Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 2.51 - Solar Shadows and Solstice Songs
Dec 21, 2025
Explore the captivating clash between renewable energy and the beauty of nature at High Ash Farm. Chris and Matthew delve into the challenges posed by the proposed East Pye Solar Farm, which threatens fertile land and local wildlife. They ponder the financial pressures faced by farmers amidst calls for sustainable solutions like rooftop solar. Heartwarming listener stories of early bluebells and beaver sightings add charm, while a twilight vigil captures the enchanting sounds of roosting corvids, underscoring the urgency of preserving beloved landscapes.
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Old Wind Pump Memory
- Chris recounts a 1930s Panks wind pump that supplied DC electricity and pumped water at High Ash Farm.
- A 1953 gale toppled it and the farm switched to mains 240V power thereafter.
Rooftops And Batteries As Alternatives
- Chris recognises rooftop solar as an alternative to covering farmland with panels.
- He highlights domestic battery storage as key to shifting daytime solar to evening use.
Scale Turns Countryside Industrial
- The proposed East Pye scheme would industrialise a scenic South Norfolk landscape across many fields.
- Chris frames the scale as converting a patchwork countryside into an industrial park.