RSPB defends building of wind turbine at Bedfordshire HQ

Work is underway to install a giant wind turbine at the RSPB's headquarters in Bedfordshire.

Despite the charity's opposition to other wind farms, it insists that not all wind turbines pose a danger to birds.

The bird protection charity wants to reduce its carbon footprint because of the negative effects of global warming, claiming that climate change is likely to be the greatest single threat to wildlife if humans don't act to slow it down.

When it's complete, the turbine in Sandy will be 100 metres tall and provide the equivalent of half of the electricity used by the RSPB each year.

Campaigners fear that the installation of a turbine in a bird reserve will lead to the deaths of more wild birds and bats.

The RSPB has been testing the site's suitability for three years and says it's satisfied that the giant spinning structure will pose no extra risk.

The installation is expected to take less than a week, but such delicate work could easily be hampered by high wind.

Click below to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Chloe Keedy