Year 4 pupils from Brent Knoll Primary School have enjoyed a hands-on science adventure during a visit to the community-owned solar farm at Wick Farm, Lympsham.
The trip, hosted by Burnham and Weston Energy, gave the children a unique opportunity to learn how solar energy is generated and delivered to homes across the region.
Guided by site experts Harry Barlow and Ella Messetter from Communities for Renewables, the pupils followed the journey of electricity from the sun’s rays to the 36,000 solar panels, through inverters and transformers, and finally into the national grid.
“It’s so important for children to learn outside the classroom,” said Ella. “We want them to leave feeling more connected to nature and thinking about climate and energy.”
The visit wasn’t just about science. The children also got stuck into building hibernacula, special shelters for the great crested newts that live on the site.
These rare amphibians are a sign of the solar farm’s thriving biodiversity, which also includes insects, wildflowers, and birds such as woodpeckers and herons.
There was no shortage of enthusiasm as pupils explored the site, asked questions about power and sustainability, and even got up close with some of the local creepy-crawlies.
“It was a great pleasure to welcome the children,” said Harry Barlow. “They asked brilliant questions and really engaged with the big ideas behind renewable energy.”
