St Cyres School
Phase 1
In preparation for the redevelopment of St Cyres School in Dynas Powys areas of vegetation at the site had to be cleared in order for construction to take place. Further to ecological surveying the site was found to have Dormouse habitat present along with potential bat roosting.
Summer clearance began in September through to October. During this phase areas were cleared in small quantities (50m2) under ecologists supervision. Thus, allowing any potential wildlife (nesting bids, dormice, bats etc) to have time to vacate the areas to vegetation remaining. We then moved between different areas of the site not returning to any area cleared for less than 24 hours. All vegetation was cut down to 500mm ecologists then supervised the stump removal to ensure no wildlife was present. The only machines used during this clearance were woodchippers to process the timber and an excavator to dig the stumps out. Any machine power would have been too destructive to the sensitive habitat. So, using chainsaws and brush cutters vegetation was cleared to give wildlife the safest opportunity to vacate.
Some trees were flagged after inspection to have bats potentially roosting. Following a thorough inspection by our climbers with an endiscope the trees were section felled. No bats were found.
Phase 2 – Winter Clearance
Starting in January running through to February extensive clearance was carried out at site. Dense areas of Hawthorn, Blackthorn amongst various other species had been flagged as potential dormouse habitat.
Under ecologists supervision all scrub and trees cleared were cut down to 500mm. Further to ecologists inspection to ensure no nesting dormice were present the stumps were removed. Due to the ecological requirements machines were not allowed to be used at site for clearance because of the potential damage to the habitat. So everything was cut by hand removed by hand from the area being cleared and chipped outside to avoid tracking machines in the sensitive environment.
A scheme to replant the vegetation cleared here is in progress to mitigate the habitat lost by the initial clearance phases. A mix of translocating and new planting should provide a sustainable environment for the future.
