Environmental
Impact
There is a great deal of information about
the impact of wind turbine power stations on birds, animals, pond /
stream life and plants / flowers. Our research so far has
concentrated on birds and is described the first section of this
web page. Other sections will be added during the coming
months.
Birds
Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds (RSPB)
The RSPB says on its website
..
“The available evidence suggests that
appropriately positioned wind farms do not pose a significant
hazard for birds. However, evidence from the US and Spain
confirms that poorly sited wind farms can cause severe problems for
birds, through disturbance, habitat loss/damage or collision with
turbines.
Because of this, the RSPB has objected
to 76 wind farm proposals (on and offshore) between 2000-2004
and has raised concerns about a further 129. The RSPB recently
objected to a proposed 234 turbine wind farm on the Isle of Lewis
in the Hebrides, on an extremely fragile and special area for
wildlife”
Visit
http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/windfarms/index.asp
for more
information
Country
Guardian
A more detailed account of the impact of wind
turbines on birds is provided in “The
Case Against Windfarms - Birds and Bats”, an
authoritative, referenced document written by Dr John Etherington (
© Dr JR Etherington).
http://www.countryguardian.net/Case%20Birds%20and%20Bats.htm
Cholmondeley Park
Meres
The proposed site for the wind mast and wind
turbines is 2000 metres from Chapel Mere, a Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSI) and an internationally important RAMSAR
site. It is also
within the water catchment area for the Barmere
SSI.
RAMSAR http://www.ramsar.org/index_about_ramsar.htm#intro
SSI http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi/
These meres form part of Cheshire’s
internationally important wetlands; they are significant for
migratory birds and some that are included on the British Trust for
Ornithology’s red list for birds of conservation concern
including:
*** red list http://www.bto.org/psob/redlist.htm
the great bittern
common scoter
marsh harrier
hen harrier
osprey
quail
The cluster of meres has its own significant
population of wintering birds listed below. These birds rove
between the meres and adjoining farmland for roosting and access to
feeding grounds.
lapwing
mallard
teal
widgeon
golden-eye geese
Canada
geese
greylag geese
Visit http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/a/index.asp
for more information about the
birds listed above, pictures, videos and sound
recordings.
Bickerton
Hill
Bickerton Hill and the surrounding areas are
also rich in bird life illustrated by the following brief account
of an early morning walk …
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My morning dog walk up Bickerton
Hill
This morning was a gloomy day yet again and at 7.45 am there was
occasional flurries of sleet - and it was very cold - as I walked
up the hill with my two labradors. Almost immediately above my head
were 4 or 5 Greater Spotted woodpeckers squabbling noisily and
chasing each other around. Long tailed tits and great tits were
calling - Blackbirds as usual shouting noisily. At the top of the
hill 3 Buzzards circling about - the gloom certainly not putting
them off - I watched them for a few moments - listening at the same
time to the yaffle of a Green Woodpecker. I was absolutely
delighted to see a Lesser Spot. They do seem to breed in this area
but it's not always easy to find one, Surprisingly this was in a
small tree right at the top of the hill. A couple of Raven flew
over - croaking away - I see them most days at this time of the
year. Once back into the wooded area there was a large flock of
Redpoll - and they were certainly not put off my my walking by- or
my two dogs. A dull day - but in 45 minutes - these are just some
of the birds I saw on my early morning walk - and the surprising
thing about it - I very rarely meet anyone. People don't know what
they are missing!! |
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