Appendix 7.2 Phase 1 Habitat and NVC Survey ENERGY ISLES WIND FARM i APPENDIX 7.2 This page is intentionally blank. ENERGY ISLES WIND FARM ii APPENDIX 7.2 botanæco Yell Phase 1 Habitats & National Vegetation Classification Prepared by: Dr Andy McMullen Date: 20th of September, 2016 Tel: 0791 864 2223 Email: [email protected] Web: www.botanaeco.co.uk Contents 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................... 1 2 Introduction ...................................................................................... 2 Commission ........................................................................................................ 2 Aim & Objectives ................................................................................................. 2 Background ........................................................................................................ 2 3 Methods ............................................................................................. 3 Desk study ......................................................................................................... 3 Survey ............................................................................................................... 3 Phase 1 Habitat Survey ............................................................................... 3 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) ........................................................ 3 Nomenclature ............................................................................................. 4 Guidance ............................................................................................................ 4 Assessment ........................................................................................................ 5 Conservation Priorities ................................................................................. 5 Notable Species .......................................................................................... 5 Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems ............................................. 5 4 Baseline ............................................................................................. 6 Desk study ......................................................................................................... 6 Notable species .......................................................................................... 6 Designated Sites ....................................................................................... 10 Habitats and Vegetation ..................................................................................... 10 Site Habitat Description ............................................................................. 10 Habitats and their Associated Vegetation Communities .................................. 15 5 Assessment ..................................................................................... 31 Conservation Priorities ....................................................................................... 31 Habitats ................................................................................................... 31 Locations ................................................................................................. 35 Notable Species ........................................................................................ 36 Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems .................................................... 36 Tables Table 1: Legislated or listed species in the OS 10km grid squares in which the site is located. .... 7 Table 2: List of Phase 1 habitats and their absolute and relative areas. .................................. 14 Table 3: List of Phase 1 habitats and corresponding National Vegetation Classification plant communities..................................................................................................................... 18 Table 4: List of unimproved, acid grassland NVC communities and their habitat(s). ................. 22 Table 5: Phase 1 habitats and National Vegetation Classification plant communities and their relation to designations of the EU Habitats Directive, Scottish Biodiversity List and Living Shetland, the Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). ............................................................................ 32 Table 6: Potentially Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems within the site; their guidance- stated and site-specific groundwater dependency; and the reasoning for their site-specific assessment. ..................................................................................................................... 37 Figures Figure 1: Phase 1 Habitat Map.......................................................................................... 10 Figure 2: NVC communities map....................................................................................... 11 Figure 3: GWDTE in buffer zone ........................................................................... Appendix 3 Figure 4: Woodland relicts ................................................................................... Appendix 4 Appendices Appendix 1: Target Notes Appendix 2: Plant species list Appendix 3: Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystem buffer zone survey Appendix 4: Woodland relicts Appendix 5: Figure 1: Phase 1 Habitat map Figure 2: NVC communities botanæco 1 Executive Summary Botanæco was commissioned by Energy Isles to undertake a combined Phase 1 Habitat / National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey and an assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems in connection with an area of land (hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’), located to the south of the small village of Gloup on the Isle of Yell (Shetland) at central Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: HP 493 007. The surveys, which were completed in July 2016, were undertaken to inform a proposed wind farm development within the Site (‘the Proposed Development’). A desk study established that biological recording activity within the Site is limited although previous records exist for a number non-floral species. The Phase 1 Habitat and National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey established the Site was dominated by blanket bog, in addition to the following habitats, which were recorded within the Site and wider study area: acid grassland, unimproved; acid grassland, semi- improved; calcareous grassland, unimproved; marshy grassland; acid, dry, dwarf shrub heath; flush and spring: acid/neutral; flush and spring: basic; bare peat; oligotrophic / dystrophic loch; and maritime cliff & slope: coastal grassland. Notable plant species in terms of nature conservation were not confirmed with the Site. However, an unidentified hawkweed (Hieracium spp.) was recorded at one location at the head of Gloup Voe that may be of note; and the genus as a whole is included in the out-of- date Local Biodiversity Action Plan. The following habitats are identified as priorities for nature conservation: blanket bog (NVC communities M1, M2, M3 & M17b; also including M29); calcareous grassland (NVC community CG10a); and oligotrophic /dystrophic lochans. One location at the head of Gloup Voe, was observed as being notable for the following elements: woodland relicts; CG10a calcareous grassland; and hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.). Seven of the NVC communities recorded are potentially highly groundwater dependent Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTEs). In a site-specific context, high groundwater dependency is only attributed to one GWDTE NVC community (M10a) in one single location. The low groundwater dependency of the remaining potential GWDTEs reflects the dominance of rain-fed blanket bog habitat and associated surface water drainage. Yell: Phase 1 Habitats & NVC 1 March 2019 botanæco 2 Introduction Commission Botanæco was commissioned by Energy Isles to undertake a combined Phase 1 Habitat and National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey, and an assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems in connection with a proposed wind farm development (‘the Proposed Development’) on Yell, Shetland. This habitat and vegetation data is required to inform a development layout within the Proposed Development Site (‘the Site’). Aim & Objectives The aim of the commission was to provide an ecological account of the habitats and vegetation communities present within the Site boundary (refer to Figure 1) with reference to the following specific objectives: x a desk study to identify known records of notable species; x production of Phase 1 Habitat and NVC vegetation maps; x target notes recording polygon-specific data or point-based features (including evidence of protected faunal species); x description of the habitats and vegetation communities; and x assessment of the groundwater dependency, with specific reference to potential Ground Water Dependant Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE). Background The Site is located in the north-west of Yell, one of the Shetland Islands, at altitudes between sea level and 112m (on the Hill of Vigon). Wind speeds and rainfall are high across the islands but temperatures and the topography are moderate in both their scale and range. As a result, the vegetation is upland in character, waterlogged and dominated by blanket bog and other mire types, with areas of grassland in the more sheltered valleys and on better-drained slopes. The grasslands are especially important for the grazing of sheep – the main land use in the area. Waterbodies are widespread as a result