Sir David in opera drama over turbine

Sir David Attenborough, the veteran wildlife broadcaster and conservationist, has found himself in an unlikely standoff with countryside campaigners, after supporting the installation of a 70m-high wind turbine for Glyndebourne Opera. Attenborough has given his backing for the turbine, which the opera house hopes will slash its carbon emissions. Later today Attenborough will give evidence at a public inquiry, saying the turbine will be a "marvellous demonstration" of how to minimise pollution.

Pitted against the broadcaster and the opera house will be Natural England, the Government's conservation advisers, and other environmental groups who say the turbine will be a blot on the landscape. It is to be erected near the site of a former windmill, between the villages of Glyndebourne and Ringmer in East Sussex – and within the South Downs national park.

Attenborough, whose final programme in his Life series airs on BBC1 next week, said: "It would help protect not only the countryside we have known for centuries but also the wider world." The broadcaster, who has been visiting Glyndebourne since the Fifties, went on: "Some communities really do take the ecological challenge seriously and do not simply utter pious words and leave it to others to take action." A wind turbine, with its graceful lines, would fit in with the environment, he told the Daily Telegraph.

Countryside campaigners hit back: "We greatly respect the work of Sir David Attenborough and his huge contribution to world conservation. However... Glyndebourne's carbon footprint is dominated by private car use to attend its operas. Furthermore, the turbine will produce little electricity during the opera season.”