Right-of-way for transmission lines:

What was once a mountain stream:

Peat exposed by excavation — drying and shrinking (and releasing substantial carbon):

On site cement factory:

The heavy-duty roads are now used for rally racing
(not much carbon savings there!):

I do not want a windfarm I know that others do They say that it will help to stop The rise in CO2 I do not want a windfarm My reasons are quite fair If you consent to read this rhyme My thoughts with you I’ll share I do not want a windfarm Within my line of sight To have my current view obscured I do not think is right I do not want a windfarm Close enough to hear The countryside is quiet now But not again I fear I do not want a windfarm Killing birds and bats With all the turbines scattered round They’ve less chance than with cats I do not want a windfarm Sending squirrels from their home I want to see their bushy tails When I in woodland roam I do not want a windfarm Damaging the peat With turbines built into the sky Secured by con-cer-ete I do not want a windfarm Cutting down the trees I want to see a green expanse Not wastelands if you please I do not want a windfarm Funded from my taxes I dearly hope the Government Will put away its axes

Elegy to the Countryside

(Adapted from Charles Causley’s “Innocents Song”)

Who’s that planning all the wind farms? Who’s that building on the Moor? What are all those letters? Laying on the Senedd floor? Who’s the laughing stranger? With his pockets full of Tin? What is he doing with the landscape? Who could have let him Sin? Why has he money in his fingers? Thoughts of profit in his head? Why, when he tries to come here, Do the local folks see red? Why must he worry my neighbours? With his turbines in the sky The towers stand like giants, So offensive to the eye. Why must the hills before him Suffer such a pointless blight? Why must our green and pleasant land Become a building site? Watch, when he comes a walking Out of the Country lane, Chancing, double talking: Wind-farmer is his name

Learning to Love Wind

Welsh County Council’s are sent back to school To learn to comply with TAN 8 as a Rule Their Planners are told that the hills will be blighted With hundreds of turbines soon to be sited. Welsh County Council’s see the future as bleak The role for their Members is now somewhat weak Their input and comment consigned to the can Their advice now not needed, it’s all in the TAN! Welsh County Council’s are concerned for their role As Local Democracy heads for the dole Wind Farms today, tomorrow who knows? Whatever it is — what Teacher says goes!

WAGerwocky

T’was Brenig and the Bardd Nantglyn Did curse and grumble from his grave All angry were the residents, And the Members felt outrage. “Beware the WAGerwock, my son! The beast that dares, its’ schemes to hatch! Beware the Tengi bird, and shun The dubious TANersnatch!” He took his trusted pen in hand: Convinced that something was not right So perplexed was he at the Turbine spree Complaints he started to write. And, as he wrote upon the page, The WAGerwock, to cries of “shame”, Forced turbines through the Planning stage, And threatened as it came! Letter One, Letter Two! And poems a few His trusted pen sent protests out! He hoped it dead, but in his head There remained a nagging doubt “And hast thou slain the WAGerwock? ”Nay” — it schemes again tomorrow” “O frightful day! Despair! Dismay!” He mumbled in his sorrow. T’was Brenig and the Bardd Nantglyn Still cursed and grumbled from his grave And angry stay the residents, And the Members are outraged.

Deforestation in Rural Wales

We’re going to have some windfarms And put them on our land Adjacent our neighbours Who do not understand That we are eco-friendly And trying to be green Or is it for the cash we’ll get? No wonder we are keen We’re going to have some windfarms WAG tells us that we can We are inside an SSA Defined within the TAN It’s certain that we’ll get them WAG says that it’s a must Because of Global Warming Don’t care if it’s not Just! We’re going to have some windfarms You can see them on the plans The turbines are quite striking Like massive cooling fans To build them we must cut down A hundred thousand trees To hell with Global Warming Just give us our cash please.

Battle Hymn of the Countryside

Mine eyes have seen the blighting of the Welsh and Scottish hills: They are covered now with turbines, and the sight — it gives me chills; They’re the modern day equivalent of “dark satanic mills” The windfarms marcheth on. I have seen them on the skyline of a hundred upland sites; They are built upon the moor land and in forests in the heights; The wildlife lose their habitats, — Don’t animals have rights? The windfarms marcheth on. Official publications say our Country must go green: Our CO2 emissions are the worst we’ve ever seen; Methinks They try to justify decisions so obscene, The windfarms marcheth on. Now a hundred thousand trees or more are waiting for the pyre; So eco friendly windmills, feed your electric fire, The logic really baffles me, the outcome will be dire, The windfarms marcheth on. The beauty of the Countryside is yours and mine to see, We are charged with its protection, every field and hill and tree: For those of us who know this, on one thing we can agree, The windfarms should be gone !