Dunmow one of the first solar farms to be awarded Wild Power certification

09 Sep 2026

The certification recognises Thrive’s commitment to conserving and enhancing nature on site.

Article written by alex.lomax

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We’re proud to share that our 10MW solar farm in Essex, which we co-own with TopCashback Group Ltd, is the second site in the UK to become Wild Power certified.

Wild Power is a new standard in biodiversity for renewable energy projects. The certification independently verifies the biodiversity measures we have introduced to ensure the solar farm provides a haven for local wildlife to thrive as well as generating clean electricity.

Since acquiring Dunmow solar farm in 2025, we have introduced a range of biodiversity measures that aim to make the site a haven for local wildlife, including:

Planting new species rich grassland and wildflower areas in and round the solar farm to support and attract a range of wildlife – from birds and bees to badgers and hares.
Planting new hedgerows of native species to fill gaps between existing hedgerows, improving the site’s habitats for nature to thrive over the long term.
Enhancing habitat conditions in the neighbouring Skylark area by preventing encroachment of scrub, preserving a more open, botanically rich grassland that is better suited to breeding Skylarks.
Installing bird and bat boxes in boundary trees to provide more opportunities for nesting birds and roosting bats on site.

“Wild Power certification reflects Thrive’s commitment to going above and beyond minimum requirements at Dunmow to deliver a truly nature friendly renewable energy project. We commend Thrive for their efforts and we hope that this achievement will inspire others to follow, contributing to Wild Power’s mission to make it easy and viable for nature to thrive at renewable energy sites.”

Joe Arafa, Director of Wild Power

“Well managed solar farms can deliver more than clean electricity, becoming havens for wildlife to thrive. A bit like a fair trade stamp for your coffee, Wild Power certification is a biodiversity stamp for solar farms, providing independent verification of the measures we have introduced to conserve and enhance nature on site. We’re aiming to provide a rich habitat for a diverse range of species, from butterflies and birds to a whole host of insects, as well as mammals like hares and badgers.”

David Matheson, Senior Sustainability Analyst, Thrive Renewables

Thrive’s biodiversity policy commits us to supporting long-term sustainable development, aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 15: ‘Life on Land’. We intend to go above and beyond legal requirements with voluntary initiatives tailored on a site-by-site basis and outlined in individual Biodiversity Management Plans. The suite of measures we have introduced at Dunmow will significantly exceed the 10% Biodiversity Net Gain planning baseline in England – increasing habitat net gain by 65% and hedgerow net gain by 19%.

Dunmow is funded by Fair Play Clean Energy Ltd, our joint venture with TopCashback Group Ltd, which brings together a combined £80 million in capital to fund new renewable energy projects across the UK.

“Receiving the Wild Power award in partnership with Thrive is an honour and a wonderful tribute to all the dedicated effort on the ground. This achievement embodies our core business values and our commitment to positive environmental impact in the broader community. We take continuous pride in directing our investments towards activity that creates meaningful change in the world.”

Oliver Ragg, Co-founder of TopCashback