Observations of other species during the surveys included the presence of owl pellets on the solar panels, indicating that owls were utilising them for perching. Large numbers of brown hare were also noted within the solar farms at several of the sites.
When sites were ranked for overall biodiversity value, it was revealed that the three sites with the greatest management focus towards wildlife ranked highest for biodiversity overall.
In conclusion, the study revealed that solar farms can lead to an increase in the diversity and abundance of broad leaved plants, grasses, butterflies, bumblebees and birds. The level of benefit to biodiversity is highly dependent on the management of the site, with greater focus on wildlife management leading to greater biodiversity benefit. The sites with the highest wildlife value were seeded with a diverse seed mix upon completion of construction, limited the use of herbicides, provided good marginal habitat for wildlife and employed a conservation grazing or mowing regime.