RAF Great Orton

Following closure in 1954 the airfield was eventually sold into private ownership in 1964.^[4]  

Between 1964 and 2001 the airfield was mainly used for agricultural purposes. Also, during this time, the airfield was occasionally used for motor car rallying.^[4]

Between 1988 and 2001 the Carlisle and District Gun Club ran clay pigeon shooting events on a regular basis. Great Orton Flying Club operated microlight aircraft from the airfield between 1989 and 2001.^[4]

During the early 1990’s a wind farm was constructed, initially comprising ten 300-kilawatt turbines.  In 1999 the ten turbines were replaced with six new 660kw turbines.^[4]  The wind farm is currently owned and operated by EDF Power Solutions.^[5]

During the 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK, Great Orton Airfield was selected as a mass burial site for slaughtered animals.^[6]  This was the first of 6 sites used across the UK for mass burial.^[7]

In 2002 Watchtree Nature Reserve was established in order to remediate the mass burial site.  The site is operated by Watchtree Nature Reserve Ltd, a registered charity.^[8]  The nature reserve is now a well-developed local attraction and community asset.^[2][4][9]

• Listed buildings in Aikton

• Falconer, Jonathan (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
• Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.