Solar one side, woodland the other side.

[flowerpot]

Just heard this morning that our landlord of 30 acres wants to take it back and plant trees. Slightly annoying, but we haven't had it for very long. Wonder if he will get the same from
woodland planting grants that he had from us for rent? For him, it probably isn't about the money as he has already planted trees all over what had been paddocks for the previous owners of the house.

On the other side the landowner has planning permission for a solar park.
Leaving us in the middle still planting our fields and growing crops.

 

[teslacoils]

You should be pleased that the area of land growing crops has reduced, so less supply of the product you grow.

Habe you considered solar or trees?

 

[flowerpot]

We were approached regarding the solar, but decided against it. Definitely not trees. Why turn productive arable land, into woodland.

 

[steveR]

We were approached regarding the solar, but decided against it. Definitely not trees. Why turn productive arable land, into woodland.

Immoral in my view.

At least with Solar, the land can be grazed effectively, and if the Landowner has any say in the process, you can space the alleys enough so as to even be able to make fodder. And is relatively simple to revert to farmland.

 

[teslacoils]

We were approached regarding the solar, but decided against it. Definitely not trees. Why turn productive arable land, into woodland.

Suppose, why lament what another landowner does with their land?

I suppose they think that trees will provide a better return.

I don't drive round cursing other farmers choices to fallow a field, or grow crop X. In the same way I give precisely zero Fuchs if someone wants to come buy up farms and rewild them ; build a (ghastly) conservatory on their house; build a housing estate etc. Good luck to them. I just think about my own chunk .

 

[teslacoils]

Immoral in my view.

At least with Solar, the land can be grazed effectively, and if the Landowner has any say in the process, you can space the alleys enough so as to even be able to make fodder. And is relatively simple to revert to farmland.

What's so good about farmland?

 

[teslacoils]

Sorry that sounds flippant, but the only folk I hear whinging on about protecting fields are those who want to look at it; walk their dogs on it; cycle through it. IE don't own it and don't want to pay for it.

 

[steveR]

What's so good about farmland?

You can farm it, aka grow food and stuff....?

 

[Doing it for the kids]

We were approached regarding the solar, but decided against it. Definitely not trees. Why turn productive arable land, into woodland.

Why did you decline the Solar?

 

[flowerpot]

Decline the solar - hassle mostly. It would also be in view from son's house and only be a field away. Also would upset the next door house - who is the one who has taken his land back, so maybe upsetting him doesn't matter now!

We thought that the money offered probably wouldn't be the final sum after various deductions and it would mean loosing the field for 30 years, so just decided not to bother with it. It is also on one of our better fields.

We are not at all bothered about what people do with their own land. I just wondered if all this "alternative use" will have an impact on what we get for growing crops.

 

[Secret Agronomist]

Immoral in my view.

At least with Solar, the land can be grazed effectively, and if the Landowner has any say in the process, you can space the alleys enough so as to even be able to make fodder. And is relatively simple to revert to farmland.

Bull crap, immoral my arsenal, if that's immoral so is using green field sites for housing, farm sheds, growing flowers, grain that gets made into alcohol etc etc.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Bull crap, immoral my arsenal, if that's immoral so is using green field sites for housing, farm sheds, growing flowers, grain that gets made into alcohol etc etc.

That would be different.

Using green taxes which are regressive in affecting the poorest most, to pay a landowner who has a degree of wealth, to plant trees which will almost certainly not sequester as much carbon as if the land had continued to be farmed, reducing work and income for a rural area while 'allowing' someone else to continue to emit carbon-

is quite immoral.

 

[Daddy Pig]

Maybe it has nothing to do with money or sequestering carbon. maybe he just likes trees and woodland , I planted a small amount of woodland and dug out a couple of ponds a few years back, have to say its my favourite part of the farm now.

 

[Secret Agronomist]

You could graze under trees as well, maybe he's going to do agroforestry.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Maybe it has nothing to do with money or sequestering carbon. maybe he just likes trees and woodland , I planted a small amount of woodland and dug out a couple of ponds a few years back, have to say its my favourite part of the farm now.

Maybe.
But on 30 acres, probably not.
It is immoral that they can do what I said, not necessarily that they are.

 

[steveR]

Bull crap, immoral my arsenal, if that's immoral so is using green field sites for housing, farm sheds, growing flowers, grain that gets made into alcohol etc etc.

Very much an individuals call!

It is the greenwashing argument that bugs me so much!

 

[Hooby Farmer]

My land lord planted a very productive 48acre field in trees a few years ago. Now it's full of grey squirrels that he does not like or want and has a massive flock of crows (and has only given in to me shooting it this year) shot 200+ the other week and trapped at least 50 and still hasn't even made a dent. It is not even managed just planted and let grow, no thinning out etc. The man is in his late 70's and wants to give back to the environment which I get but I I do think he's been greatly influenced by the well to dos and current green agenda the end is nigh types.

 

[MrNoo]

Look on the bright side at least you won't have a housing estate being built on your doorstep!!

 

[flowerpot]

Its his land to do with as he likes. As others pointed out, could be using it for all sorts of other things.
He could have had it for pony paddocks after all!