Threatened bird species flocking to solar panel fields

Surprising research has shown that solar panels in fields with a mix of habitats are better for birds than farmland.

A new study by scientists from Cambridge University and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) found more bird species and a greater abundance of birdlife on solar farms compared with arable land.

“This is very encouraging,” Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox, “especially as the debate has intensified nationally about the competing needs for land, from protecting wildlife and producing food to building homes and generating energy.”

The work, as part of the Centre for Landscape Regeneration published in the journal Bird Study, revealed that threatened species fared well in fields of solar panels with more mixed habitat, characterised by hedgerows, flowering plants and infrequent grass cutting.

Researchers twice visited six solar farms and farmland in the agriculturally dominated East Anglia Fens.

They looked at two types of solar farms: those with a mix of habitats within the solar farm and those with a simpler habitat.

The simple habitat was intensively managed, with no hedgerows along the boundaries and was constantly grazed by sheep. But the mixed habitat solar farms, which had hedgerows and longer grass that was cut or grazed infrequently and with no sheep grazing on it, were better for birds because of a greater diversity of flowering plants, their seeds and the insects they attract.

They found that the mixed habitat solar farms contained the greatest variety of species and three times as many birds compared to nearby arable farmland. It was also where there was the highest abundance of threatened bird species, such as corn buntings, yellowhammers and linnets, whose populations have dwindled in recent years.

“This research shows solar farms do not pose a threat to our national food security or food production, especially when built on low or moderate grade agricultural land,” said Ron.

But he pointed out: “Hopefully, planning policies in Great Britain will discourage solar farms from being built on high-grade agricultural land.”

In January this year two major solar farms were approved by the energy security secretary, Ed Miliband, in Heckington, Lincolnshire, and West Burton, North Yorkshire.

Last year, the RSPB published a study that found there is sufficient land both for nature and for building the renewable energy infrastructure required for net zero which the UK is committed to reaching by 2050. This means moving from fossil fuels to clean energy such as solar and wind.

“The results of this research suggest that solar farms managed well could make an important contribution both in ensuring the UK meets its legally binding nature recovery targets and in hitting the country’s UK’s climate targets”, said Ron, of Noreus Ltd which is based on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

For more advice on green energy, solar panels and solar farms, contact Ron on 0845 474 6641 or go to www.noreus.co.uk.

Caption: Shining brightly – research has shown that solar panels in fields with a mix of habitats are better for birds than farmland.