Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

9.5.2 Access, civil infrastructures and other services
Early consultation with utility and other service providers is essential in planning any
habitat creation scheme to determine whether the proposed development may be
constrained by gas, electricity, water or telecommunication cables or pipelines, or
by transport infrastructure such as railway lines and roads.
Public rights of way crossing the proposed area should be identified and if
necessary scope explored for diversion, amendment or improvement. In Scotland
or other parts of the UK where there is a right to roam, consideration should be
given to how wider access rights will be accommodated or might be affected by the
proposals.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Royal Air Force (RAF) should be consulted if
the site is close to an airport or airfield. The exact location of the proposed site will
need to be considered in relation to runways, flightlines/trajectories of aircraft and
the location of other wetland or landfill sites in the local area that may create new
flightlines used by flocks of birds. Careful design and management of new wetland
habitats can successfully reduce the risk of bird strike to acceptable levels.
Larger, heavier species of bird and those which form large flocks tend to cause
more problems than others. Although the number of bird strikes with swallows is
high, the proportion which result in aircraft damage is relatively small. The advantage
of creating fens rather than open water or wet grassland habitats is that the bird
species attracted tend to be small passerines rather than large flocks of duck,
geese or waders.
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“Wetland creation is one of the most problematic development types
in terms of bird strike prevention at aerodromes. Wherever possible
developers should seek to keep proposals as far from aerodromes as
possible and outside the 13 km safeguarded zone of major civil and all
military aerodromes. Where this is not possible, careful site selection,
design modification and, as a last resort, bird management plans may
be sufficient to control any additional risk and avoid an objection from
the aerodrome manager or the regulator. Whatever the strategy adopted
by a wetland developer, the earliest possible consultation with aviation
interests is vital in order to ensure the best chance of achieving a
mutually acceptable compromise.’
Extract from ‘Taking account of aviation hazards in the development of
a wetland vision for England’. Author: Dr John Allan. England Wetland
Vision project (www.wetlandvison.org.uk)