Causeymire study reaches positive conclusion

A fifteen year Section 75 Planning condition at Causeymire Wind Farm in Caithness has been successfully discharged following the publishing of the final scientific report on environmental surveys conducted at the site along with a number of habitat management measures undertaken earlier in the life of the wind farm.

The report, authored by Dr. Tom Dargie of Boreas Ecology (an international expert on peatlands) describes the results of extensive vegetation and wildlife surveys which have been regularly held since the wind farm became operational in 2004. It also details remedial land management measures that have directly contributed to environmental improvements on a 1129ha Habitat Monitoring Survey Area surrounding the wind farm.

Compared to the control sites, the environmental indicators highlighted in the study show positive progress with dramatic increases in moss and heather cover, re-wetting of substantial areas of the bog and an increase in the numbers of both visiting and breeding bird species at the site.

Causeymire Wind Farm, which is owned and managed by Ventient Energy, is situated near a number of sites of special scientific interest and is part of the wider Flow Country area which has been the subject of environmental pressures in recent years. There are 21 turbines within the wind farm.

Downloads

Going with the flow – Assessing the environmental impact at Causeymire Wind Farm (5.68MiB – Adobe PDF)
Causeymire Wind Farm – Concluding Report – Habitat Enhancement and Monitoring – 2004-2019 (2.15MiB – Adobe PDF)
Causeymire Wind Farm – Post-construction Ornithological Monitoring – Year 15 Report (1.23MiB – Adobe PDF)