A group of Pembrokeshire College students got their hands dirty last week when helping to transform the Port of Milford Haven’s solar array into a haven for wildlife.

The 20,000 panel system at Liddeston Ridge was officially switched on in April this year and to date has generated over 3.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity- equivalent to taking 552 cars off the road.

The Port enlisted the help of students following the Level 2 Diploma Countryside and Environment course at the college to plant thousands of locally sourced seeds that will eventually create a wildflower meadow attracting a variety of insects, birds and animals to the diverse habitat.

Jessica Duckworth, Energy Projects Coordinator at the Port of Milford Haven, said habitat management was a key element of the project.

She said: “The solar project provides us with an excellent opportunity to improve the biodiversity of the site, while also allowing local students to gain necessary hands-on experience that will strengthen their employment prospects. We are very pleased with the work the students completed at Liddeston Ridge and we hope to work with them again in the near future to further enhance the natural environment”.

Countryside and Environment course tutor Mark Brace said: “The ethos of the course is to show our students the work which can be undertaken to help enhance the environment within Pembrokeshire, as well as the new potential job opportunities which solar farms and similar developments can create for the future.”

In addition to the solar park, the Port has also installed 2,500 solar panels across 25 of its buildings in Milford Dock and Pembroke Port, installed low-energy LED bollards throughout Milford Marina and is developing key partnerships with the marine renewables sector at Pembroke Port. The Port’s investment into the renewable energy industry will assist in achieving its ultimate ambition of becoming a carbon neutral operation.