found in one location. However, the site will be re-surveyed for badger setts prior to construction. If setts are found, potentially disturbing activities during construction will be licensed as necessary and appropriately mitigated.
The site was not found to contain nest sites for breeding birds listed in Annex I (EU Birds Directive) or Schedule 1 (Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981), although barn owl and nightjar forage on site and a number of other specially protected species forage on site during the non breeding season. Breeding species of high conservation importance recorded include skylark, song thrush, spotted flycatcher, marsh tit, linnet and bullfinch. Observations of target species of were very infrequent and collision risk to these species is considered to be not significant.
