Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm - RWE.com

9 Non Avian
9.1 Introduction
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Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm
9.1.1 This chapter deals with the potential impacts of the proposed wind farm on ecological
resources other than ornithological (avian or bird) assets.
Explanation of Study Areas
9.1.2 Ecological studies commenced in 2004, early in the evolution of the project, and baseline data
has therefore been collected in various areas in and around the current application site.
These various ecological study areas are shown in Figure 9.1.
9.1.3 A much broader area of land than the current application site was covered initially, both to
inform the development design and also to ensure that baseline use of the locality by wideranging
species such as birds of prey was covered at a wider range than simply where
turbines and other wind farm infrastructure were likely to be built. In response to initial
surveys, scoping and consultations, additional areas of land were brought in for particular
specialist studies.
9.1.4 As the project design developed, and the preferred location of the turbine array and access
infrastructure was decided, later phases in the baseline survey process became more
focused. The wind turbine locations within the application site have themselves been selected
by an iterative process taking into account the results from the wider ecological study area as
well as other environmental and technical disciplines.
9.1.5 The study areas shown on Figure 9.1 comprise:
Main Study Area (MSA) – the Main Study Area equates to the original site boundary
(see Chapter 3, Site Selection) at the beginning of the site design process in 2004. As a
consequence it covers what is now the proposed wind farm site and also significant areas
beyond the application site boundary. The boundaries of the MSA are roughly defined by
Pentwyn Mawr to the north-west, Penlle‟r Castell to the north-east and they wrap around
the Lliw Reservoir to extend onto Banc Maestir Mawr and Mynydd Garn Fach to the
south.
Bat Study Areas – targeted areas within the MSA where bat transects and emergence
studies were carried out are shown on Figure 9.1. Each transect or emergence site is
shown in greater detail in Appendices 9.2 to 9.5.
Access Route Study Area - this comprises those parts of the proposed wind farm
access route that lie outside the Main Study Area. By way of cross-reference with the
Wind Farm Terminology Plan (Figure 1.3) this comprises Section 1 of the Access Route
(new track) and all portions of Section 2 (existing road) where works might be needed
that could affect habitats or species off the existing tarmac. It should be noted that the
numbered points and „segments‟ used to describe individual parts of the route in this
chapter are not the same as the „sections‟ used elsewhere in this ES. Studies along the
access route formally included 30m either side of the proposed track but in practice the
habitats are so open that features within 50-100m of the line were clearly visible. The
Access Route Study Area with the numbered ecological survey points and segments is