By JOHN ELWORTHY Photos BRIAN PURDY BABIES born during the construction phase of a Fenland wind farm became guests of honour at the official opening. Farmer Duncan Boughton decided that the babies- all related to people involved in the business- would pl

By JOHN ELWORTHY

Photos BRIAN PURDY

BABIES born during the construction phase of a Fenland wind farm became guests of honour at the official opening.

Farmer Duncan Boughton decided that the babies- all related to people involved in the business- would play a special part in the ceremony.

"The reason we are doing it is to highlight the fact we are preparing for the next generation- or indeed the one after that- and the shortage of energy they could face," said Mr Boughton.

"We felt this would be a way of drawing a line against those who object to wind farms and the fact that in so doing they are depriving those people of energy if they go on objections."

The wind farm he has helped to create began life some five years ago when the first phase was applied for and got permission from Fenland Council.

Now there five wind turbines at the site- off Benwick Road, Doddington- and on Friday Mr Boughton named the five turbines after five babies - one as yet not born and the others very much present.

A spokesman for Ecogen, who part own the wind farm, said: "Each baby belongs to one of the families involved in the development. Duncan's message was that it will be their generation that lives with the consequences of our actions taken to mitigate climate change."

The project was developed in two phases and now comprises five, two megawatt turbines.

The wind farm is owned by Fenpower Limited - a joint venture between EcoGen Limited, Ventus VCT plc and members of the Boughton family who own Ransonmoor Farm.

Mr Boughton said when the scheme was announced that "as a hard pressed arable farmer the chance to develop the wind farm will provide much needed revenue for a generation ."

He added: "From now onwards we have a new diversified crop-we shall now be farming the wind.