Meeting Our Waterloo
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SPRING 2015 Meeting our Waterloo A nation prepares to laud one of its greatest leaders DON’T MESS WITH MILLY The young farmer challenging tradition Win an iPad mini in our readers’ survey See page 20 Grantors’ champion The magazine for landowners The magazine for Adam Henson talks exclusively to Gridline gridline PLUS: In search of a pint of perfection • We walk the line • The appliance of science • Win: A luxury hotel break Spring 2015 Welcome to Some useful contact numbers The Land & Business Support team is responsible for acquiring all rights and permissions from statutory authorities and landowners needed gridline to install, operate and maintain National Grid’s electricity and gas transmission networks. Yet again, this edition of Gridline showcases the The Group acts as the main interface for landowners who have gas and electricity entrepreneurial spirit of grantors across the UK equipment installed on their land. Your local contacts are listed below. ELECTRICITY AND GAS e’re absolutely We’ve also had a chat – ➸ Land teams – all regions 0800 389 5113 delighted to have unfortunately not over a pint an interview with – with micro brewery owner WAYLEAVE PAYMENTS W ➸ For information on wayleave payments, Countryfile presenter Adam John Costello, who has created telephone the payments helpline on Henson in this edition. His an award-winning and growing 0800 389 5113 comments are a ringing business based on good old CHANGE OF DETAILS endorsement of the resilience traditional tastes. ➸ To inform National Grid of changes in ownership or contact details, telephone and entrepreneurial spirit of If history is your thing, then 0800 389 5113 for electric and 01926 654 844 for grantors around the UK. take a look at the four-page gas, or email [email protected] We were flattered to see that the BBC special, which celebrates the 200th ELECTRICITY EMERGENCY programme’s research team have also anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and ➸ Emergency calls to report pylon damage to National Grid can be made on 0800 404 090. followed up on a few of the stories we’ve explores how it changed the course of Note the tower’s number – found just below featured about grantors in previous editions European history. the property plate – to help crews locate it – and Adam even took a few copies of the last Despite a formidable reputation even the ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS edition for inspiration. Duke of Wellington might have met his ➸ For information on electric and magnetic fields, call the EMF information line on 08457 023 270 It just goes to show how appearing in match if he’d come up against Milly Wastie, (local call rate). Website: www.emfs.info Gridline can be a great springboard to a woman who doesn’t mind ruffling a few GAS EMERGENCY showcasing the fantastic work your business feathers to make sure the public truly ➸ 0800 111 999 is doing to emerge even stronger from tricky understands the importance of farming. DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG economic times. As always, I hope you enjoy the read. ➸ Before carrying out any work in the vicinity Elsewhere in this edition we’ll be of gas pipelines, overhead power lines or underground electric cables, you should contact explaining why it’s so important for our Plant Protection on 0800 688 588 so that searches linesmen to monitor your overhead cables can be made to determine the exact position of any National Grid assets and how you can work with them to make Dawn McCarroll the process run even more smoothly. Editor, Gridline CUSTOMER COMMENTS ➸ Write to Land & Development, National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, The National Grid Land team now have a new phone number – 0800 389 5113. Warwickshire, CV34 6DA. Or email This contact number can be used as a single point of contact for your regional [email protected] Land team for all enquiries relating to wayleaves, easements, access to land and general enquiries. Queries regarding Electricity Wayleave Payments can continue Gridline is produced by to be made using this number. Please note that the current contact number for the Summersault Communications South West Land team will cease as of 13 March 2015 and the South West Land team Victoria Court will only be contactable via 0800 389 5113; you will still be able to contact the South 8 Dormer Place Leamington Spa East, North West and Scotland, and East Land teams on their existing landline number. Warwickshire CV32 5AE 02 SPRING 2015 GRIDLINE 18 16 10 Contents Regulars Features 04 National Grid donation 07 Ex clusive: Adam Henson to help protect moorland hails the ingenuity of UK grantors 05 One woman’s quest to protect cyclists 10 Meeting your Waterloo: 06 How Science Museum one of Britain’s greatest 07 exhibition is sparking leaders celebrates 200 youngsters’ imaginations years in the spotlight 14 I walk the line: the National Grid linesmen 20 keeping you connected 16 Milly’s mission: The New year, inspirational farmer new start challenging convention Colin Parsons 18 Cask and bottle: the captured the theme perfectly with this pilgrims in pursuit of the 14 beautiful image to win perfect, traditional pint a £150 spending spree. Fancy a shot? Turn to 20 Win a spa break, iPad mini page 20. and £150 spending spree GRIDLINE SPRING 2015 03 and its and its (l to r) David Smith, National The latest news from The latest Grid National partners landowner oooo Grid’s investment delivery engineer, Andrew Shaw and Fiona Draisey, both park rangers (and in the background park ranger Gordon Danks) Helping hand to protect precious moorland NATIONAL GRID has made a harm moorland fires can do to the National Grid’s donation has donation to the Peak District local environment and wildlife. been used to purchase a new set National Park Authority (PDNPA) Since 1976, there have been of wheels for the team’s Argo to help it tackle disruptive over 350 reported incidents of Centaur all-terrain vehicle, which moorland fires. wildfires in the park, commonly is invaluable to access fires in line The company, which has started by arson, discarded remote areas, as well as a trailer recently replaced cables inside the cigarettes, barbecues and to help transport the vehicle by Woodhead Tunnels, stepped in to campfires. Some have been Land Rover and two portable help after learning how much serious and lasted several days. water containers. Keeping the hive alive National Grid has underlined its honey bees by commitment to reversing the planting more decline of the honey bee by pollen-rich becoming a corporate member environments and of the British Beekeepers funding research into Association (BBKA). the varroa mite that has The company has been working decimated colonies. with the BBKA to provide secure It is hoped that sites for beehives and now has National Grid land more than 30 beehives on 13 sites. can become part of a natural grid the Year by Business in the National Grid has signed up – providing valuable platforms for Community (BITC) in recognition to the BBKA’s Friends of the Honey biodiversity in the countryside. of its outstanding integration of Bee campaign, which Last year, National Grid was responsible practice throughout News aims to build a better future for named Responsible Business of its operations. 04 SPRING 2015 GRIDLINE Group are putting the brake on cycle incidents It’s a sobering thought that cyclists To date, more than 100 are involved in around 19,000 road employees have been trained. incidents each year, resulting in TWUG has also successfully about 3,000 being killed or campaigned for cycle-friendly road suffering life-changing injuries. improvements in the Warwick area. One woman who is determined Antonia is a member of the to do her bit to change this statistic company’s Cycle Safety Steering is Antonia Dennis (near right), an Group, which won a National Grid innovation analyst in National Grid’s Chairman’s Award last year for Gas Distribution business, who runs its continued promotion courses for employees on how to of cycle safety. improve their cycle safety. National Grid’s own “Road positioning, hazard fleet of large vehicles perception, defensive cycling, have been fitted with confidence and visibility are all key safety innovations, such issues for cyclists developing a safe as bigger mirrors and riding strategy,” said Antonia, who sensors, to make it represents the employee-run Two easier for drivers to Wheel User Group (TWUG). detect cyclists. First champion of the year ROBERT WILLIAM JONES, of and grassland, along with Lower Argoed Farm, near Builth arable crops to support the Wells in Powys, has become the livestock enterprise. first winner of the NFU Cymru/ Having the right livestock- NFU Mutual Livestock Champion handling procedures and of the Year Award. equipment in place provides a The farmer, who is the safe working environment for son-in-law of National Grid gas farm workers, and are vital for grantor Ieuan Evans, was animal welfare reasons. presented with a cheque for £300 “Robert’s recognition and and an engraved respect for health and safety crystal trophy at the is second to none,” said Lyndon Royal Welsh Edwards, chairman of NFU Agricultural Society Cymru’s Livestock Board. Winter Fair in The judges also praised his December. work coaching young farmers in Robert (right) receives his award at the Royal After leaving livestock handling, passing on the Welsh Agricultural school and working key skills of an expert stockman. Society Winter Fair from on the family farm, Among those who have Lyndon Edwards, Robert moved to benefited is his own son Rhodri Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Livestock Board; (inset) Lower Argoed in who, for the second year in Rhodri with his 2003, where he succession, came first in the prize-winning sheep and his wife focus Jacob Sheep Society’s prize for on sheep, cattle the best small flock, aged just 11.