Local walkers who appreciate the landscape and wildlife of Calderdale and Brontë Country have resoundingly rejected the proposed Wind Farm on Walshaw Moor above Hebden Bridge. In a Walkers’ Survey carried out during May and June 2024, 92% of respondents said they objected to the development, citing the industrialisation of the unspoilt rural landscape (93%) and the destruction of birds, wildlife and moorland habitats (84%) as their primary concerns.

The survey, which was circulated at the Public Forum about the Wind Farm held at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge on 15 May 2024 and also promoted online via www.stopcalderdalewindfarm.co.uk, asked people about their current walking habits and preferences, and canvased their views on whether the Wind Farm would have a deterrent effect.  63% of the respondents were Hebden Bridge residents and 25% were from elsewhere in Calderdale, with 11% from further afield in Yorkshire, Lancashire or Greater Manchester. Many were very keen walkers: 48% went walking in the area on a daily basis, with an additional 43% going out walking in Calderdale or Brontë Country at least once a week.

The National Trust estate of Hardcastle Crags and the adjoining Walshaw Moor Estate (site of the proposed Wind Farm) were the two most popular destinations for local walkers. 96% of respondents had visited Hardcastle Crags and 88% had been walking on Walshaw Moor within the last 12 months. Crimsworth Dean, which lies just below the Walshaw Moor Estate, was another popular destination, along with Widdop Moor and Widdop Reservoir, both recently visited by 78% of the walkers in the survey. Several other iconic hilltop locations in Calderdale and Bronte Country looking directly onto the proposed turbine site on Walshaw Moor were also firm favourites with walkers, notably Top Withens, Heptonstall and Stoodley Pike.

The Pennine Way, which runs right through the centre of Walshaw Dean to Top Withens, was singled out as one of the most popular local footpaths, with 91% of walkers having used it over the last year. The extensive network of trails running through and around Hardcastle Crags also scored highly at 90%, as did the footpaths through Crimsworth Dean, including the perennially popular Hebden Bridge to Haworth Walk which crosses the Walshaw Moor Estate. Topping the popularity stakes at 95% was the Calderdale Way,  a well-established long-distance footpath which loops round the Calderdale Valley and has many views towards Walshaw Moor along its 50-mile length.

98% of respondents cited hilltop vistas as the most distinctive feature of Calderdale’s countryside, along with its striking landscape (96%). Also highly valued by 95% of local walkers were the moorland birds and wildlife, the peace and tranquillity of the countryside and sense of wildness on the moors. The intrusive impact of large numbers of very tall wind turbines up to 200 metres in height on the landscape were identified as key concerns by 77% of respondents. Respondents indicated that, as well as put off from walking across Walshaw Moor itself, they would also be deterred from visiting the area by turbines sited above or near Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean (81%) or Top Withens, Haworth and Brontë Country (78%).

The survey clearly demonstrates that local walkers believe that the proposed Calderdale Wind Farm would have an extremely negative impact on Calderdale’s greatest natural assets: its landscape, countryside and wildlife. As well as deterring walkers from the local community who treasure this resource, the construction of the wind farm would have a significant deterrent effect on visitors from further afield currently attracted to this area specifically because of its unique landscape and wildlife.