The Proposed Ditcheat Solar Paddock
Longmans of Snagg Farm and Barbers have been exploring the potential for a local solar paddock to generate green electricity for the Barbers' Maryland Farm Dairy, cutting the dairy’s carbon emissions while reducing its energy costs.
The proposed solar paddock is part of a wider plan to dedicate lower grade land at Snagg Farm to supporting wildlife and biodiversity while contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The solar paddock would directly benefit the local community through an annual community fund, opportunities for enhanced public access to local countryside, and offering local people the opportunity to invest in the project.
The core ambition is to take Snagg farm's poorest land and use it for a combination of generating renewable energy while boosting local wildlife and landscapes and maintaining a degree of farm production - balancing the pressing need for green energy while supporting our wildlife and still producing food.
This land borders Barbers farmland and is only a short distance from Ditcheat, with a cable being laid to take green energy directly from the solar paddock to Barbers' Dairy
The solar paddock is expected to cover around 3 ha with the rest of the field in which it sits set aside as flower meadow. The field is tucked away meaning the array will have very limited impact in the landscape, with this further reduced by new areas of trees and hedgerows that will be planted as part of the project. A footpath will be created that will lead down past the array, through the flower meadow and on toward the nearby River Alham to connect with the wider footpath network
Both the Longmans and Barbers who will jointly deliver the solar paddock have lived and farmed in Ditcheat for generations and are keen to engage with the village both as the project progresses and when it is in place.
It is hoped that the Ditcheat Solar Paddock will benefit not just Snagg Farm and Barbers, the environment and local wildlife - but the wider community as well. As previously highlighted, the intention is to establish both public access to the paddock and a community fund. Other ways to link the paddock with the local community will also be explored.
The village and Parish Council will be kept informed of developments as the scheme moves forward, with views, opinions and input sought - and please look out below in the 'What's New' section below where updates will be posted as the project progresses.
If you have any questions, comments or ideas please drop a line to snaggfarm@btinternet.com
Whats New
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July '23 - currently working with Somerset County Council as the planning application is prepared for submission.