Moor Row: A Farewell to Frolicking Lambs

A sun-drenched field near Moor Row is soon to undergo a significant transformation. For those of us who cherish the serene beauty of the British countryside, it’s a moment tinged with both progress and a touch of melancholy. 

Recently, I took a stroll down to the area, wanting to commit the current scene to memory. It was a perfect day: a gentle breeze rustling through the grass, the distant bleating of sheep, and, true to idyllic form, lambs frolicking with unrestrained joy.

This field, currently a pasture for livestock, is a favourite view among village residents.

Moor Row Sheep Illustration
Moor Row Sheep Illustration

The Coming Change
The reason for this sudden farewell is the imminent construction of a large-scale battery energy storage site, by Windel Energy. The facility has been granted planning permission and is set to move forward quickly.

While these projects are essential for the UK's transition to renewable energy - helping to store power generated by wind and solar farms for when it's needed most - they inevitably bring industrial upheaval.

What to Expect on the Site
The current green field will be replaced with a secure compound housing rows of specialised containers. These containers will hold the lithium-ion battery units, much like large shipping containers.
  • Footprint: The field will be levelled and hardstanding laid to support the heavy equipment.
  • Infrastructure: Expect to see transformer units and associated electrical gear, linking the site into the existing National Grid infrastructure.
  • Security: High-security fencing, CCTV, and operational control buildings will define the perimeter, replacing the simple fence and hedgerows.
  • Acoustics: While modern sites manage noise carefully, the hum of cooling systems and transformers will undoubtedly replace the sound of the wind across the pasture.
The development will have 16 battery storage containers providing a total capacity of 30MW and each unit typically resembles measures 6m long, 2.5m wide and 2.9m high.

It's a necessary step towards a greener future, providing crucial grid stability, but the trade-off is the loss of a beautiful, unblemished piece of the Cumbrian landscape.

So, if you’re in the area, I urge you to pop down now. Take a moment to appreciate this one field in its current state - the last burst of pastoral charm before the diggers move in and change the view to something decidedly more industrial.

It’s a bittersweet moment, marking the transition from the picturesque to the practical. What are your thoughts on projects like this appearing in rural areas? Let me know in the comments below!

The Moor Row Field, Near Gutterby Illustration
The Field, Near Gutterby
Location: Moor Row CA24, UK

Comments

  1. Anonymous8 December 2025 at 12:03

    Let's hope that they don't dig too deep, as the outcome could be very interesting!

    ReplyDelete

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