Latest news with #RobHadley
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmer installs solar panels on part of land
A Warwickshire farmer who has had part of his land turned into a solar farm said the extra income generated from the site helps him sleep at night. Rob Hadley, from Chesterton Fields Farm, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said about 20% of his farm had been put down to renewables on a "long-term lease". The 53 megawatts (MW) site, is supplying renewable energy direct to the grid, with enough power for up to 16,000 homes, he added. Mr Hadley said it was not his preferred way of farming but income from the panels provided the farm with "security" and "consistency for the future" amid fluctuations in commodity and supply prices. "We get a small profit share out of the efficiency of the site as well, so it's a steady regular income stream now," he explained. "The consistency of the income, it helps you sleep at night." Mr Hadley said the site had taken about four years due to "long" planning processes but would be in place on his land for the next three decades. "Pursuing the solar, it's something we've never embarked on and never done before," he said. "It's a diversification for 30 years and then it will revert back to agriculture. We've got the use of it again in the future for the next generation." Part of the farm's crop was destroyed in a fire in July on the first day of harvest. Mr Hadley said traditional farming was no longer sustainable and changes had to be made to survive. "Even today, what we've been doing for the last 60 years.... it no longer can sustain and provide the business and the level of business structure and income that we need," he explained. "So we've got to make changes and futuristic changes." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story 'Crop fire on first day of harvest is a nightmare' Solar power divides Warwickshire's farmers Campaigners celebrate after solar farm rejected Solar farm plans narrowly approved by councillors
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Warwickshire farmer installs solar panels on part of land
A Warwickshire farmer who has had part of his land turned into a solar farm said the extra income generated from the site helps him sleep at Hadley, from Chesterton Fields Farm, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, said about 20% of his farm had been put down to renewables on a "long-term lease".The 53 megawatts (MW) site, is supplying renewable energy direct to the grid, with enough power for up to 16,000 homes, he Hadley said it was not his preferred way of farming but income from the panels provided the farm with "security" and "consistency for the future" amid fluctuations in commodity and supply prices. "We get a small profit share out of the efficiency of the site as well, so it's a steady regular income stream now," he explained."The consistency of the income, it helps you sleep at night." Mr Hadley said the site had taken about four years due to "long" planning processes but would be in place on his land for the next three decades."Pursuing the solar, it's something we've never embarked on and never done before," he said."It's a diversification for 30 years and then it will revert back to agriculture. We've got the use of it again in the future for the next generation."Part of the farm's crop was destroyed in a fire in July on the first day of Hadley said traditional farming was no longer sustainable and changes had to be made to survive."Even today, what we've been doing for the last 60 years.... it no longer can sustain and provide the business and the level of business structure and income that we need," he explained."So we've got to make changes and futuristic changes." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Warwickshire farmer's 'nightmare' after fire on first harvest day
A Warwickshire farmer has experienced his "worst nightmare" after a fire destroyed part of his crop on the first day of Hadley, who owns Chesterton Farm in Harbury, near Leamington Spa, spotted smoke in his field on Wednesday as he began to gather his winter quickly identified where the blaze had started and used a fire extinguisher to try to limit the spread, but in the meantime the field also went Fire and Rescue Service warned during the latest heatwave that a "small ember could cause a huge wildfire". "A fire of this size you can't put it out, you've just got to stop the feed of it," Mr Hadley managed to contain the blaze using his tractor as a firebreak, but described how the "tinder-dry" conditions had "exaggerated" the blaze into "quite a substantial fire". "It was all going seemingly perfect, moisture contents were great, everything was going nicely until a quarter of way into the field, smoke," he said."[But] it could have been a lot worse." Mr Hadley said a "fair patch" of his winter feed, that was already in short supply, had been destroyed and the blaze had made him nervous as he continued to harvest. He added that his biggest cost would be to repair the machinery that was damaged as he tried to control the spread of fire. Despite his growing concerns about the UK's extreme weather, Mr Hadley remained positive."Everyday comes with its challenges, but truthfully that's what we [farmers] love," he said. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
