Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2890_mitigation
17
August 2011
Galloper Wind Farm Substation
Where the cable corridors pass through areas of existing or proposed woodland they
will be finished with an open grassland habitat which will be created by seeding of
appropriate native species, or by natural succession and management (subject to
advice from an Ecologist).
Two cable corridors connect to the existing pylons via cable sealing end compounds
and gantries to the east, which are up to 13m high. This area has been recently planted
and seeded as part of GGOWF. The corridors have been routed to minimise the need to
remove existing mature trees and shrubs, although trees do have to be removed.
Where possible planting and seeding will be reinstated on completion of the works
and new planting implemented to provide screening.
New tree and scrub planting will be planted along the northern and north-eastern
edges, south of the bridleway, to thicken existing planting, where this is necessary, to
improve screening from the landscape to the north / north-east and from Rosery
Cottages.
A 10m wide woodland belt will be planted to the east of the bridleway that runs along
Sandy Lane to help screen the cable sealing compounds and gantries, and also GGOWF
substation and GWF substation, from the landscape to the east. It should be noted that
planting is restricted in the immediate vicinity of the sealing end compounds due to
National Grid’s operational and safety requirements in relation to this infrastructure
and their existing overhead lines.
4.6. Hedgerows
Existing discontinuous hedgerows will be enhanced by planting of new hedge plants
as shown on drawing 2890/07H.
4.7. Fields
The gradually falling landform will continue into the existing fields, beyond the edge
of the proposed woodland. In these areas it will be re-instated to the current uses
(grazing pasture in Broom Covert and arable farmland in the two fields to the south).
This land will be returned to EDF to enable them to continue to manage it as it is at
present, or implement habitat creation as part of the emerging Vision for Sizewell
Estate. The varied and naturalistic edge to the proposed woodland and woodland edge
would integrate well with potential future acid grassland / scrub creation in these
fields.
4.8. Woodland and hedgerow planting mixes
The proposed planting mixes have been developed with reference to Forestry
Commission Bulletin 112 Creating New Native Woodlands (1994) (loosely on NVC
woodland W16 lowland oak-birch woodland), the mixes used in planting associated