It’s unfortunate that James Gray’s latest column reinforces misunderstandings about the relationship between farmers, the weather and solar parks.

“The huge weather challenges” facing farmers are very likely due to climate change, the Met Office has confirmed. Solar farms can provide a dual solution.

First, by contributing to the decarbonisation of our energy supply. And, second, by enabling farmers to diversify, providing a stable income so that they can continue to farm and maintain their role as “guardians of our beloved landscape”.

Mr Gray’s own energy minister, Greg Barker MP, recognises the key role that well-planned solar parks can play, saying in a recent speech that they “can become islands of biodiversity, providing protection for bumblebees and wild flowers. And discreet, well screened sites can sit alongside farming, particularly on low-grade agricultural land.”

The Wiltshire Clean Energy Alliance has recently developed a set of guidelines for solar developers – these can be found on our website www.wiltshirecea.org.uk.

Sophy Fearnley-Whittingstall, Co-ordinator, Wiltshire Clean Energy Alliance.