OnPath Together: Climate and nature positive
Sustainability from the start
Sustainability has been at the heart of Moor House Wind Farm from day one. From the initial design phase, we worked closely with ecologists and local stakeholders to ensure that every aspect of the development would protect and enhance the local landscape and biodiversity.
Our Habitat Management Plan set out clear strategies for creating new wildlife corridors, restoring native woodlands, and supporting pollinators and farmland birds—all using locally sourced, native species. By integrating these principles into the construction and long-term management of the site, we’ve ensured that Moor House Wind Farm delivers clean energy while leaving a lasting positive legacy for nature and the community.
OnPath Together: Supporting a just transition
Partnering with local businesses
The Habitat Management Plan specified the involvement of local businesses throughout the lifetime of the project. From the outset, specialist contractors with experience in native planting have been appointed for key tasks such as creating and enhancing hedgerows, planting native trees to connect woodlands.
In addition, the plan prioratises sourcing seeds and plants of local provenance, supporting local nurseries and specialist suppliers. This approach not only strengthens the local economy but also helps maintain the genetic diversity and resilience of the area’s habitats by using species adapted to local conditions.
Ongoing maintenance; such as fencing, weed control, rotational cutting, and ecological monitoring presents opportunities for local businesses like Thorpe Trees. By using local business, the project supports both the environment and the community, ensuring that sustainability is delivered in practice as well as in principle.
“The habitat corridor between the two local wildlife sites is now functioning as intended, with healthy natural regeneration of ash and grey willow indicating a resilient and self‑sustaining woodland structure. This is OnPath Together in action.”
Rachael Edmunds Senior Development Planner OnPath Energy
“The majority of newly planted and gapped‑up hedgerows at Moor House have established well, with most sections showing less than 10% whip loss. This reflects a strong level of habitat establishment and ongoing commitment to long‑term ecological management.”
Quants Environmental
“A typical day for me on site would be going around checking on hedgerows, trees making sure that if there’s any wildlife it’s protected. Over the years we’ve learned that each site grows differently at certain times of the year giving us a good idea of the things we need to look for in certain areas of each site.”
Simon Smith Thorpe Trees
Embedding sustainable design principles
Habitat creation, restoration, and connectivity.
We created and enhanced over 7 km of species-rich hedgerows containing hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, holly, field maple, with some planting also including dogwood, guelder rose, dog rose, crab apple, bird cherry strengthening wildlife corridors and connectning the landscape.
By planting 0.47ha of new tree planting native trees to link Kettonleas Wood and Horsepasture Wood, and establishing rough grass and wildflower margins and buffer strips, we’ve supported pollinators, foraging birds, shelter and movement for mammels as well as creating structural diversity in the landscape protecting woodland edges from agricultural impacts.
Adaptive management and long-term stewardship
Ongoing maintenance—such as rotational cutting, weed control, and fencing—ensures that habitats establish successfully and persist over time. The plan includes annual monitoring in the early years, with further assessments at year 1 and year 24, so progress can be evaluated and future management adapted as needed. This flexible approach allows management actions to respond to monitoring results and ecological changes throughout the wind farm’s operational life.
Enhancement of ecological features
Field corners were enhanced by creating a shallow wetland scrape to support wading birds and other wildlife, while other corners and construction-disturbed areas were allowed to naturally re vegetate, providing extra cover and food sources for local animals.
The results
Increase in biodiversity across the site
0.47 ha of new tree planting species include: oak, rowan, alder, hazel, goat willow, cherry creating a habitat corridor enabling wildlife movement, seed dispersal and genetic connectivity.
Hedgerow planting
We created and enhanced over 7 km of species-rich hedgerows to strengthen wildlife corridors and connect the landscape.
A just transition with local businesses
We use local businesses like Thorpe Trees to maintain our sites including planting, maintenance, and monitoring cycles creating recurring seasonal opportunities for local suppliers.
OnPath Together: Climate and Nature Positive
Moor House Wind Farm HMP shows our our OnPath Together development approach in action. By embedding sustainability, local collaboration, and long-term stewardship into every stage of the project as well as prioritising ecological enhancement, supporting local businesses, and ensuring ongoing adaptive management, the plan not only enhances biodiversity but strengthens our commitment to delivering renewable energy projects that put people and the planet at the heart of everything we do.