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We are lucky
enough to live in a biologically rich and diverse area of the
countryside.
Swinford and its
surrounding countryside offers a home to a wide variety of
species of bird, mammal and reptile, including some highly
protected species such as the Great Crested Newt, Hobby, and
several species of bat.
The Great Crested
Newt is a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981, and with the increasing pressure of
development activity in England its natural habitat is being
gradually eroded away. Therefore it is essential to protect
both the species itself and its habitat. It is now an offence
to intentionally kill, injure or take a Great Crested Newt, or
intentionally or recklessly disturb a Great Crested Newt
whilst it occupies a structure or place which it uses for that
purpose. The Swinford wind farm site is recognised to carry a
significant population of newts.
There are also
plenty of other animals to consider. For example, badgers,
brown hare and deer all reside in the area and enjoy the
existing landscape as their home. Some are protected species
and some are not.
A guidance document
issued by English Nature and the RSPB amongst other bodies
entitled ‘Wind farm development and nature conservation’ asks
that “where wind farms are proposed their development should
not contravene the protective measures that apply to Schedule
1 birds, Schedule 5 animals and Schedule 8 plants”.
Therefore, SSWFAG is
greatly concerned about the potential effect the proposed wind
farm may have on the habitats, mortality and activities of our
local species, both those that are protected by law and those
that are not.
Birds
Swinford and the
surrounding area hosts many interesting and nationally
important species both resident and migrant, and as such
deserves greater respect than Nuon have offered in their EIA.
There are a number of key species breeding here which are not
mentioned in Nuon’s Environmental Impact Assessment, including
Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and Barn Owl. This
Spring Stanford Reservoir was visited by an Icterine Warbler,
the first record of this bird ever in Leicestershire. Such
‘rarity’ records show the importance of this location in terms
of habitat and biodiversity. The proposed development could
destroy a vast tract of migratory flyway and put a number of
species at risk, including the Hobby, which Nuon could not
ignore in their EIA because sightings of this threatened
raptor are so numerous here.
We are fortunate to
have such a rich and flourishing landscape on our doorstep,
and it is our duty to protect it, which is why we have gone to
such lengths to ensure the valid argument against a wind farm
development of this magnitude in this type of sensitive
location is fully presented to decision makers and the public
at large.
Recent Sightings:
On the 21 June 2008
an Osprey flew over Stanford Reservoir carrying a large fish.
This was seen by all members of the Ringing Group including
SSWFAG supporter, Kathy (the first time she’d ever seen one!).
To see an Osprey in the area is certain evidence of its
ornithological importance and, along with Hobby, Woodcock, and
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (the two latter species cited by the
British Trust for Ornithology as being ‘scarce species’ in
recent literature) would surely confirm that this site
warrants far more environmental consideration than has been
granted it by Nuon.
Bats
Bats are at risk
from wind turbines, researchers have found, because the
rotating blades produce a change in air pressure that can kill
the mammals.
-
read this article on the BBC web site
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