Yes, RSPB does take cash from windfarm companies - but organisation insists it is not 'hush money'

                                                                              

Offshore windfarm - with Spurn lighthouse in the foreground

YES, the RSPB does accept funding from the windfarm industry.

This surprise admission came from one of its executives, Shaun Thomas, at last weekend's AGM.

The impact of windfarms on birds - both marine species and migrating raptors and songbirds - is thought to be extensive, but the RSPB has always been one of the industry's keenest champions.

It is at the forefront of organisations eager to highlight the pressing need to switch from fossil fuels to renewables such as wind and solar.

Although, it is known to have been making a fuss - albeit out of the media spotlight - about the impact on kittiwakes of the Hornsea project off the Yorkshire Coast, it rarely opposes applications for new windfarms, even those which threaten uncommon species such as ospreys and white-tailed eagles.

In addition, it has a longstanding financial arrangement with onshore operator Ecotricity which leases an area of RSPB land at the latter's HQ in Bedfordshire for a turbine.

Full records of the impact of this particular installation on birds have either been lost or destroyed, but it is known the turbine has to be closed down on some summer evenings after it emerged that the rotating blades had been killing wildlife, bats in particular.

In response to a question from a member at the weekend meeting,  Mr Thomas described the RSPB's relationships with windfarm operators as "complex".

Acknowledging that monies were being received from the industry, he maintained that much of it was being channelled into "mitigation and research".

Where there are proposals for controversial developments, he insisted: "There is no contractual obligation on the RSPB not to speak out."

The Wryneck says: Because of time constraints, most of the questions submitted to the AGM remained  unanswered, so it was valiant of Mr Thomas to field the one on the RSPB's relationship with the windfarm industry given that some members perhaps feel it is much too cosy. However, it would be helpful  to know both  how much funding the charity receives and the terms of the various contracts. As the long as money is changing hands, there will remain the suspicion that, to a lesser or greater extent,  the RSPB is 'influenced'. In the interest of impartiality and objectivity, its best policy would surely be to terminate all commercial arrangements with the industry.