Wildcats at Clashindarroch

The presence of the Scottish Wildcat at the site is something that has been rigorously assessed and fully integrated into our plans for the Clashindarroch II Wind Farm project. 

We design our wind farms very carefully, not just to reduce carbon emissions but also to help protect wildlife and nature.  

Wildcats at Clashindarroch Forest

Species Protection Plan

Many plants and animals in the UK are legally protected. At Clashindarroch, we have identified and monitored the presence of badgers, bats, otters, pine martens, red squirrels, and Scottish wildcats/wildcat hybrids. The protection measures are required by law and vary from species to species. Find out more and view the Species Protection Plan here.

Habitat Management Plan for Wildcat

A Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for wildcat has been developed as a condition of planning, in consultation with key stakeholders. The HMP builds on the outline HMP (linked below) and focusses on measures to improve habitat connectivity for wildcat between Clashindarroch Forest and large woodland blocks within the wider Strathbogie Wildcat Priority Area.

There are also measures to protect and enhance important wildcat habitats within Clashindarroch Forest, to ensure that there is no loss of shelter and denning opportunities as a result of the construction of the wind farm.

Building on the success and experience of the HMP for Clashindarroch Wind Farm, which has been operational for 10 years, and our other operational sites HMPs we are committed to continuous improvement and to safeguarding biodiversity as a core principle across all our projects  

You can find more details by following the links below to the relevant parts of the submitted Environmental Impact Assessment Report:

Chapter 9 – Ecology Chapter

Appendix 9.2 Protected Mammal Survey Results

Appendix 9.5 Habitat Management Plan

Wildcat conservation measures

Vattenfall is also committed to supporting wildcat conservation measures within Strathbogie though the funding of a fulltime Wildcat Project Officer and financial support for SWA’s ‘trap, neuter, vaccinated and release’ programme for feral and hybrid cats to help tackle the effects of introgressive hybridisation on the wildcat population.