Recent Comments
navasolanature on Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing… Alex Tylor on ‘Look but don’t pick’ – Wild M… AllRoundNature on Will Prime Minister Truss aban… Peter Lancashire on The true story of David Camero… Peter Lancashire on The true story of David Camero…
Tag Archives: Rampisham Down
Solar Farm developers paying £1000 an acre a year to landowners
There’s an interesting piece on Farmers Weekly online today about rents landowners can expect to receive from Solar Farm developers. Despite the changes in the subsidy regime, the article suggests landowners can still look for £1000 an acre per annum … Continue reading
Rampisham Down and Lodge Hill demonstrate that Natural England must Notify every site which qualifies as SSSI
Offham Down SSSI ploughed to grow Flax 1997 (http://www.eco-action.org/history/offham/offham.html) When the Wildlife and Countryside Act was introduced in 1981 in order for the UK to comply with the European Union’s Birds Directive, nationally and internationally important … Continue reading
Posted in Lodge Hill, Natural England, Rampisham Down, SSSis
Tagged Lodge Hill, Natural England, Rampisham Down, SSSIs
7 Comments
Rampisham Downs Factcheck #3: Professor Ghillean Prance’s speech in favour of buiding a Solar Factory on a SSSI
British Solar Renewables have just published Professor Ghillean Prance’s speech for them to the West Dorset District Council Planning Committee, when they met to decide whether to approve the development of a Solar Factory on Rampisham Down SSSI. I reproduce … Continue reading
Rampisham Down Factcheck #1: Lowland Acid Grassland; A Rare Habitat with Rare Plants
The northern part of Rampisham Down, Dorset (c) Miles King There has been much written about Rampisham Down in the last week. I have been very busy helping with the social media campaign (and trying to do other work) but … Continue reading
Another SSSI to be trashed? Councillors approve solar farm on Rampisham Down
Rampisham Down SSSI (c) Miles King While we wait to hear whether Brandon Lewis will decide to call in the planning permission granted by Medway District Council for the new town on Lodge … Continue reading
Rampisham Down SSSI Solar Farm: latest developments
I’m taking a close interest in two major developments on public or former public land, threatening newly designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Lodge Hill, and Rampisham Down. In the case of Lodge Hill, the local Council officers recommended the … Continue reading
Posted in Lodge Hill, Rampisham Down, Solar Farms, SSSis
Tagged Lodge Hill, Rampisham Down, SSSIs, West Dorset District Council
4 Comments
Rampisham: BSR antics force council to defer planning decision
Today was decision day. The culmination of nearly two years work; West Dorset District Council were finally going to decide whether to give planning permission for a 40ha area of over 100,000 solar panels to be constructed on a Site … Continue reading
Posted in EIA, grasslands, Rampisham Down, Solar Farms
Tagged British Solar Renewables, EIA, planning, Rampisham Down, Solar Farms
2 Comments
Rampisham Down SSSI Solar Farm bid: Tomorrow is decision day
Solar Farm developers British Solar Renewables have their day in front of West Dorset District Council Planning Committee tomorrow, when their planning application to build a massive Solar Farm on one of the most important … Continue reading
Held to Ransom: Solar Farms – green or greed?
Rampisham Down Transmitter Station from Hot Air Balloon Despite the sun shining upon us for much of the late Spring and Summer, the Solar industry has not had such a happy time of it. Eric Pickles has decided he doesn’t … Continue reading
vanishing meadows – less than 5000ha left in England Natural England come in for a great deal of stick from other conservationists – Walshaw Moor is a good recent example. But I’d like to praise them for some … Continue reading
a new nature blog 