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  • Published on
    September 30, 2015

    Renewable Energy, Torr Works Wind Farm, Somerset - Expert Witness for Ecology

    Bats Birds Expert Witness Hazel Dormouse Renewable Energy renewable-energy-case-studies

    September 2015

    Picture
    I was asked to appear as an ecological expert witness at a public inquiry for a 4-turbine onshore wind farm development adjacent to Torr Works Quarry in Somerset.
    ​
    ​The main issues related to potential impacts of the wind turbines on bats, birds (peregrine falcon) and dormice.


    ​Bats were the most contentious ecological ​constraint, with the site located next to ancient woodland; a mitigation strategy was developed to prevent or reduce effects on bats. 

    ​While the wind farm appeal was not successful for non-ecological reasons, the mitigation strategy developed was deemed to adequately minimise the risks associated with ecology and ensure that there were no likely significant effects. 
    ​​

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  • Published on
    September 25, 2015

    A night in the Woods with the bats

    huckle-ecology-blog-views-news-and-updates
    Well..... a couple of hours in the evening anyway!

    Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining a band of hardy souls from the Suffolk Bat Group for an evening survey at Holbrook School, south of Ipswich.  I had not been to this location since an ill-fated trip to play rugby in the region of 30 years ago - we were thrashed if I recall correctly.

    This time, the visit was far more rewarding - the school has an enviable position, located adjacent to the Orwell estuary and it looked extremely picturesque as the sunlight faded and the first hints of dusk tempted bats out to forage.

    The bat survey involved recording bat activity at a series of locations around the school grounds - I took up a station within a stand of mature broad-leaved woodland next to an open area of canopy that had been selected well - the woodland edge habitat offering a good prospect for bat foraging, with plenty of insects attracting bats close to and among the trees.

    We were not disappointed - there was a regular passage of common and soprano pipistrelle bats, two very similar species that were until recently considered a single species - but now distinguishable by the frequency at which they echolocate.  However, the undoubted highlight was a single, but unmistakable call of a Nathusius' pipistrelle.  This species is considered rare in the UK, although may well be under recorded.  It was great to record this species!
    Picture

    Adult nathusius pipistrelle courtesy of Jon Russ - www.nathusius.org.uk

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Huckle Ecology is a professional ecological consultancy based on the Norfolk Suffolk border, providing expert advice on ecology and biodiversity throughout East Anglia, England and the UK. We undertake surveys for habitats and protected species, as well as providing ecological appraisals and impact assessments to inform planning applications. 
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Huckle Ecology Ltd is registered in England and Wales: Company Number 10017144
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