Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
a reasonably wide, saltmarsh-dominated ‘floodplain’ flanked on both sides by flood
embankments.
11.3.38 Further upstream the watercourse becomes progressively less tidal, narrower (4m-5m) and
less deep (ca. 1.5m), with a channel bed consisting of a mixture of silt and boulders. The
watercourse itself is enclosed within steeply sloping silt and earth flood embankments which
are frequently lined with dense, narrow bands of salt-tolerant common reed (Phragmites
australis) and occasionally topped with scattered scrub.
Terrestrial Habitats
11.3.39 To the north of the site is a relatively large, expansive area of dense and tussocky, semiimproved
neutral grassland dominated by tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) and three
recently created freshwater/slightly brackish wetland lagoons ranging in size from
approximately 1ha to 8ha (see Figure 11.4).
11.3.40 To the east and northeast of the site, on the opposite side of the Black Devon, the landscape is
dominated by arable farmland with occasional minor drainage ditches situated behind the
protective coastal defence and flood embankments of the Forth Estuary and the Black Devon.
There are several inhabited and derelict farm buildings in this area, the closest of which is a
derelict cottage located at Powside, less than 50m from the application area. There is also a
small area of arable farmland to the far north of the site.
11.3.41 To the west of the site the land is taken up with buildings and infrastructure of southeast Alloa.
These include the recycling facility, a sewage works, a derelict factory and office and
residential buildings.
Bat Survey
11.3.42 Surveys on-site have been analysed by season, with maternity season comprising the results
collected between April and June, and dispersal/migration/mating season the data collected in
August and September.
11.3.43 A full technical report is included in Appendix 11.1, with a summary of results presented below.
Walked Transect Surveys
11.3.44 A minimum of three species were recorded during the surveys, with common and soprano
pipistrelle bats recorded in the maternity season, and soprano pipistrelle and Myotis bats
recorded in the dispersal/migration/mating season. The overall bat activity recorded is shown
in Figure 11.5.
11.3.45 Soprano and common pipistrelle bats together accounted for 92% of the bat contacts recorded
during the walked transect surveys: 80% soprano pipistrelle; 8% common pipistrelle; 12%
pipistrelle species (which includes all those with call frequencies between soprano and
common). Pipistrelles were recorded along all transect routes. No Nathusius’ pipistrelles were
encountered during walked transects.
November 2010 Chapter 11 Page 22
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