BBCRare wildlife habitats could be pushed “beyond the point of no return” by large solar farm developments, conservationists have warned.
Gwent Wildlife Trust said one of the UK’s largest solar farms, Llanwern Solar Farm, which was built on two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), had contributed to a dip in bird, bat and insect numbers.
Solar energy supporters said solar farms would cut bills, boost jobs, bolster energy security and tackle climate change.
More than 1,000 solar farms operate across the UK, according to UK government figures, while a further 800 have been granted planning permission.
The company that operates Llanwern Solar Farm has been asked to comment.
Llanwern Solar Farm was built in 2020 on the Gwent Levels, a protected patchwork of watery reens and ditches in south east Wales which dates back to Roman times.
The…
