The Trust has maintained its opposition to a wind farm at a proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the far north of Scotland, despite the submission of revised plans by the developer.

The Strathy South Wind Farm is in the heart of the Flow Country, which is widely recognised as an internationally important peatland site.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust supports the development of onshore wind farms as part of Scotland’s energy portfolio but only where they do not pose a significant threat to wildlife and habitats. 

The Trust believes that the Strathy South proposal has the potential to impact negatively on the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands, which completely surround the proposed wind farm site. These are designated both internationally and nationally for their conservation importance for birds and bog habitat.  It is also a vital area for breeding birds such as red-throated diver, greenshank and hen harrier.

Planning Assistant for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, John McTague, said: “The developer has submitted amended plans, reducing the number of wind turbines from 47 to 39, but the Trust maintains that this proposed location is fundamentally unsuitable for a wind farm. 

“Even with the revised application, important peatlands would still be significantly damaged, as 22 of the 39 proposed turbines would be situated on deep peat. This peat is more than a metre deep and would have started to form around 1,000 years ago.

“Scotland’s peatlands are increasingly recognised as a valuable national asset, providing vital benefits such as flood mitigation, water filtration and carbon capture, as well as important biodiversity. In the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s view, the proposed location is incompatible with this type of development.”

To read the Trust’s planning policy, please click here.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust’s policy on energy and nature conservation can be accessed here.