A new study, led by scientists at Lancaster University and in collaboration with the University of Reading, has demonstrated that well managed solar farms in the UK can provide vital resources to help stem the decline in the nation’s bees and butterflies.
The study, outlined here and published in the journal of Ecological Solutions and Evidence, provides the first peer-reviewed field data of insect pollinators at 15 solar farms in the UK. Based on a series of repeatable surveys conducted throughout 2021, scientists recorded around 1,400 pollinators across more than 30 species, including nearly 900 butterflies, more than 170 hoverflies, more than 160 bumble bees as well as moths and honeybees. The small heath butterfly, a priority biodiversity species, was observed at three of the monitored solar farms.
Scientists discovered that solar farms containing a wider variety of flowering plants saw increased numbers of bumblebees, butterflies and hoverflies. The study also showed the number of flowering plants available is less important to the pollinators than having a variety of flowering species to forage across.
Lancaster University’s Holly Blaydes, lead author of the study, said: “Pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies have been in dramatic decline in recent years and there is a need to restore more resources for these species in our landscapes. One potential option is to use sites such as solar parks to help benefit biodiversity – however, until now empirical evidence has been lacking around how, and which, solar parks might best support pollinators.”
At GRIDSERVE, we’ve long understood the benefits of utility-scale hybrid solar farms, both to support the UK’s renewable energy goals and, when managed correctly, allowing biodiversity to flourish. Last year, GRIDSERVE embarked on an ambitious ‘biodiversity MOT’, establishing an independent biodiversity baseline for all its solar farms that will be monitored annually alongside a curated land management programme to support the creation of native wildlife habitats.
Steve Alton, Biodiversity Sanctuary manager at GRIDSERVE, said: “You always hope that what you’re doing is beneficial, and the anecdotal evidence of your own eyes might suggest that you are, but it’s always good to have it confirmed by independent research. GRIDSERVE’s own evidence-based approach is demonstrating that the land management decisions we’re making, such as planting a variety of flowering plants within our solar farms, is able to help support diverse pollinators.”
