2005-2006, Lapwings Consultants, Lincs, Ecological Survey and Impact Assessment (Walpole Substation)

CONFIDENTIAL - INFORMATION ABOUT BATS ETC. Lapwings Consultants Ltd has been commissioned by Centrica, through RPS Group, to undertake ecological surveys along the corridor of a proposed electricity cable taking power from off-shore wind farms to a new sub-station near Walpole St Andrew. The scope of the ecological surveys was to identify the use made of the study area by badgers, otters, water voles, spined loach, great crested newts, reptiles, foraging bats, the farmland breeding bird community, breeding waders on the saltmarsh, and to determine if any hedgerows are of nature conservation importance. The surveys were undertaken in the period mid-May to mid-July and early-mid September 2006. This series contains a report which presents the results of the surveys and makes an assessment of nature conservation interest of the site for the groups concerned, and examines potential impacts from, and mitigation for, the proposed cable installation and sub-station construction. A separate document detailing features of importance for nature conservation in the Wash, and relevant designations, is also provided. In addition, phase 1 habitat survey data is provided, showing details of habitat types and boundary features around the proposed onshore cable route development area.