Is Earystane being developed on peatland?

Peatland refers to a type of wetland habitat characterised by the presence of peat soils with at least 20% peat content which have wetland habitat on the surface. This may include raised bogs, blanket bogs and quaking bogs. Peatland is not the same as heathland though heathland may be underlain by peat and peatland may have the presence of some heath species.

Peatlands actively sequester carbon dioxide and are therefore important for the Island’s carbon inventory. As such, peatland development should be avoided where practical.

A study of peatland across the Island is being undertaken by the Manx Wildlife Trust as part of the Manx Mires project

The Wardell Armstrong studies to date at Earystane have identified small pockets of peat across the site. These surveys note it is likely that soils beneath the plantation still contain peat, but these may not be actively peat forming at this moment.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will determine the mitigations required for any construction near to peat, either to support the windfarm or to support access to the site.

The hierarchy for mitigation of peat is shown below:

• Avoidance (minimising the volume of peat disturbed);
• Minimisation through protection against damage (ensuring that excavated peat is managed so that it is suitable for reinstatement elsewhere within the site and does not become waste);
• Reinstatement (re-use) of excavated peat (the details of which are outlined in this Outline Peat and Habitat Management Plan (OPHMP)); and disposal (avoided using methods outlined in this OPHMP).

None of the proposed wind turbine locations at Earystane intersect peat at the plantation