A huge number of bird species are regularly observed on the proposed site which could be adversely affected by this proposal. Focussing on birds on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) – the list of species created by several of the UK’s leading wildlife organisations in 2015 where “red” and “amber” lists highlight significant declines in numbers – there are:
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Skylark (BoCC “red” list)
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Woodlark (rare in North Hampshire away from heathlands)
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Linnet (BoCC “red” list)
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Turtle Dove (BoCC “red” list)
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House Martin (BoCC “amber” list) breeding close to the site and using the fields as feeding grounds, as do migrant parties in the spring and autumn.
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Swifts (BoCC “amber” list) and Swallows
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Red Kite (a species that was re-introduced to England through the 1990s with much publicity)
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Mistle thrush (BoCC “red” list)
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Herring Gull (BoCC “red” list) – feeding ground when fields are ploughed
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Lesser Black Backed Gull (BoCC “amber” list) – feeding ground when fields are ploughed
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Black Headed Gull (BoCC “amber” list) – feeding ground when fields are ploughed.
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Barn Owl
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Tawny Owl (BoCC “amber” list)
Numerous animals are also regularly seen including –
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Fallow, Roe and Muntjac deer
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Badgers
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Dormouse breeds (fast declining)
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Bats
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Hares (which have declined by 80% in the last century)
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Foxes
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Slow Worm
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a warning that it its possible that photovoltaic panels can leach extremely dangerous chemical substances, sometimes in the form of nano-particles, into the groundwater.
These substances include derivatives of lead and cadmium, both of which are known to be carcinogenic and to cause reproductive and developmental problems in humans. Furthermore, weed suppressants and cleansing agents used in maintaining the panels will almost certainly seep into the groundwater. This is highly relevant as the proposed site overlays a deep layer of chalk from which Southern Water and other organisations extract water via bore holes to provide a large part of Hampshire with its water supplies.
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