A FAMILY has said they could lose almost half their farm - an area almost 12 times as large as Wembley Stadium - to a solar energy scheme.
Robert and Emma Sturdy, who live on the 280-acre Eden Farm near Old Malton, with their children Sebastian and Lizzie, are launching a campaign to save the 130 acres earmarked for the project for more than 90,000 solar panels.
Yorkshire-based Harmony Energy is preparing to submit a proposal to Ryedale District Council to build a solar farm with battery energy storage on land to the north of the A64 near Old Malton.
The development would see the installation of free-standing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on agricultural land, with the capacity to generate up to 50MW of low carbon electricity. This power which would feed into the local electricity network and supply energy for the equivalent of over 14,000 local homes.
However Robert, the third generation of his family to farm in Old Malton, said: “We’ve had no direct consultation with our landlord about the impact on our livelihood - just a conversation with their agent and then a leaflet through the door at the same time as all our neighbours.
“It’s like a bad dream; that instead of opening curtains and looking out onto fields of corn or cattle grazing there could be thousands of glaring solar panels.”
Emma said: “I’m not from a farming family but like so many other people in the area I can appreciate its beauty. It’s not called Eden Farm for nothing - It truly is a slice of heaven.”

Robert’s father John, who died in 2015, was very well known in the Malton area; a former president of the town’s rugby club, National Farmers’ Union local branch chairman and for establishing and running a museum of bygone farming equipment. It’s a family affair, with Robert’s sister Kim Hume looking after the farm accounts.

“Dad was a great educator,” said Robert. “He loved nothing more than showing people some old bit of farming machinery and because we are so close to the actual town - only a mile or two - he was always welcoming and friendly. He’d spend hours talking to people about farming; helping them understand the link between local farms and the food on their plate.”

"I hope people will care about good farming land disappearing; being covered over with glaring plastic panels. It just seems morally wrong; it will rip the heart out of this farm and this whole corner of the countryside. For three generations we’ve been custodians of this farm - now people we’ve never met are calling it a ‘site’. Talking about it as if it’s just any old fields; not our home.”

Emma added: “In addition, it is such a terrible waste to take such good quality farmland out of production. It’s producing good quality British food and providing habitat for everything from barn owls to deer, hares, skylarks - you name it. Surely there are other more suitable, low grade, brownfield sites or roofs that would be much more suitable?”
Robert said: “We aren’t against solar power full stop, but the location, siting and scale need robust scrutiny and must avoid taking good quality farmland out of production, bearing in mind the importance of home grown nutritious food.
 “What we are against is taking top quality land - which my family has worked so hard to improve over the three generations - out of food production.
“I hope people will care about good farming land disappearing; being covered over with shiny plastic panels. It just seems morally wrong; it will rip the heart out of this farm and this whole corner of the countryside. For three generations we’ve been custodians of this farm - now people we’ve never met are calling it a ‘site’. Talking about it as if it’s just any old fields; not our home.”
A spokesperson for Harmony Energy said: “Renewable energy is critical to ensure the future security of the UK’s energy supply, whilst helping to meet global targets to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change. 
“Our proposed development would be one of the largest private investments ever made into the local area, from a Yorkshire-based company with a proven track record of supporting the communities in which we build.”
“The site is not subject to any national or local planning designations or protections which would preclude this type of development. It is therefore considered the type of site which should accommodate renewable energy development and Harmony Energy considers it the most suitable in Ryedale. The landowner is consulting with the current tenants of the land and flyers are due to be distributed to the local community.”
You can view full details about the scheme and leave your feedback at www.harmonyenergy.co.uk/planning. The Sturdy family are also keen to engage with the public and have set up a Facebook page or Emma can be contacted at e.sturdy@btinternet.com

Harmony Energy is asking for comments to be made on the application before July 5th. For further information and to leave feedback visit www.harmonyenergy.co.uk/planning The Sturdy family are also keen to engage with the public and have set up a Facebook page. Alternatively Emma can be contacted on email at: e.sturdy@btinternet.com