Eco Church, Solar Farm
Eco Church
The proposed Solar Farm at Pettywell is causing some anxiety in Reepham, although fears that the site will become a brown-field site at the end of its 40 year lifespan are unfounded. The description of what is being proposed clearly stated that no concrete would be used to secure the solar panels, as they would be held on metal verticals driven 1 – 2 m. into the ground, so that they can be lifted out and the whole unit reused, recycled or disposed of. By 2067 one would hope that all components would be able to be recycled. As the plan is to graze the area with sheep, the soil should be in a much better condition after 40 years, since it will have had no agricultural chemicals applied to it; the vegetation will have prevented soil erosion and the sheep will have enriched the pasture with their droppings. There is to be a deer fence round the area with a 10 cm. gap below it for small creatures and gates for small mammals, and the whole will be concealed behind hedging. The hedges will provide much needed habitat for small birds to nest and the spaces between the solar panels will be ideal for the ground nesting Skylarks. I say to anyone who is opposed to the scheme: “Do you really wish to condemn your grandchildren and great-grandchildren to living in a world of climate breakdown, where wild fires, devastating storms and rising sea levels become commonplace and the equatorial regions of the world become too hot for humans to survive, creating mass migration to more temperate parts of the world?” All this could happen by the end of the century if we don’t act now, as it has been found that temperatures are rising much more quickly than originally forecast. Please choose hope for your grandchildren.
Notices
Sunday 17th November & 1st December Café Church is our more informal service starting at 10.30am in St Michael’s. There will be tea, coffee, juice, croissants and muffins, as well as papers to read from 10 o’clock.
There will be an Autumn Fair on Saturday 16th November 10 – 12 in St Michael’s. Donations for the bric a brac stall, home baked cakes & pastries, plants, second hand books, prizes for a raffle and bottles for the tombola would be greatly appreciated, also helpers to run stalls. Please contact Rosie if you can help.
