EHG4454 - Watching Brief - Stroupster Windfarm, Nybster, Caithness

A watching brief was undertaken between May 2013 and May 2014 by CFA at Stroupster Windfarm during construction where excavations penetrated the full depth of the peat: this included borrow pits, turbine bases and crane hardstandings. Where excavation work penetrated the full depth of the peat, a watching brief was maintained. Site Investigation (SI) trial pits were monitored through a watching brief: approximately 200 trial pits were excavated across the access tracks, borrow pits and turbine bases in May 2013. Construction phase excavations, including the excavation of turbine bases and crane hardstandings, borrow pits and a temporary compound were monitored through a watching brief between December 2013 and May 2014. All internal roads were built as floating roads and so were not monitored. A number of known cultural heritage sites were demarcated to protect them from construction and felling works. No archaeological deposits were exposed and no artefacts were recovered during the watching brief. <1>