Botanical, invertebrate, bird and bat surveys were then carried out during 2015 on both the solar plot and the adjacent matched control plot. The results of these surveys were compared statistically to identify any changes in biodiversity the solar farm, and its land management, had brought about.
The results of the botanical surveys revealed that over all, solar farms had greater diversity than control plots, and this was especially the case for broadleaved plants. This greater diversity was partly the result of re-seeding of solar farms: where species-rich wild flower mixes had been sown this diversity was greater, but even where agricultural grass mixes had been used diversity was greater as compared to the largely arable control plots.