Biodiversity
Biodiversity
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Biodiversity facts
| What is it | Variety of habitats |
| How is it managed | With difficulty |
| Examples of wildlife | Rabbits and Mice |
| Who manages it | We do |
Many of our power station sites are often rich in biodiversity because they are large areas of undisturbed land, with a variety of habitats, on rivers or estuaries, often agricultural land and away from towns and villages. Over the years, stations have not only worked to minimise their impacts on the environment, but have been active in their management, restoration and enhancement. This has resulted in a marked increase in wildlife. All our power station sites encourage wildlife in many ways, to the extent that it now forms part of everyday life on the stations and is incorporated into sites' environmental management systems. A number of our sites have site specific Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAP) in place.
Contact: christine.vickers@deverill.co.uk
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Job facts
| Location | Nottingham (Sherwood Park) |
| Business | Business Services |
| Salary | Dependent on skills and experience |
| Business | Business Services |
| Job reference | BS1006B |
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We have partnerships with various organisations including the Environment Agency, Forestry Authority, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales. We also work alongside local wildlife groups and have formed strong links with local schools, colleges, wildlife trusts and other conservation groups.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station
Ratcliffe is close to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and has an Environmental Management System and Biodiversity Action Plan in development to manage the impacts on biodiversity that electricity generation has. The site covers 280 hectares (Ha) in total: 89 Ha is electricity generation, 120 Ha is agricultural and 71 Ha incorporates landscaped areas laid down for conservation and screening. There are no designated protected areas on the Ratcliffe sitebut air quality monitoring suggests that surrounding habitats are not being adversely affected by the presence of the power station.
The ash landfill site at Ratcliffe continues to attract increasing numbers of sand martins each year, with a colony of more than 80 breeding pairs flying nearly 2,000 miles from south of the Sahara in Africa.
71 Ha out of the total 280 Ha of the station's land incorporates landscaped areas laid down for conservation and screening. About 4 Ha is designated as 'restored' (the grassed over areas of the Winking Hill landfill site).
There have been recent sightings of the Hoopoe bird, normally found on the south coast of England on their migratory route from Africa to Europe in the spring. Only a handful have been seen in Nottinghamshire. A peregrine falcon has nested on the roof of the boiler house at Ratcliffe, a convenient home as it is close to sources of food such as pigeons.
Ironbridge Power Station
Ironbridge is surrounded by wooded hillsides, meadows and river habitats. The station works with local groups, such as the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Shropshire Bat Group, to incorporate advice and suggestions into station management plans.The site has 100 acres of restored habitat called Devils Dingle. Water voles, European otters and great crested newts can be found on site.
Connah's Quay Power Station
Connah's Quay power station is on the Dee Estuary, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area under the EC Conservation of Wild Birds Directive. This area attracts a large number of wintering and migrating birds of both national and international interest, including dunlin, lapwing, oystercatcher and black-tailed godwit. We work with Deeside Naturalists Society, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and The Countryside Council for Wales.
The pipeline that carries the gas from Liverpool Bay has been buried and routed specifically not to disturb wildlife and heritage sites. To avoid environmental disturbance, water used for cooling is taken from and returned to the River Dee for three hours around high tide. The temperature and salinity of the discharged water are constantly monitored and controlled so there is no adverse effect on the river and wildlife.
Many rare birds and other wildlife are regular visitors to the estuary. We have built an 11 hectare reserve on the western boundary, including two grass marshlands and an artificial lagoon which provide ideal nesting sites for wading birds. 17 hectares of bunded pools and the management of the salt marshes ensure and promote the survival and growth of plants and wildlife.
Kingsnorth Power Station
This is a fantastic Power Station.
Kingsnorth has a formal Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in place. As part of this water levels are being controlled to reduce the stickleback population which is affecting the colony of great crested newts.
There is a 100-acre nature reserve on the site which provides an abundance of habitats for wildlife and birds with 200 species of birds. Around 20 bird and bat boxes have been installed and there is active monitoring of up to 1,500 birds each year by ringers, in addition to the creation of ponds around the nature study centre.
During 2002 work on the sea wall on the Oakham Island nature reserve was completed which should prevent the interior being inundated by spring tides. As well as normal coppicing and pollarding in the nature reserve, an area has been selectively thinned to create a stand of silver birch woodland. This will allow light to penetrate and encourage growth of ground plant communities. Since doing this, a species of orchid, the Broad Leaved Helleborine has now been found here.
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Enfield Power Station
Enfield is home to a large range of birds including kestrels, peregrine falcons and skylarks. The black redstart has been spotted here and water fowl reside on the River Lee.
Grain Power Station
Grain holds up to six pairs of nesting black redstarts which is about 10% of the British population. Barn owls and peregrine falcons can also be found on site, along with the owls prey, water voles. Hares are common in the rough grass areas and over 150 Bee orchids have been spotted along with Autumn Lady's Tresses.
Rheidol Power Station
Our Rheidol hydro-electric site is very focused towards the environment. We work very closely with the Environment Agency regarding our operation and the site does include SSSI areas and vast heather beds. We support, protect and encourage biodiversity at all opportunities including tree felling and landscaping where logs are left in place for wildlife and fencing off wood ant colonies in the forestry behind the station.
Rheidol is close to the local Red Kite feeding centre, so kites and buzzards are common in our area. Our Rheidol windfarm is actually adjacent to the feeding area and demonstrates the successful harmonisation of wind turbines and birds, with no issues.
We have bat colonies in our store and visitors centre buildings which have been refurbished with due consideration of the preservation of the bats. We also have many wild birds around the power station locations and have set up boxes for barn owls and have many other small birds that nest on site,including swallows and wagtails.
At one of our abstraction points at Llywernog, where there is a dammed pool and river there is a population of water voles and we are working with the Environment Agency to ensure that our operation has a positive effect on the colony.
The River Rheidol is an integral part of the Rheidol hydro-electric scheme and also a breeding area for salmon and trout. The fish had to pass Trotter’s Falls to reach their spawning grounds so when the Falls were replaced by a new dam, weir and bridge at Felin Newydd, a special 'fish lift' was included to allow the fish to reach their old spawning grounds. Upstream of the power station a 'fish ladder' was cut into the rock to bypass the Rheidol Falls and thus open up new spawning grounds to the fish. The fish ladder rises 6 metres and has 14 pools.
Brown and rainbow trout are reared at Cwm Rheidol in specially constructed tanks alongside the power station. These fish are put into Dinas Reservoir. This provides anglers with a put-and-take fishing facility. Also some of the brown trout are stocked into Cwm Rheidol and Nant-y-Moch Reservoirs, to help support the indigenous population, providing angling in a more natural environment.
Killingholme Power Station
Killingholme provides habitats for wildlife and birds that use the River Humber. More than 40,000 plants, shrubs and trees have been planted to landscape the site and help to attract local wildlife.
Central Networks
Central Networks land is managed and monitored very closely so any disturbance is kept to a minimum. Disturbance through excavation work to install or repair underground cables or for erecting poles for overhead lines is kept to a minimum through the design and planning process. Equipment will only be placed on protected sites if there is no alternative and consultation with the relevant regulating authority is always carried out. Training for managing and planning around sensitive sites is provided.
We manage information about access to protected sites through our Geographic Information System. This gives employees information about where protected sites are, what the nature of the protection is and contact details for the relevant authority. This enables staff to gain consent prior to access or arrange to meet a representative on site to escort vehicles to the equipment.
Pruning of trees near overhead lines is managed through Central Networks' arboricultural specialist and consultation with the Central Networks environment team to ascertain what licences or mitigation measures may be required. This ensures that we do not disturb protected species or habitats, either from the pruning activity or access to the area.
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