Environmental impacts - wildlife

In advance of the Planning Application, CFL has destroyed the adjacent wood, making any impact assessment of the effects of the development on local wildlife of little value.

Destroying the drystone dyke to provide access off the U467 destroyed a long-established nesting site for hedgehogs.

We no longer see red squirrels, woodcocks, jays, and owls since the wood was cleared.

Any aquatic life in our local burns was destroyed in early 2020 due to an effluent leak at an upstream farm.

There are few pollinators left in this area due to the frequent use of pesticides.

The farmer has indicated that any wildlife, which is a potential threat to hens, will be culled (Source: Personal communication by A. Dowell to a local resident, 14th November 2020 ) with a consequent reduction in animal diversity in the locality. We are concerned that local badger setts will be affected by this.

To the north east of the proposed site, there is an area of woodland that has not been cultivated and will be home to mosses and lichens which will be at risk from the ammonia plume from the sheds, travelling on the prevailing winds. Again this will impact on the diversity of wildlife.

We are concerned that earthworms on the free range will become contaminated by the pollutants from the droppings, and that microrganisms and toxins will be introduced into the avian population if they eat these contaminated worms.