Scottish Borders wind farm plan 'to push out recovering golden eagles'
The charity Restoring Upland Nature (Run – formerly known as the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project) has raised concerns that proposals for the eight-turbine Scawd Law Wind Farm in the Moorfoot Hills present a high risk of habitat loss and collision, which could detrimentally impact on the still fragile golden eagle population in the area.
The Moorfoot Hills are home to four distinct eagle territories, including one of the first settled breeding pairs in the project's history.
Though once abundant in southern skies, by early 2018 the golden eagle population had decreased to between two and four pairs across Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
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Now thanks to the efforts of the Run's project team and support from a wide range of partners, the golden eagle population in the south of Scotland has more than tripled to the highest number recorded in the area for three centuries.
Dr Cat Barlow, chief executive at RUN, said: 'The Additional Information Report (AIR) currently being used by the site's developers is dated and substantially underestimates the impact on golden eagles at a particularly critical time for the local population.
'Breeding territories must remain undisturbed for long-term population sustainability, as golden eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance and tend avoid areas around wind turbines. The expansion of wind farms without rigorous, up-to-date environmental data risks pushing these birds out of the very landscapes they need to survive.
'The Southern Uplands are now under immense pressure from development, which reinforces the urgent need for an up-to-date cumulative impact assessment study for the region – looking at existing and proposed wind farm, forestry and other developments – to mitigate risks and ensure golden eagles continue to thrive in southern skies.
'Though we believe sustainable energy is key to addressing the climate crisis and protecting our natural world in the long term, after comparing proposals with the insights provided by our state-of-the art monitoring equipment and detailed field observations by our highly experienced staff, we do not believe Scawd Law in the Moorfoot Hills is the right place for a wind farm development.'
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Fred. Olsen Renewables Ltd has submitted proposals to the Scottish Government seeking permission to develop Scawd Law Wind Farm, on the Holylee Estate approximately 4 km north of Walkerburn.
The company has said the wind farm – which it has reduced in scale – could contribute £8m to the local economy over its operational lifetime.
Addressing the issues around potential impact on the local bird population, a company report stated: 'As a result of scoping process, the potential effects of the Scawd Law Wind Farm on black grouse, goshawk, golden plover, curlew and snipe will be assessed in the Environmental Impact Assessment.
'The assessments carried out to date conclude that there will be no significant effect on any of the ornithological features.
'Still, embedded mitigation measures will be applied prior and during construction to ensure the compliance with the Wildlife Countryside Act (1981) as amended, and to follow good practice guidance and consultation recommendations with regard to breeding birds.'
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