Exclusive:World-famous yogi criticises Walshaw Moor windfarm project over peatland risk

The ruined farmhouse on top of Walshaw Moor is said to have inspired Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, which shot to prominence again earlier this year with Emerald Fennell’s movie.

One of the world’s most high-profile environmental campaigners has warned against Saudi-backed plans to build one of the country’s biggest windfarms on the wild moorland that was the inspiration for Wuthering Heights.

Walshaw Moor, near Halifax in West Yorkshire, is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area due to its rare peatland habitat and red-listed bird species, including curlews, lapwings, skylarks, merlins, and golden plovers.

The ruined farmhouse on top of the moor is said to have inspired the novel by Emily Brontë, which shot to prominence again earlier this year with Emerald Fennell’s movie adaptation starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie.

Despite its legal protections, the developers are pushing ahead with plans to build 34 wind turbines – at 200m more than 40m higher than the Blackpool Tower – and a battery energy storage system, known as Calderdale Energy Park.

MPs from Labour and the Conservatives have objected to the project, highlighting the fact that the scheme would cover more than 2,300 hectares of protected peatland, one of the UK’s most important natural carbon stores.

Now Sadhguru, a spiritual yogi who is the leader of the Save Soil movement and one of the most famous campaigners in India, told The Yorkshire Post that certain soil types like peatland “must be prioritised” over developments.

He said: “Preserving agricultural land and soil health is a generational responsibility.

“We are just pop ups on this planet, and our actions have an impact on generations to come.

“Whether it is peatlands or any kind of soil, construction can definitely cause its damage.

“It’s not that all development is negative, and renewable energy sources are needed - but certain soil types are unique in their ability to regulate our climate, are essential for the surrounding biodiversity, and their future prosperity must be prioritised.”

In 2022, Sadhguru drove a motorcycle from the Houses of Parliament in Westminster to India to raise awareness for the global soil crisis.

He added: “UK peatlands alone hold over 3.2bn tonnes of carbon - but 80 per cent are in poor condition, releasing over 20m tonnes of CO2 per year.

“This is what we are doing to our soil. When our lands are releasing carbon into the atmosphere, we don’t even need to burn fossil fuels to cause damage.

“We need to improve organic matter in peatlands and ensure they are protected, and allowed to fulfill their ecological role.”

This intervention comes with the project shrouded in controversy. CEP was forced to extend the deadline for people to resubmit their responses to the consultation due to a glitch.

Meanwhile, Calderdale Council has slammed the statutory consultation, saying it is not up to standard and should be done again.

CEP rejected this and said it was carried out in line with planning legislation requirements and its own statement of community consultation.

A spokesperson said: “We recognise the importance of protecting peatlands and the role they play in storing carbon on the moorland.

“Detailed peat, ground condition and stability assessments are ongoing, and the findings will inform the project's final design.

“Current modelling indicates that any peat excavated during construction can be retained and reused on site, rather than removed elsewhere.

“We're also exploring opportunities to improve areas of degraded peat habitat across the site, enhancing their ability to store carbon, retain water, support biodiversity and function as healthy peatland in the long term, helping to leave parts of the moor in a better condition than they are today."