Solar farm planting and biodiversity guidance launched

A guide has been produced providing advice on boosting biodiversity around solar farms in the UK.

Developed by the BRE National Solar Centre (BRE NSC) the guide draws on the advice of a number of organisations including The National Trust, RSPB, Plantlife and Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

The guidance urges solar farms to be considered in the context of existing designated habitats and corridors to help improve the overall network of spaces for wildlife.

Aimed at planners, ecologists, developers, clients and landowners, it outlines the options for maximizing this potential and explains a wide range of habitat enhancements, from beetle banks to winter food planting for birds.

Jonny Williams, associate director of the BRE NSC, said: "Solar farms are already the most popular form of local energy development but their potential to protect British wildlife is attracting huge interest.

"The BRE NSC has been working to define best practice for solar farms and we have developed this specific biodiversity guidance to help conservation groups, communities, solar developers and planners deliver great results for nature."

Research by the guide’s author Dr Guy Parker shows that solar farms demonstrably increase biodiversity compared to farmed or neglected land. The BRE NSC guide makes clear that monitoring and learning from experience will be essential on solar farms.

The report is available to download from www.bre.co.uk/nsc (see Downloads in right hand column).

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