Dunglass Burn LNCS

Nature Conservation Value and Conservation Status

183.           Part of the Dunglass Burn LNCS lies under the footprint of the Proposed Development as shown on Volume 2, Figure 7.2 and Figure A1. The site is designated for its broadleaved, semi-natural woodland habitat. Approximately c.11.19 ha of broadleaved semi-natural woodland extends along the Thornton Burn and Braidwood Burn corridor within the ecology study area and is comprised of native woodland which is semi-natural in its origins. Native woodlands are defined as those whose tree species arrived naturally in Scotland without any apparent direct human assistance. Most of native tree and shrub species colonised Scotland after the last Ice Age, which ended roughly 9,000 years ago. The cover of native woodlands in Scotland has been calculated to be 311,153 ha, of which 23,189 ha comprises lowland mixed deciduous woodland (Patterson et al., 2014), which is the category of the best fit with the broadleaved semi-natural woodland at this location.

184.           This woodland is connected to two areas of AWI which lie within Thornton Glen SWT. These AWI stands are defined as Ancient (of semi-natural origin) 1a and 2b. This indicates that part of this woodland corridor has been continuously wooded since 1750 (1a) and 1860 (2b).

Construction Phase

Impact

185.           Impacts on the Dunglass Burn LNCS will include direct loss of habitats within the footprint of temporary and permanent works to install the cable bridge over the Braidwood Burn, as well as temporary disturbance of vegetation adjacent to works areas.

Magnitude of Impact

186.           As shown on Volume 2, Figure 7.3, Figure A7.4 and Figure A1, a cable bridge crossing is proposed across the Braidwood Burn that passes through the Dunglass Burn LNCS for approximately 40 m. The footprint of the temporary and permanent works areas for the cable bridge within Dunglass LNCS is approximately 675 m2. The route has been microsited to minimise tree felling requirements and at the location of the cable bridge there is a natural gap in the broadleaved semi-natural woodland corridor. The proposed cable bridge is 40 m in length and 10 m in width therefore the footprint of the permanent works is estimated to be 400 m2. Habitat within the footprint of the permanent works is predominantly semi-improved grassland and dense scrub. The canopy is comprised of scattered semi-mature, multi-stem, ash trees with no mature tree specimens recorded within the footprint of the permanent or temporary works. Assuming the works could affect a zone of up to 15 m on either side of the footprint of works, up to 2,000 m2 of Dunglass Burn LNCS may be susceptible to temporary disturbance, including 140 m2 of broadleaved, semi-natural woodland, this is approximately 0.13% of the total extent of this habitat within the ecology study area.

187.           The impact is predicted to be of local spatial extent, short-term duration, intermittent and medium reversibility. It is predicted that the impact will affect the receptor directly. The magnitude is therefore considered to be low.

Sensitivity of the Receptor

188.           The Dunglass Burn LNCS is deemed to be of low vulnerability, medium recoverability and local value. The sensitivity of the receptor is therefore considered to be low.

Significance of the Effect

189.           Given the above consideration of sensitivity and magnitude, the effect significance is considered to be negligible to minor adverse and not significant under the EIA Regulations.

Secondary Mitigation and Residual Effect

190.           No secondary mitigation is considered necessary because the likely effect in the absence of secondary mitigation is not significant in EIA terms.