SPRING 2014 The real Downton A look at what goes on when the cameras leave ‘ABSOLUTE CHAOS’ What happened when a grantor first opened to the public Back to school Lambing or cider making, Kate's top of the class whatever the season The magazine for National Grid grantors National The magazine for gridline PLUS: Adrenalin-seeking stonemason • Dial before you dig • Fast track to success • Win a luxury country break Covers 2v2.indd 1 04/03/2014 11:51 Spring 2014 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 to gridline install, operate and maintain National Grid’s electricity and gas transmission networks. The National Grid is taking strides to ensure the future Group acts as the main interface for landowners who have gas and electricity equipment installed of energy production is in safe hands on their land. Your local contacts are listed below. ELECTRICITY AND GAS ➸ North-west and Scotland 0161 776 0706 n every aspect of life we prove, needn’t mean a life ➸ South-east 01268 642 091 ➸ South-west 01452 316 059 see the huge benefit of stuck behind a desk. ➸ East 0113 290 8235 I Britain’s world- The stories on page 5 WAYLEAVE PAYMENTS renowned engineering offer a snapshot of the ➸ For information on wayleave payments, telephone the payments helpline on tradition, but it’s a legacy exciting activities we’re 0800 389 5113 that is now under threat. running to help safeguard CHANGE OF DETAILS Fewer youngsters think our future. ➸ To inform National Grid of changes in ownership or contact details, telephone the key science subjects are This time we’ve been 0800 389 5113 for electric and 01926 654 844 for interesting enough to study granted privileged access gas, or email [email protected] at university in a disturbing trend that to the setting for Downton Abbey, but ELECTRICITY EMERGENCY National Grid is trying to address. we’re always on the lookout for ➸ Emergency calls to report pylon damage to National Grid can be made on 0800 404 090. As you’ll see once again in this edition, information about your business and Note the tower’s number – found just below the property plate – to help crews locate it our grantors are keeping time-honoured how you’ve diversified to grow, so please traditions and skills alive, but without do get in touch. ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ➸ For information on electric and magnetic fields, the knowledge being passed on, they In the meantime, enjoy the read. call the EMF information line on 08457 023 270 will wither on the vine. (local call rate). Website: www.emfs.info That’s why we are increasingly active GAS EMERGENCY ➸ 0800 111 999 in schools, colleges and communities to spread the word that a career in DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG Dawn McCarroll ➸ Before carrying out any work in the vicinity engineering, as many of our grantors Editor, Gridline of gas pipelines, overhead power lines or underground electric cables, you should contact Plant Protection on 0800 688 588 so that searches can be made to determine the exact position of any National Grid assets Nick Kenyon, who runs WHAT’S YOUR STORY? the Dewlay cheese CUSTOMER COMMENTS company featured in Please contact Gridline if you have any ➸ Write to Land & Development, the last edition of National Grid House, Warwick news or stories that you think would be Gridline, was delighted Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick, of interest to other grantors. Warwickshire, CV34 6DA. Or email with the coverage. [email protected] “All I can say is ‘bloomin’ heck’. I didn’t Tel: 01926 656 325 expect to be featured on the front page! Email: [email protected] Gridline is produced by “You definitely made my mum proud, Write to: Gridline, Summersault Communications that’s for sure. I just wanted to say a Summersault Communications, 23-25 Waterloo Place big thanks for the exposure. It was a 23-25 Waterloo Place, Warwick Street, Warwick Street Leamington Spa Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5LA. fabulous piece. Best wishes for 2014.” Warwickshire, CV32 5LA 02 SPRING 2014 GRIDLINE _p02-03_Contents.indd 2 04/03/2014 11:28 Contents 08 14 18 17 12 Regulars Features 04 Butter y action stations 08 Behind the scenes at one 20 05 Bright sparks will y of the nation’s best-known thanks to National Grid and loved estates Daisy Duck 06 Power line clearance brings 12 The grantor helping Tiana Walton, from environmental bene ts us wave goodbye to Frodsham in Cheshire, 07 Help us to help you… dial winter with a hardy won £150 of M&S before you dig family legacy vouchers with this 14 Take a look inside the shot. Turn to page 20 for details of this ‘warts and all’ country issue’s competition. school loved by celebrities and would-be smallholders 17 From the brink of death Competition winner to a booming family business – Dave Mullet’s Congratulations to Sheila Pritchard, from Abergavenny amazing ghtback in Monmouthshire, Wales, who won a Nook tablet for correctly 18 The daredevil, adrenalin- answering the Dewlay cheese question in the last edition. She said: “I don’t normally enter competitions, but I’m very seeking grantor whose glad I did. I’ve received my Nook already. Thank you, Gridline.” career is literally set in 05 stone forever GRIDLINE SPRING 2014 03 _p02-03_Contents.indd 3 04/03/2014 11:29 Now you see it, soon you won’t. Our teams worked hard to safeguard and its and its the environment Going, going, gone! THIS WAS THE MOMENT Briwet road bridge and adjoining The latest news from The latest Grid National network grantor nationwide A temporary a 50-metre-tall pylon in the Cambrian Coast rail line. oooo pylon was put in place with Snowdonia National Park was minimum brought crashing to the ground in Challenging fuss a controlled demolition operation. “Access was challenging and When it was built in the 1960s, National Grid was grateful for the National Grid pylon at the support of a number of Penrhyndeudraeth, in the Dwyryd organisations including the local estuary near Porthmadog, was on council, National Resources Wales rm land, but changes in the ow and Snowdonia National Park of water in the estuary undercut Authority,” said Chris Isaac, the foundations, causing the regional external a airs manager. pylon to suddenly list. During the “We replaced the pylon with a operation, a 100-metre exclusion temporary one before winter, zone was declared with minimising disruption to local temporary closures of the Point people and the environment.” Substation site is butter y haven line A RARE BREED OF BUTTERFLY management regime in place is enjoying a revival at a National and is committed to improving Grid substation. the habitat still further.” Feckenham substation in Worcestershire has been Conservation identi ed as a stronghold of the Chris Plester, sustainability Brown Hairstreak butter y, which business advisor at National Grid, is a priority species. Around 100 said: “The egg locations have now eggs were discovered at the site, been recorded and incorporated following a visit by volunteers into our site conservation plan, from the West Midlands branch of in partnership with the Butter y Conservation. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. “East Worcestershire is the only “Sections of hedgerow have area in the Midlands where the been double-fenced to protect Hairstreak is still found,” said the the eggs, and new wild pear, organisation’s Mike Williams. cherry, damson and crab apple “The butter y mainly frequents bushes planted to create hedgerows, but annual ailing wildlife corridors.” National Grid is results in the loss of a large “It’s a great example of how working with number of eggs. we work with partners and communities “It’s great to know that communities to promote and and partners to improve habitats News National Grid has a sympathetic preserve biodiversity.” 04 SPRING 2014 GRIDLINE 4093_p04-07_v3_News.indd 2 04/03/2014 11:29 One- minute Inspiring choices interview MORE THAN 2,000 PUPILS modules to pupils aged 11 to 16. in the Midlands are to receive The project is the brainchild of careers advice from National Grid National Grid CEO Steve Holliday, and other major companies as who is also chair of Businesses in Liz King, part of an ambitious initiative. the Community’s Talent and Skills Bright spark land o cer, The scheme will aim to address leadership team. East region concerns that youngsters leave “Good, relevant, inspiring A LESSON BY NATIONAL GRID school without the right careers advice, which includes volunteers, on how to generate quali cations to match the people in industry telling their electricity using a lemon, got the BACKGROUND: I joined Land & Business Support in May vacancies industry has to o er. career story, has to be part of thumbs up from pupils at 2011, after working for Hull education,” he said. Church elds Primary School in Forward, the regeneration Exciting “We don’t expect 11-year-olds to Beckenham, London. agency for Hull, as a The pilot careers education know what they want to do when The volunteers were cleaning development manager. programme, called Careers Lab, they leave school, but we can up a former power station site CURRENT FOCUS: I’m will see representatives from open their minds to exciting nearby. The aim of the company’s currently working on an industry work alongside teachers careers and spheres of industry School Power initiative is to internal programme and careers experts to deliver that they might not know exist.” inspire engineers of the future.