Lincolnshire Farmers and Residents Rally Against Large-Scale Solar Farms on Farmland

Over the weekend, campaigners gathered in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter to protest against large-scale solar farms being planned across Lincolnshire’s farmland. With banners in hand, they called for protecting the county’s agricultural land, arguing that food production should take priority over energy developments.

Farmland or Industrial Solar?

Lincolnshire has long been known as the nation’s breadbasket, playing a crucial role in UK food security. However, plans for thousands of acres of solar farms are raising serious concerns among local residents. Groups such as the 7,000 Acre Group and the Cliff Villages Action Solar Group have been vocal in their opposition, pointing out that what started as a 7,000-acre proposal has now grown to 10,000 acres and counting.

Jamie Allen, chairman of the 7,000 Acre Group, made the case for a different approach:

“We’re not absolutely against solar, but don’t put it on productive farmland—put it on brownfield sites and rooftops.”

His argument echoes a broader concern that renewable energy projects should not come at the cost of food production and rural landscapes.

Local Politicians Join the Fight

The rally was organised by Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election. She was joined by Conservative candidate Rob Waltham and Lincolnshire Independents candidate Marianne Overton, both of whom echoed the sentiment that solar projects should be placed on existing buildings rather than farmland.

Ms Jenkyns went further, accusing Labour’s Ed Miliband of “desecrating” Lincolnshire’s countryside with his approval of these large-scale projects. Mr Waltham described the idea of putting solar farms on farmland as “perverse,” while Mrs Overton highlighted the sheer scale of the proposals:

“10,000 acres – that’s larger than the city of Lincoln. It’s a destruction of the very nature of what we hold dear.”

Labour’s mayoral candidate Jason Stockwood was notably absent, with critics accusing him of dodging the issue.

Renewable Energy vs. Rural Communities

While campaigners oppose solar farms on farmland, they are not against renewable energy entirely. Some argue that nuclear power, rather than large-scale solar, is the real answer to decarbonising the electricity grid. Others believe solar should be concentrated on brownfield sites and rooftops rather than prime agricultural land.

However, not everyone supports the rally’s message. Environmental groups, including Global Witness, criticised the protest, arguing that solar power is necessary to tackle climate change.

Alexander Kirk, a fossil fuel campaigner at Global Witness, dismissed the opposition:

“Protesting against solar power is like complaining about sunshine. It’s cheap, it’s clean, and it powers millions of homes across the UK.”

He also pointed out that Lincolnshire is one of the UK’s most flood-prone areas, and reducing carbon emissions through renewables is essential to prevent further climate-related disasters.

A Clash of Priorities

This debate over land use highlights a growing tension in the UK’s approach to energy and food security. Should Lincolnshire’s fields remain dedicated to farming, or should they be repurposed for solar power to meet climate targets? With the mayoral election approaching, this issue is set to become a key battleground in Lincolnshire politics.

For now, campaigners are determined to keep fighting to protect Lincolnshire’s farmland from what they see as an unnecessary and damaging industrialisation of the countryside.