GridlineThe magazine for National Grid grantors

summer 06

Two major pipelines are being builtin the north of England to distributenatural gas from Norway. Engineers

have started to lay the first sections of thehigh pressure gas transmission pipelines,one running for 53km between Gansteadand Asselby in Yorkshire, and the other94km from Pannal in Yorkshire across

to Nether Kellet in Lancashire. Fullstory, pages 10 and 11.

Our picture shows National Grid?????????????????? ?????????

Pipelines

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Be safe —that’s the messagefrom National Grid to remindlandowners and occupiers thatthey must ALWAYS ring TWOnumbers for gas pipelineenquiries before starting anywork on their land.

1) National Grid’s gastransmission pipelines maybe directly affected by the workyou are considering. So in orderto determine if this is the case— and to ensure you worksafely close to such pipelines —please contact in writing:

National Grid UK TransmissionTransmission Enquiries TeamNational Grid HouseLand and Development (B1)Warwick Technology ParkGallows HillWarwick CV34 6DA

Or call the TransmissionEnquiries team on theFREEPHONE 0800 731 2961.

2) Until last year, NationalGrid also owned the gasdistribution network acrossmainland Britain. But in April2005, it sold off four parts ofthis network, retaining only thethe local gas distributionnetwork covering the NorthWest, West Midlands, East ofEngland and North London.

Now five separate gasdistribution network companiesown the gas distributionpipeline network — and theymay ALSO be directly affectedby the work you are considering

or intending to undertake onyour land. Depending on whereyou are in England, Wales orScotland, you should alsocontact the appropriate gasdistribution network company.

North West, West Midlands,East of England and NorthLondonNational Grid UK GasDistribution

Plant Protection TeamNational GridLakeside HouseThe LakesBedford RoadNorthampton NN4 7HD01604 815 361Fax: 01604 816121Email:plantprotection@uk.ngrid.comEnquiries in writing wherepossible.

ScotlandScotland Gas NetworksPlant Location Department95 Kilbirnie StreetGlasgow G5 8JD0141 418 4093

Northern and North EastNorthern Gas Networks1st Floor, 1 Emperor WayDoxford International Business ParkSunderland SR3 3XR0191 501 4349

North Wales, South Wales,South WestWales and the West Utilities LtdPlant Protection Team,Wales and the West House,Spooner Close,Celtic Springs,Coedkernew,Newport. NP10 8SZ02920 278912

Southern and South EastSouthern Gas NetworksPlant Protection Team2 Leesons HillOrpingtonKent BR5 2TN01689 881 454

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Contacts

North and North West:0113 2908224/8235South East: 01268 642028South West: 01454 222044

Your wayleave teams and theirmobile numbersNorth EastWilson Holmes 07836 543539Scott Stephenson 07836543541North WestMark Thomas 07887 825073Martin Bretherton 07786021086North East (South)Mike Rockett 07836 364634Janet Clarke 07770 645599North West (South)Alan Whitmore 07836 629530Bob Tute 07836 668504

East MidlandsRobin O’Brien 07836 293137Simon Booth 07786 021088West MidlandsPaul Ganley 07836 549748Lee Durant 07776 121429East AngliaBarry Cullimore 07836 217478Sue Dunham 07766 785684South East (North London)Brian Mead 07836 217520Phil Burgess 07836 222051South East (South London)Paul Sage 07836 638823Alison Williams 07788 568678South WalesSimon Gronow 07836 207262Robert Miller 07836 743236South WestRichard Biggs 07785 716961Jane Bishop 07771 864528

Wayleave payments• For information on wayleavepayments telephone thepayments helpline on 0800 3895113.

Emergencies• Emergency calls to reportpylon damage to National Gridcan be made on 0800 404090.

Make a note of the tower’snumber — found just below theproperty plate — to help crewslocate it.

Electric and magnetic fields• For information on electricand magnetic fields, ring theEMF information line 08457023270 (local call rate).

Land and developmentgroupIs responsible for acquiring allrights and permissions fromstatutory authorities and

landowners needed to install,operate and maintain NationalGrid's electricity and gastransmission networks. Weact as the main interface for

landowners who have our gasand electricity equipmentinstalled on their land. Listedbelow are your local land anddevelopment team contacts.

To contact Gridline write to Papers Publishing, Stirling House, College Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HY or email john@paperspublishing.co.uk

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Gas Distribution (UKD) John Cunnington Senior land and developmentofficer Tel 0113 2908236 Fax 0113 2908530 Mobile 07836 364633

North London and East of England Simon Dando Land and development officer Tel 01452 316078

Fax 01452 316092 Mobile 07976 259211

North West Charles Miller Land and development officer Tel 0161 7760706 Fax 0161 7760601 Mobile 0797 6510120

West MidlandsBarry MercerLand and Development Officer

Tel 01452 316049Mobile 07785 290457Fax 01452 316092

AdministrationSue MakinTel 0191 2163519 Fax 0191 2163484

Gas emergency0800 111999 ! To report a gas escape or emergency or if a pipeline

is damaged, even slightly (even if no gas leak hasoccurred), please call the gas emergency servicewhich operates 24-hours-a-day on 0800 111 999.

gas

Work safelynear pipelines

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• The tunnels will be 3m to 4.5m indiameter, both requiring sophisticated

ventilation, and lined with 11,000 concreterings fitted with gaskets to ensure they are

watertight • 250,000 cubic metres of spoil will beproduced by the tunnelling process, which will bere-used to construct the Olympic Park • Machines

and workers will access the tunnelling constructionsvia 10 shafts, up to 40m below ground and up to

15m in diameter • The work being undertakenwill help manage the future electrical supply

requirements of the Olympic Games andParalympic Games and, in legacy,

East London.

FACTFILE

NATIONAL GRID VERY rarelyputs its electricity transmissioncables underground.

It’s only done for reasons ofnational importance — such asthe Olympics, which, it ishoped, will accelerate London’sexpansion eastwards toaccommodate the expectedpopulation growth in the capitalover the coming decades.

National Grid has joinedforces with the LondonDevelopment Agency (LDA), theOlympic Delivery Authority(ODA) and distribution networkoperator EDF Energy toupgrade and reconfigure theexisting electricity and gasnetworks to deliver power tothe London Olympics. It isbeing project-managed onbehalf of the LDA by Arup.

The scheme — kickstartedby the Culture, Media and SportSecretary Tessa Jowell when

she visited the Olympic Parksite in April to launch the ODA— is being funded by thegovernment. The budget isaround £200 million. It involvesthe dismantling of 52 pylons —27 owned by National Grid —and the installation andcommissioning of two 6.7kmcables by National Grid underthe Lower Lea Valley in EastLondon.

The first stage of thescheme is the construction oftwo cable tunnels for NationalGrid and EDF Energy, acondition for London hostingthe Games. The tunnels — thelarger is for National Grid — willunderground their overheadlines which currently span a6.7-kilometre route fromHackney to West Hamsubstations.

National Grid’s projectdirector for the work is GeoffSingleton who is workingclosely with the projectpartners.

“Tunnelling from themaintenance shaft sunk atCarpenters Road, abouthalfway between Hackney andWest Ham, has started in onedirection using a Canadian-made tunnel boring machine(TBM) — nicknamed Lucille,”explained Geoff.

“Work is progressing welland a second TBM — calledSonia — has arrived on sitefrom Canada ready to startboring in the opposite direction.Work on the second tunnel for

Bringing theOlympics toLondon is amassiveundertaking forcountless people,organisations andcompanies —including NationalGrid.With thecountdownticking away to2012,preparations areforging ahead andNational Grid isworking closelywith other partiesto ensure asuccessfulOlympic andParalympicGames — the firststaged in the UKsince 1948.

We digdeep forOlympics

some residential housing, and avast amount of railwaynetworks, including NetworkRail, the London Underground,CTRL and the DocklandsRailway.

“Taking down overheadlines and pylons are verycomplex operations and we will

be working very closely withNetwork Rail and the otherrailways companies. A greatdeal of advance planning isnecessary to ensure minimumdisruption to rail services.”

In a bid to allow earlier

EDF is on a slightly differenttimescale.

“The overhead lines that wehave to dismantle once the newunderground cables arecommissioned at the end of2008, cross a mixture of land —from green parkland, roads andwaterways to industrial land,

lo res scan need original from NG

Leading a project of national importance… Jeff Singleton on the Olympic site

A computer-generated image of what the Olympic park will look like continued overleaf

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construction of the Olympic Village,National Grid has proposed temporarilydiverting the existing overhead lineacross four sections to bring power tothe site, said Geoff.

“In conjunction with EDF, we are alsolooking at the energy requirements forthe future in the area. Not just theOlympic Village, but areas of anticipatedeconomic development that will requirea reinforcement of supply. In addition,we are looking at the impact on the gasdistribution network.”

South East wayleave officer BrianMead has the job of liaising with manygrantors and members of the publicaffected by the proposed work. He hasworked for the electricity industry for 36years, and in wayleaves for 22 years —one of his last major wayleave projectswas the £200m London Connectionscheme to reinforce electricity suppliesto the capital.

His current priority, he says, is tosecure wayleaves for the overhead lineand liaise with grantors who may be

affected with the overhead line diversionscheduled to start next July.

“The majority of the other work —removing the overhead line betweenHackney and West Ham — will involveclose liaison with local authorities,Highways, the police and members ofthe public,” said Brian.

“I very much look forward to thechallenges presented by such animportant scheme.”

National Grid’s efforts to date havebeen commended by the LDA. ProjectDirector Terry McDonald, said: “NationalGrid’s ability to supply innovativesolutions to a range of challenges hasproved invaluable in helping us to meetthe ambitious timescales for this world-class event.”

Geoff says the work in the LowerLea Valley is an exciting challenge forNational Grid, and for himself. “For methe priority is making sure that that theGovernment understands that we areworking to very tight timescales and thatthe right decisions have to be made atthe right time to ensure the success ofthe project.”

Powering upfor the future

Brian Mead, left, is busy securing wayleaves for the overhead line diversion

continued from page 5Fo

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GEOFF SINGLETON KNOWSall about demanding andcomplex work challenges — hehas survived quite a few over theyears since joining the CentralElectricity Generating Board asan engineering assistant in 1975.

A former National GridMidlands area manager, he hasbeen involved in a number ofmajor projects including the £79million Five Centre Project toprovide a new energymanagement system to manageand control the electricity grid.This scheme brought NationalGrid’s national control — thenerve centre of the electricitysupply industry in England andWales — to Wokingham in1993.

Geoff spent several years asan applications design managerwith Project Management beforetackling the biggest challenge ofhis career to date — “evenbigger than the Olympicproject,” he said.

He worked Down Under

from2000 to2003 asNationalGrid’sBasslinkchief executiveafter thecompany won thebid to build, own andoperate the £300msubmarine interconnectoracross the Bass Straits — thefirst electricity link betweenTasmania and Victoria inmainland Australia.

“There were a number ofobjections to the original route inVictoria, so we redesigned it andcompleted National Grid’sbiggest environmental impactassessment statement — it ranto 5,000 pages, with theguidance notes alone taking up170 pages.

“We finally agreed a route forthe overhead line in Victoriawhich passed within onekilometre of just 19 properties

instead of the 115 propertiesunder the original plan.”

Geoff liaised closely with theVictoria and Tasmania stategovernments, and the federalgovernment. “It was a long, anddifficult haul,” he said. Aftergaining the green light from allthree governments, and settingconstruction contractors,engineering and procurementservices in place to take theproject forward, Geoff returnedto the UK. As he embarks on theOlympic project, his Australianchallenge has come to fruition —the interconnector wascommissioned earlier this year.

Oz wizard Geofftackles Olympics

• The Lower Lea Valley, just three miles fromCentral London, is the largest remaining regenera-

tion opportunity in inner London. It runs north-southfrom Stratford to Canary Wharf and covers an area of

around 1,500 acres • The area is characterised by a large areaof derelict industrial land as well as poor housing. Much of the

land is fragmented and divided by waterways, overhead pylons,roads, the London Underground Network and heavy rail lines • It isone of the most deprived communities in the UK — unemploymentis running at 35 per cent on some estates, and skills levels are low• The Olympic Games will bring many new opportunities for local

people and businesses. Thousands of new homes will becreated — 9,000 in the Olympic Park alone. New schools,

family health services and other community facilities willalso be built • The Games will create the largest new

park in London since Victorian times. It will be asbig as Hyde Park and would double the

amount of green space currently inthe Lower Lea Valley.

FACTFILE

Setting-up the tunnel boringmachine continues at the drive shaft

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Stuart Martin working at the mill

and did their own milling. In1939, 44 customers still usedthe mill for grinding — by 1956when the business ceased,there were only four.

Diversification in farmingmay be the “in” phrase today —but the Martins, like manyfarming families, have beendoing it for years.

“When the milling businessended, the family bought moreland, giving us 140 acres, andstarted dairy farming. That

lasted untilthe early1960s when wewent into pigs.When prices dropped,pigs were no longer viableand so we increased our beefherd to 60, including sucklercows, and continued to growwheat, barley and rape.”

The water wheel has beenstill and silent for over half acentury. But the mill, oftenadmired by visiting enthusiasts,has not disappeared into themists of time — Stuart still usesit to mill his own animal feed.

“I have thoroughly enjoyedmy life here,” said Stuart. “Butthere are some small regrets. Ileft school, went to agriculturalcollege and came straight back

here. Sometimes I wish I hadseen a little bit more beforesettling down.

“My son Sam is a realcountryman and Tim is intomechanics. I hope they go offand explore more than I did —but I also hope ScarthingmoorMill will provide them with abase and a future when theyare ready.”l The farm is crossed by the High Marnham Chesterfieldoverhead line which is beingrefurbished.

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Miller John Martinfell on his feetwhen he marriedElizabeth, theboss’s daughter,in 1788.For when herfather WilliamNeedham died 10years later, thetenancy ofScarthingmoorWater Mill wastransferred to her.So began theMartin dynasty —eight generationslater, there are stillMartins atScarthingmoorMill in Weston,Nottinghamshire,National Gridgrantor StuartMartin and his wifeMargaret andtheir sons Tim, 15,and Sam, 13.And the mill is stillworking…

Mill morethan just amemoryTHE DOMESDAY BOOK of1086 records a water mill atWeston. Whether it was at thesite of Scarthingmoor Mill isunknown, says Stuart, for alltraces of original mills in Westonhave been lost in rebuilding.

“However, for a long time,the mill was owned by the EarlManvers estate. It was aprosperous business with, in1768, some 165 customers onits books.

“A ledger in the family

archives reveals that turnover in1780 was around £700, whichmust have been rather good forthe times.”

Until 1930, generations ofthe Martin family wereScarthingmoor Mill tenants.“Then my grandfather Thomasbought it from the estate in1930 and it has been owned bythe family ever since.”

Water power reigned foranother 20 years or so until itwas superseded by electricity. “I was only three when thewater wheel was last used in1953, but I can still remember itin action,” said Stuart.

Electricity allowed the mill towork 10 times faster than theold water mill. “And just bypushing a button!” said Stuart.“Before, it often took two daysto get a head of water, and thenthe mill could only operate fortwo or three hours at a time.”

The milling businessdwindled as local farms gottheir own small electric mills

It is thought there are at least 20,000disused mill sites in the UK — somepeople believe this is a vast untappedpotential to harness river and streampower to help meet Governmentrenewable energy targets.

For a final year project at SheffieldUniversity, student Greg Woodexplored the issue at ScarthingmoorMill.

Stuart Martin said: “Greg made avery small water turbine to see howmuch electricity he could generate.

“He got up to 1,600 rpm. Had itbeen a bit bigger, it would haveproduced enough electricity to powerfour light bulbs. Hopefully anotherstudent will take the project furthernext year.”

• Watermills are thought to have beenintroduced into the British Isles by the Romans •The Domesday survey records that of the 9,250

manors mentioned, 3,463 had 5,624 mills • During themedieval period, thousands were built across England and

Wales • The first mills had stone foundations but were of wattleand daub, timber and thatch; many mills burnt down, the frictioncaused by wooden machinery igniting explosive flour dust • By

1800 mills were powering a wide range of machinery — there werefulling (part of the cloth manufacturing process) and saw mills, and

some which powered looms • According to the Society for theProtection of Ancient Buildings, fewer than 60 mills were workingcommercially in the UK in 1997; at the start of the century there

had been 15,000 • The walls of Scarthingmoor Mill — rebuiltafter a fire in 1897 — are 24 inches thick at the base and

just nine inches at the top. The building has to sup-port the enormous weight of the cereals pullled

by heavy chains to the top of the buildingbefore being emptied into a hopper

ready for milling.

FACTFILE

Wheel of destinyScarthingmoor Millin 1877. The old mill burnt down andwas replaced by thepresent one built in1897. Pictured leftto right: Stuart'sgrandfather Tom,great-grandfatherThomas (born 1832)and great-grand-mother Elizabeth

Scarthingmoor Mill todayThe Martins: Tim, Stuart,

Margaret and Sam

project manager for the NetherKellet to Pannal pipeline, said:“Once all four sections of thenew pipeline are completed,they will connect the two mainnorth-south gas transmissionpipelines running from Scotlanddown each side of the country,allowing us to move theimported gas from Norway toareas of the UK where it is mostneeded.”

In planning the constructionof the pipeline, a detailedEnvironmental ImpactAssessment was carried out byenvironmental conservation andarchaeological specialists.“Once the pipeline is in theground,” said Philip, “we will bepaying particular attention torestoring the natural landscapeto its former appearance —

returning the topsoil, replantinghedgerows and restoring drystone wall. Within a matter ofmonths, the signs of ourpresence will start to disappearand by next summer, the pathtaken by the pipeline will beextremely difficult to pick out.

“Obviously, while work isunder way, there will bedisruption to localpeople, but we willdo everythingwithin our powerto keep this to aminimum.”

Agricultural liaison officerWatty Trayner has the task ofliaising with hundreds ofgrantors affected by thepipeline route, which coversareas of hillside, moorland andold pasture land.

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New supplies ofnatural gas fromfields off theNorwegian coastare due to arrivein Britain from2007. To enableNational Grid todistribute the gasaround thecountry, twomajor pipelinesare being built inthe north.

Gas pipelinework starts

TWO MAJOR PIPELINES arebeing built in the north ofEngland to distribute naturalgas from Norway.

Engineers have started tolay the first sections of the highpressure gas transmissionpipelines, one running for 53kmbetween Ganstead andAsselby in Yorkshire, and theother 94km from Pannal inYorkshire across to NetherKellet in Lancashire.

The new pipelines willeventually be two of four thatwill link up to carry gas from aterminal at Easington on theYorkshire coast across to thenorth west. It will be capable ofcarrying 20 per cent of the UK’sgas requirements.

The gas will come from theOrmen Lange gas field off thecoast of Norway — the thirdlargest exporter of natural gasbehind Russia and Canada —

via the world’s longest sub-seapipeline. The southern part ofthe 1,200km Langeled pipewas completed at the end oflast year.

When production from theOrmen Lange field starts in2007, up to 72 million cubicmetres of gas, a volumecomparable to Norway’s entiredaily energy consumption, willflow into Easington each day.

National Grid’s Nether Kelletto Pannal high pressure gaspipeline is being built byEntrepose IS, the Britishsubsidiary of the French groupEntrepose Contracting. Work istaking place over twoconstruction seasons betweenApril and October this year and2007. The entire length of theGanstead to Asselby pipeline isbeing built this year by MurphyPipelines Limited.

Philip Knipe, National Grid

• National Grid owns and operatesover 6,800km of high-pressure gas

transmission pipeline across Britain and132,000km of lower-pressure distribution gas

mains in the North West, the Midlands, East Angliaand North London. This represents more than half ofBritain’s gas transportation network, delivering gas to

around 11 million homes, offices and factories • In all, 5,510 sections of steel pipe with a diameter of

1,220 mm (48 inches) will be welded together toform the Nether Kellet to Pannal pipeline • Duringthe construction of the new pipeline, there will bean increase in the movement of heavy vehicles

on local roads. A telephone hotline hasbeen set up on 0800 652 8081 for

people who have questionsabout the pipeline.

FACTFILE

caption

Nether Kellet to Pannal pipeline

We will be paying particularattention to restoring the naturallandscape to its former appearance

Phillip Knipe

Skipton Pipeline 026 - picrequested from JasonBroadhurst and update frontpage ref

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MORE THAN 1,500 onshorewind turbines have the capacityto produce more than1,500MW of electrical power inthe UK at present, enough tosupply about 845,000 homes.

That’s just one per cent ofthe UK electricity — and yet theUK has the greatest windresource in Europe. Somecountries in Europe alreadygenerate as much as 20 percent of their electricity fromwind farms.

Wind has been the world’sfastest growing renewableenergy source for the pastseven years and this trend, saysthe British Wind EnergyAssociation (BWEA) is expectedto continue with falling costs ofwind energy and the urgentinternational need to tackle CO2emissions to halt climatechange.

A number of National Gridgrantors have expressed aninterest in installing their ownwind turbines — and haveasked about selling power tothe national grid.

“If you want to build a smallwind turbine — orphotovoltaics, small waterturbines etc — and sell theexcess power, you are basicallyin the same position as anyother generator in that you willneed to find a supplier, one ofthe companies who sellelectricity to the end consumer,who is willing to buy your spareelectricity from you,” saidHector Pearson, National Grid’sland and development groupmanager.

“Unfortunately, we do nothave information on whichsuppliers do buy power fromsmall scale/domestic renewablesources — or what rates theyoffer — and cannot offertechnical advice on how to goabout developing a project. But

there are organisations whomay be able to help, and wehave given contact detailshere.”

BWEA says that most of theutilities are now set up to dothis, and the results of theGovernment’s Energy Reviewand Climate Change Bill* willmake it easier for householdersand communities to getinvolved in generating their ownelectricity.l BWEA — the leadingrenewable energy tradeassociation in the UK — wasformed in 1978. For moreinformation, visitwww.bwea.com/small or call020 7689 1960. l The Renewable EnergyAssociation representsrenewable energy producersand promotes the use ofsustainable energy in the UK.For more information, call 0207747 1830 or visit www.r-p-a.org.ukl The DTI’s Low CarbonBuilding Programme providesgrants for microgenerationtechnologies to householders,community organisations,schools, the public and not forprofit sector and privatebusinesses. Tel 0800 915 0990,visitwww.lowcarbonbuildings.org.ukl Centre for AlternativeTechnology runs a freeinformation service, answeringenquiries on a wide range oftopics, including renewableenergy. Tel 01654 705950. Visitwww.cat.org.uk* This summer saw the ClimateChange and SustainableEnergy Bill receive the RoyalAssent.

This is a huge boost to thenew microgeneration sectorbecause it will prioritise policymeasures to supportconsumer-based

Gridlinewould like tohear fromgrantors whohave installedwind turbines.

Contactdetails are atthe bottom ofpage 2

Winds of changeThe pladder — a new platform ladder – ishelping to minimise land damage when linesmenhave to work on grantors’ land.

The pladder has been designed anddeveloped by National Grid overhead linedevelopment engineer Martin Wilson over thepast 18 months.

“It’s a lightweight amalgamation of a 19-metre access platform and a ladder used mainlywhen tension insulators are being replaced,” hesaid.

A platform and its associated equipment,including two one-ton concrete blocks, weighsup to 3.5 ton and needs to be delivered to sitewith an HGV, possibly creating problems. Theladder is not the preferred technique in terms ofsafe access or comfort.

“The pladder on the other hand comes withits own purpose-built lightweight trailer whichcan be hitched up to vehicles and towed to thetower base,” said Martin.“It weighs just 100 to110 kg and can be assembled on site in just 15or 20 minutes using a pair of stands which arestored in the trailer.”

Two vehicle-mounted capstan winches arerequired to lift the pladder into position so thereneeds to be two vehicles at the base of thetower.

“As well as being used for replacing eitherquad or twin insulators, the pladder will undergofurther development so it can also be used onsuspension towers when HSU suspensionclamps are being fitted,” said Martin. “It may alsobe considered suitable for use for other tasks, inthe interests of safety.”

Wayleave officers have welcomed the newpladder. “We can reduce land damage becauseof the lightweight equipment and a significantreduction in the number and size of vehicles onsite,” said Bob Tute, wayleave warden (CentralPatch 4). “So it’s good news for grantors.”

Twelve pladders are now being used byoverhead line teams around the country.

Linesmen havehigh hopes for new pladder

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microgeneration andbreakdown many of the barriersfacing uptake of the sector.

For more information on theGovernment’s MicrogenerationStrategy consultation, visitwww.dti.gov.uk/energy/energy-sources/sustainable/microgeneration/microgen-strategy/page27594.htm

l Good Energy operates

Home Generation andSmartgen that is beingintroduced this year.

Good Energy’s award-winning Home Generationscheme pays homes andbusinesses usingmicrogeneration for every unitof electricity they produce, eventhe ones they use on site. For more information visitwww.good-energy.co.uk

The pladder in action

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OUTSTANDING contributions toenvironmentally-sensitive farming inWales have been honoured by aprestigious agri-environment awardscheme.

The scheme, run jointly by theCountryside Council for Wales(CCW) and the Royal WelshAgricultural Society (RWAS) withsupport from the Wales YoungFarmers Club, was sponsored byNational Grid for the first time. Thecompany stepped in to ensure theimmediate future of the schemethat has been running for aroundfive years.

The 2006 awards attracted 46entries and the winners werepresented with prizes totalling£7,500 by RWAS president HywelD Lloyd at the Royal Welsh Showat Builth Wells.

The judges were National Gridland and development officerRichard Evans, Peter Smith fromthe YFC, Llewellyn Evans from theRWAS and the CCW’s chairmanJohn Lloyd Jones.

National Grid’s group corporateresponsibility director GarethLlewellyn said: “We operate thecountry’s essential electricity andgas transmission lines and alwaysaim to protect and enhance theenvironment when we work onland; the Agri-Environment Awardssupport this principle.”

The winnersl Innovation, integration andadaptability to balancing goodfarming products within anenvironmental framework andproviding access and educationalopportunities alongside the urbanfringe.

This, say the judges, won theDavies farming partnership the

2006 Farmers Award. It was thefirst time they had entered thecompetition.

The partnership — PeterDavies, his wife Rosamund andfather Walter — farms at SladeFarm, Southerndown in the Vale ofGlamorgan, and at three othersmaller outlying parcels of landincluding the parkland at St FagansParkland on the outskirts of Cardiff.

The family has been at Slade— a beef, sheep and arablerotation crop farm — for 30 yearsand in 1999 converted to organicproduction. This, together with TirGofal — the whole farm agri-environment scheme — ensuresthat the best environmentalpractices operate within theholding.

Slade Farm provides a

discretionary access which isheavily used within the HeritageCoast Outreach Programme forSchools.

“St Fagans Parkland is run in avery different way to the farm. It’sthe home of St Fagans NationalHistory Museum, one of Europe’sforemost open-air museums andthe most popular heritageattraction in Wales. We aredeveloping the traditional parklandhabitat, incorporating haymeadows with the management ofcows with calves at foot.”l Mark Williams, 30, fromMonmouthshire — winner of theYoung Farmer Award — travelledthe world after graduating with aDiploma in Agriculture from UskCollege.

He spent time working in

Australia and New Zealand wherehe was interested in sheep farmingmethods and undertook sheepshearing, returning to Wales to joinhis parents Glyn and Jill at TumpFarm in Llantrisant, Usk, six yearsago. The family raise a beef herdand sheep on 230 hectares ofland. Since his return, Mark hasfused practical conservation withpractical farming, in an area, saidthe judges, which is becomingincreasingly dominated by non-farming influences who are buyingup land and farmhouses.l The Environment Agency wasimpressed when it saw the qualityof the fencing being carried out byBryn Llewelyn Hughes at his familyfarm in Gwynedd.

They asked him to tender forsome of their fencing… and so

began a success story that haswon Bryn the £2,000 prize in theContractor/Supplier category.

Bryn, 41, has developed afencing and plant hire businessemploying two local men full-time,and two part-time, who workthroughout most of north Wales.Bryn lives with his wife Glenda andthree children at Ffridd Nantlle, a405-hectare (1,000-acre) hill farmnear Caernarfon.

The awards judges said thatBryn’s business was a “wonderfulexample of how to grow adiversified business alongside anexpanding farming enterprise”.

They were impressed by theintegration of the contractingbusiness with the farmingenterprise, especially during busyfarming times.

Caption details requested from photographer.

The winners with their trophies at the Royal Welsh Show

Green farming giants

Farmers in Waleswho have taken the greenenvironmentalmessage to hearthave had their hardwork officiallyrecognised

Grantorsdrop in fora chatNice to see you — to see younice!

National Grid’s 2006agricultural show is almostover. The company hasalready welcomed more than1,000 grantors and guestsfor lunch. Once again, theyhave included both electricityand gas grantors.

Feedback has beenexcellent, with menus,quality of food, speed ofservice, friendliness of staffand cleanliness very largelyjudged as excellent or good.

“Unfortunately we cannotoffer lunch to as manygrantors as we would like —we have to restrict invitationsto those directly affected bymajor works,” said AlanNaylor, National Grid’s fieldwayleave manager.

“However, refreshmentsare freely available up to11.15am and again after3.30pm to anyone makinggood use of their Grantors’Club badge.”

The final show will be theNational PloughingChampionships in Guildfordon October 14.

‘‘A fantastic day and very welllooked after.

A most enjoyable andrefreshing break.

Superb food, very goodservice and so friendly, manythanks.

First class hospitality.

A real pleasure to visit you.

YOURVIEWS

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A weekend of art has wonBishops Wood Centre inWorcestershire an award forthe promotion of environmentalart.

The “Family Big DrawWeekend” during last year’sBig Draw — a national eventaimed at encouraging thepublic to get involved with thearts — attracted more than1,000 visitors.

The success of the eventearned the centre an Inspiredby Heritage Award and a £500cheque which were presentedto staff by illustrator and artistQuentin Blake at a ceremony atthe British Museum.

It’s the second time thatBishops Wood has scoopedan award in The Big Draw —last year it received theDrawing Inspiration HeritageAward in recognition of theoriginality and variety of itscreative activities.

During the “Family BigDraw Weekend”, visitors could

draw with grass, make sensorymobiles from natural materialsand even create a woodlandfrom recycled and naturalmaterials. There were musicworkshops — usinginstruments made fromrecycled materials — andadults threw themselves intomark-making with mud andclay to produce life-size bodyprints.

The event was organisedby Jon Cree, the centre’seducation and training officer,and Marian Gager, primary artsadviser for Worcestershire LEA,one of National Grid’s partnersat Bishops Wood.

“We were delighted thatour work was recognisedagain,” said Jon. “One of thehuge successes of the eventwas seeing families taking timeto share their inspiration fromthe woods around the centre.”

For more information visitwww.bishopswoodcentre.org.uk.

Canterbury EnvironmentalEducation Centre staged afamily day as part of aseries of nationwide eventsconnected to a BBC natureproject.

The events were held tokickstart the BBCBreathing Places schemeand to mark the return ofSpringwatch to BBC2.

The Make a Place forNature event attractedmore than 200 people of allages. Environmentalactivities were on showand visitors could learnnew skills and get involvedin volunteering. They werewelcomed by centre headLouis Grover.

National Gridsupported the day, andPeter Graves fromCanterbury Northsubstation was present.Visit www.naturegrid.org.ukfor more information.

National Grid worksclosely with partnerorganisations tosupport sixenvironmentaleducation centresaround the country.They are centres ofexcellence that areprimarily geared toprovide outdooreducation for children,offering imaginativeactivities designed tosupport key NationalCurriculum targets.Increasingly, they areused for non-schoolenvironmentaleducation, life-longlearning andenvironmental trainingfor local business.Outreachprogrammes tacklingwaste minimisationand energy efficiencyissues are alsodelivered fromcentres. The environmentcentres help to meetNational Grid’scommitment tooperating as a sociallyand environmentallyresponsible business,through mitigating theimpact of substationson rural environments.

A DIRECT descendant of thefamous apple tree underwhich Isaac Newton sat whenhe discovered gravity hasbeen planted in a new fruitorchard at Skelton Grangeenvironment centre in Leeds.

The orchard has beenestablished to celebrate thesuccessful 10-yearpartnership between BTCV,National Grid and Leeds CityCouncil which has nurturedSkelton Grange’s reputationas a centre for excellence andinnovation in environmentaleducation.

The centre had humblebeginnings in the early 1990sin a Portakabin on a barepatch of land close to SkeltonGrange substation. NationalGrid stepped in to support the

centre in 1995 and later kick-started the funding for a new£600,000 state-of-the artcentre which opened in 2003.

The award-winning eco-centre has attracted morethan 80,000 visitors since itsinception.

Centre manager CarolineCrossley said: “The team atSkelton Grange wanted totake this opportunity to thanknot only its partners BTCVand National Grid, but alsovaluable supporters like LeedsCity Council, the Big Lottery,WREN, Yorkshire Water —which has funded the orchard— Groundwork Leeds, LeedsEnvironmental DesignAssociates (LEDA) and HSBC,who have all uniquelycontributed to the centre.”

Bishops Wood hasthe art of success

Time to takea breathHistory

bearsfruit

Historybearsfruit

Project officer Julie Howarth Pulleyn with the descendant of Newton’s tree

Creating a masterpiece at Bishops Wood

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NETWORK RELIABILITY andsafety to the public are twothings National Grid mustconsider when operating andmaintaining its network.

Managing vegetationunderneath overhead powerlines is an ongoing activityacross National Grid’s network.

“If a tree branch gets tooclose to a high voltage powerline, the electrical current can‘arc’ across from the line to thebranch leading to a flashover— potentially causing loss ofsupply, a fire in the tree or thetree conducting electricity tothe ground,” said Aileen Smith,National Grid land anddevelopment officer.

“That’s why we have astatutory duty to managevegetation near our lines.

“Minimum statutory safetyclearances between overheadpower lines and objects suchas trees are set by the EnergyNetworks Association to ensuresafety to the public.

“National Grid’s vegetationmanagement programmeensures that these statutoryclearances are not infringed;our contractors are required toremove vegetation to thespecified safety clearance plusan estimated three years’vegetation growth.

“National Grid always seeksto agree vegetationmanagement work with itsgrantors, but where workscannot be agreed and thevegetation in question poses adanger to the public andoperation of its equipment, the

company must use compulsorypowers under the Electricity Act1989 to undertake vegetationmanagement works.

“We undertake regularassessments of the likelydanger to the electricitytransmission system and thepublic arising from overheadpower lines near to trees.Where woody vegetation isfound to infringe statutorysafety clearances then it mustbe cut and/or removed so thatreasonable growth and safeaccess for future works can beachieved without returningevery year to the same site,”said Aileen.

“National Grid cannotprevent trees and vegetationbeing planted beneath itsoverhead lines unless this isspecified on your wayleave oreasement. But to eliminatefuture safety problems, and toreduce the need for significantongoing tree managementwork, only low-height, slow-growing species should beplanted beneath overheadpower line conductors andtowers.

“Please talk to your localwayleave officer if you needadvice on what is safe to plant.

“Similarly, when planting isproposed very near pylons,consideration should be givento the need to maintain accessto the pylon base and so thatoverhead line maintenanceactivities can be carried outsafely and without causingdamage to habitats andlandscapes.”

When trees grow too near to powerlines they have to be cut back. Acrossthe nation, that’s a huge task – here’show National Grid manages it…

Keeping trees in lineKeeping trees in line The contractor…Earlier this year, National Grid awardedfountains — the UK’s leadingenvironmental services company — a five-year contract for all vegetationmanagement work along its electricitynetwork in England and Wales. Inconjunction with the company, fountainswill undertake a rolling national survey ofthe entire overhead network and prioritisework programmes.

Neil Blake from fountains is theoperations manager for the National Gridcontract.

He said: “The cutting programme thathas been agreed will, over the contractperiod, reduce the need for outagerequests and method statements to carryout vegetation management operations.

“A key feature of the contract is tocontinue the management of grantorrequirements and third party interests tofacilitate the vegetation managementprogramme.

“Investment has been made in heavyduty ground flailing equipment to cleardense woodland spans. The medium tolong term objective is to create a low-growing, native shrub layer which willpose a much reduced risk to the overheadnetwork.”

…and how to help• All vegetation clearance work MUST becarried out by trained staff. You must notundertake any arboricultural pruning or dis-mantling work if any part of the tree is or cancome within 15m of the overhead power linewithout talking first to National Grid.• Landowners are asked for permission tocut woody vegetation back to about eightmetres from the overhead line which pro-vides the statutory clearance plus threeyears’ average growth.• Before ANY planting is proposedbeneath the overhead line or within 2m ofa tower bases, please contact your localwayleave officer for advice and guidance.• Trees should not be planted directly overor within three metres (10 feet) of a

National Grid high voltage undergroundelectricity cable• For more information, please contact yourlocal wayleave officer, or the transmissionenquiries team on 0800 731 2961. You canalso visit the land and development sectionof the National Grid website, www.national-grid.com

• In August 1996, there was anelectricity blackout to an estimated four

million customers in nine of the USA’s westernstates • In August 2003, the USA suffered its largest

power blackout in history — it left more than 50 millionpeople across the north eastern United States and

Ontario without power • In September 2003, a nationwidepower blackout affected nearly the whole Italian populationof 57 million people. It was the worst power failure since the

Second World War • TREES WERE A CONTRIBUTORYFACTOR IN ALL THESE BLACKOUTS… in the 1996

incident, a high-voltage line sagged into a tree in Oregon,while the August 2003 blackout began when three

high-voltage lines short-circuited when they came intocontact with trees that were too close to the lines.

In the Italian incident, it’s believed that stormsmay have tossed a tree branch on topower lines in Switzerland, starting a

chain reaction.

FACTFILE

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The Tree Council is planning its first month-long Seed Gathering Season.

It builds on the success of Seed GatheringSunday which has been celebrated since 1998when Tree Wardens helped to pilot the idea.

Seed Gathering Season kicks off onSeptember 23 — the autumn equinox — andruns until October 23. The aim is to celebratetrees for the seeds, nuts and fruits that can becollected to grow the trees of the future or toturn into delicious jams or pies.

People can take part in the events, fromguided walks to workshops and other activities,being planned by Tree Council memberorganisations, its volunteer Tree Wardens andother supporters, or simply go for a walk inlocal woods or park to collect seeds.

Seed collecting will be the focus for activityin the BBC’s Autumnwatch*, particularly overthe weekend of October 7-8 to tie in withSeed Gathering Season.

A whole range of trees produce fruit duringSeed Gathering Season and The Tree Councilhopes that its festival will encourage people togather or buy the fruit and then use it. Bydoing this they will help ensure the survival oflocal varieties and orchards and the wildlifethey sustain.

The Tree Council’s director-general PaulineBuchanan Black said: “The festival theme isTrees Matter — Make the Most of Them, andwe hope many people will collect seeds fromtrees in their local patch.

“It’s important to remember, however, thatthey should first identify places that actuallyneed trees BEFORE starting to gather anyseeds for new trees. It may be the home,school, workplace or wider neighbourhood.It’s also important to pick the right tree for theright place.”l The Good Seed Guide — a useful bookletabout collecting seeds and growing trees, withidentification details for 46 common species— is available for £3.50 (including postageand packing) from The Tree Council, 71Newcomen Street, London SE1 1YT. Tel: 0207407 9992.

Information about Seed GatheringSeasons events and tips is on the Tree Councilwebsite www.treecouncil.org.uk.

* More information on the Tree Councilwebsite or www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces

Harvest seedsand plant treesof the future

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Vegetation managementtechniques used by National Gridin the USA* have been introducedin England and Wales.

It’s part of the company’scommitment to ensuring thatsafety clearance under overheadlines is managed in an environ-mentally-friendly way.

“Traditionally, as trees havegrown and reached the safetyzone of the overhead lines, theyhave been pruned and felled,”said Doug Lockwood, NationalGrid’s vegetation contractmanager. “This is essential tomaintain clearances and preventfaults.

“But the technique used in theUSA for 40 years, means that theamount of felling work required inthe future may be reduced. It’sknown as Integrated VegetationManagement (IVM) and involvesthe careful and selected use ofherbicide to prevent re-growth oftall fast growing species. Wetested the process here involving100 sites across England andWales, including a number of siteswithin SSSIs with the agreement

of English Nature in a bid to re-establish heather heathland.

“The aim of IVM is to establisha low-growing shrub, herb andgrass layer in the area underneaththe overhead lines. Fast growingwood species such as birch andash are controlled by spotapplications of herbicide. Afterclearance, sites may need to bevisited once a year, but once thelow-growing shrub area isestablished, visits may beextended to just once every fiveyears.”

The IVM techniques have anumber of advantages for thegrantor and the environment:l extended maintenance cycleswill mean less disruption tograntorsl the visual impact ofmaintenance work is minimisedl herbicide applications do notdisturb wildlife and birds,particularly during the bird-nestingseasonl reduced requirements to felllarge trees once the low-growingshrub layer has been established

Doug is involved in anothervegetation management issue —sidescreen trees, those trees nextto overhead lines which couldcause problems if they fell on tothe lines, in a storm for example.

“I spent a few days withNational Grid in Massachusettsexploring best practice in themanagement of these side screentrees and hope to visit Scandinavialater in the year to see how theydeal with the problem,” said Doug.

“It’s a very important issue.New legislation is beingintroduced in the UK in 2011 to

Enter our competition and win a Tree Council book. See page 24.

Corridors keep lines clearmanage these side screen trees.They will have to be identified, riskassessed — and cut down ifconsidered a risk. So it’s importantthat we work with grantors now todeal with the impact of the newlegislation.”

* National Grid US is one of the10 largest electric utilities (bycustomers) in the US. It operatesan electricity transmission networkof about 14,000 miles, includingapproximately 9,000 miles ofoverhead lines.

In the US, corridorsof low-growingshrubs beneathpower lines havemade maintenanceeasier. Now thepractice is beingintroduced overhere…

A low-growth shrub corridor in Massachusetts, USA… …and one in the UK

Sidescreen trees being controlled in Massachusetts

Doug Lockwood

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More than 73 years ago, theCentral Landowners’Association, in conjunction withthe National Farmers’ Union, theLand Union, and professionalorganisations, agreed nationalwayleave payments with theCentral Electricity Board.

And, as our pictures show,tests were conducted to assessthe time lost during ploughingaround pylons. The agreedcompensation and rent wasfeatured in The Times on March7, 1933.

The newspaper reported that

the Central Electricity Boardwould pay rentals of five shillings(25p) per tower, per annum, of15ft square or upwards, and twoshillings and sixpence (121⁄2p) pertower, per annum, under 15 ftsquare.

l The rates for electricitywayleave payments in Englandand Wales are agreed by theelectricity companies, the CountryLand and Business Association,the National Farmers’ Union andthe Farmers’ Union of Wales.Annual payments are reviewedperiodically and based upon thetype and size of the structure orapparatus and typically include apayment for rent (to thelandowner) and compensation tothe occupier, unless the tenancyterms provide otherwise, forinterference with agriculturalactivities.

Anyone interested inconverting their wayleave to adeed should contact their localwayleave officer for further adviceon 0800 389 5113. CLAmembers can advise on this andmany other matters on theGuidance Notes on page ?? atwww.cla.org.uk

Administrators Helen Metcalfe (left) and Jackie Wilkie, making sure the payments go out correctly

Cash on timeevery time

The way we were…Cash on timeevery time

A TEAM OF just sixadministrators ensures thatthousands of National Gridelectricity grantors receive theirappropriate wayleave payments.

Helen Metcalfe and JackieWilkie at National Grid HQ inWarwick manage the automatedpayment run five times a year andthey work closely with fouradministrators based in Rayleigh,Bristol and Leeds.

Maureen Bright (South East),Mary Lawson (South West) andSharon Naylor and Julie Smith inthe North, manage the grantordatabase and helpline number ona daily basis and make all thechanges to grantor details,including names, addresses,changes in ownership of land.

“There are about 20,000electricity grantors on our system,so we are constantly updating ourdatabase to ensure the correctgrantors receive their annual

wayleave payments from NationalGrid for the assets on their land,”said Helen. “Other grantors are onDeeds and receive no annualpayment because a lump sumpayment was made in exchangefor the Deed.”

Helen and Jackie organisefive payment runs each year, fourfor electrical — on March 31,June 30, September 30 andDecember 31. “Each grantorbeing paid a wayleave falls withinone of those pay periods,” saidHelen.

“The fifth pay run is managedon behalf of the telecomscompany Cable and Wireless,and this is paid annually onNovember 30 for telecomequipment attached to our asset.It means that some grantors mayhave two payments a year — onefrom National Grid and one fromCable and Wireless.”

The payment process begins

60 days before the payment duedate. “Each electricity grantor duea payment is sent a statementthat details their unique grantornumber, name, address details,the period the payment is for andany assets associated with thepayment.” said Helen.

“They have five weeks toinform us if any of the details isincorrect. It really is important tohave accurate information, soplease do let us know if yourdetails are incorrect so that wecan amend our records.

“We have redesigned thestatement and, from thisSeptember, it will include detailsof the grantor’s local wayleaveoffice. The grantor can then callthe dedicated number 0800 3895113 and choose the appropriateoffice. The wayleave administratorwill direct the caller to theappropriate wayleave officer ifnecessary.”

THE NATIONAL PARKScontinue to be enormously valuedby government — not just for theirbeauty but for the wider benefitsthey bring to society.

This was the message fromBarry Gardiner MP, Minister forBiodiversity, Landscape andRural Affairs, when he delivered aspeech at the Council forNational Parks’ (CNP) 70thanniversary conference inBuxton, Derbyshire.

National Grid, one of 10members of the Corporate Forumfor National Parks*, was co-sponsor of the conference, alongwith the Countryside Agency.

“The National Parks havebecome an important element ofour national life, not least in themodel they offer for thesustainable development of ourcountryside,” said the minister.“This is a key challenge formodern society in the face ofgrowing economic, environmentaland social pressures. Prosperity isabout more than just wealth. Weneed to think about the quality oflife we bring to society — whetherin rural or urban areas.”

The theme of the conferencewas “Prosperity and Protection”and it aimed to explore therelationship between NationalPark designation and theeconomy; examine issues facingNational Parks in their relationshipwith the economy, celebrate theachievements of CNP over thelast 70 years and highlight thecontinuing need for its work.

Some 90 delegates fromaround the country werewelcomed by CNP chairman KateAshbrook. Among the speakerswas Hector Pearson, NationalGrid’s Land and DevelopmentGroup manager.

Hector said that NationalGrid’s close relationship withlandowners was key to businesssuccess.

“National Grid underpins the

economy, but as our systemsmature our networks do not, withnotable exceptions, have animpact on the National Parks,”said Hector. He explained thatplanning for a new gas pipelinefrom Milford Haven to Tirley inGloucestershire had involveddetailed consultation betweenNational Grid and the BreconBeacons National Park Authority.As a result, the proposed routewas changed to follow a longerroute around the northern edge ofthe park.

In his address, Barry Gardiner,a keen hill-walker andbirdwatcher, commended theCNP’s work to support ruralcommunities — the 250,000people who live in the parks —and sustainable agriculture andland use. “While agricultureremains central to the way land inthe parks is managed, there is awide range of other economicactivity. The importance of thisactivity will continue to grow andwe must be imaginative in how weensure such activity isaccommodated in the parks whileremaining true to the principle onwhich the parks wereestablished.”

The minister alsocongratulated theCNP forencouraging morepeople to visit thecountryside fromlargelyunrepresentedgroups.

Theconferenceembraced anumber of fieldtrips andworkshops andended with a galadinner with an afterdinner speech by theformer Home SecretaryDavid Blunkett.

*The Corporate Forum for

National Parks is made up ofcompanies who recognise thevalue of National Parks forconservation and recreation, andwho agree to uphold these valuesin the development andapplication of their policies.

National Grid welcomes theopportunity the forum gives it toimprove mutual understandingbetween business and CNP andits partner organisations.

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The USA’s YellowstoneNational Park in the states ofWyoming, Montana andIdaho, was the first NationalPark ever designated. In1872, President Ulysses SGrant signed a law declaringthat Yellowstone wouldforever be “dedicated and setapart as a public park orpleasuring ground for thebenefit and enjoyment ofpeople.” This was seen as thestarting point for a worldwidepattern of protection on a

large scale.

Picture: Lewis Mortimer

• There are 12 National Parks inEngland and Wales; the latest, the New

Forest, was designated last year • The parks,visited by millions of people each year, cover

around eight per cent of England and 20 per cent ofWales • National Parks have two purposes: to

conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife andcultural heritage; and to promote public understandingand enjoyment of their special qualities • National Parkswere some of the first areas to pay farmers to stewardthe countryside • The parks are an important factor ingenerating the tourism which brings £8 billion a year

to rural areas in England and sustains 400,000jobs in rural areas • The CNP is a registeredcharity representing over 40 environmental

and amenity organisations. For moreinformation, visitwww.cnp.org.uk

FACTFILE

Did you know?

Kate Ashbrook and Barry Gardiner on Stanage Edge in the Peak District

Parks important to our national life

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THE Farm Energy Centre hasoperated for almost 40 years,working with farmers, utilities —including National Grid — researchinstitutes and manufacturersproviding expertise on energyapplications and energy efficiency.

Today it is the UK’s leadingsource of information on theapplication of energy-basedtechniques in farming andhorticulture.

Many farmers and growersmake use of the FEC’s variedservices. These include: selfenergy audits; on-site energyaudits; lighting fitting sales anddesign; new energy supplynegotiations; agricultural andhorticultural publications; climatechange management; heating andventilation design; tariff andcontract selection.

The FEC also works with otherorganisations in the energybusiness such as the EnergySavings Trust, Action Energy andagricultural/horticulturalorganisations including theNational Farmers Union, the MilkDevelopment Council, HorticulturalDevelopment Council and theHealth and Safety Executive.

Its database of energytechniques and equipment is aunique resource which allowsfarmers to track down suppliersoffering specific equipment, andthe FEC Trade Membershipscheme helps to bringmanufacturers and farmer clientstogether.

For more detailed informationabout the FEC, visitwww.farmenergy.com

If you would like moreinformation about any of the issueshighlighted on these pages, writeto FEC Services Ltd, StoneleighPark, Kenilworth, WarwickshireCV8 2LS. Tel: 024 7669 6512 or e-mail: info@farmenergy.com

Use the same numbers toobtain a list of FEC publications,including technical guides, andtechnical notes.

Insulate those roofs — andmake life more comfortable foryour animals.That’s the advice from theFEC’s Andrew Kneeshaw whosaid farm building thermalimage surveys revealed theimportance of insulation.

On a June morning whenthe ambient temperature was16 degrees C, the roof surfacetemperature was shown to beconsistently over 45C, peakingat over 50C because of the

effect of radiant heat from thesun.

“This external temperaturetranslated into an inside rooftemperature of over 30C,” saidAndrew.

“No amount of ventilationcould keep animals coolunder this roof — but with acouple of inches ofinsulation, theperformance of thebuilding could betransformed.”

FEC has completed anEnergy Review for theBritish Potato Counciloutlining the effect of therecent energy priceincreases.

Businesses in this sectorhave seen increases of asmuch as 60 per cent in thepast 18 months, pushingstorage costs up by anaverage of £2 per tonne.

ENERGY EFFICIENCYworkshops organised by theBritish Pig Executive and theCarbon Trust* have highlightedthe need for pig farmers to createtheir own Energy Audit Plan.

Expenditure on energy can bereduced if it is bought cheaperand used less. Energy use affectsthe environment and the outcomeagain depends on the use of lessenergy and fuels that pollute less.

Since expenditure on energyis already a key item at pig farms,feed mills and processing plants— and is likely to increasesubstantially — there is a strongargument for specialistadvice.Trainees at the workshops

were informed that pig farmers donot buy power — they actuallybuy energy which is power x time.Whereas powerful equipment isoften perceived as the cause ofhuge electricity bills, it is oftenused sparingly and theexpenditure works out less thanimagined.

For example:A 30KW feed mill used for five

hours per week = 30KW x fivehours x 52 weeks x 8.5/KWH =£633

Individual creep lamps, on theother hand, do not have muchpower output but generallyseveral of them are used at thesame time and they tend to be

switched on for long periods. Thismeans five 250 watt pig lampsused 24 hours a day, 320 daysper year = 0.25KW x 24 hours x320 days x 8.5p/KWH = £815.

In the examples, expenditurefrom several much-used creepheater lamps is almost 23 percent more than limited used of apower demanding feed mill.

There are many other waysthat savings can be made —effective insulation and moreefficient lighting, for example. TheFEC recommends that all pigfarmers should create their ownEnergy Audit Plan. This will involvegiving one person responsibilityfor energy efficiency; undertaking

an energy audit — carried outeither by a third party or a DIY job;developing an action list toimprove the efficiency of energyuse; measuring and monitoringand reviewing progress.l Specialists from the FEC areavailable to undertake energyauditing and provide consultancyinput on pig farms* The Carbon Trust is anindependent company funded byGovernment to deliver bestpractice programmes to influencethe behaviour of energy users andencourage the reduction of UKcarbon emissions. For more information, visitwww.carbontrust.co.uk

All about the FEC

Don’t bea pig forenergy

Installingtransparentroof sectionscuts the costof artificiallighting

Energyfilm is a hotfavourite

Insulate for animal comfort

When an electric motors fails, youhave two choices — buy a new one,or have the motor rewound.

The temptation is to opt forrewinding. It’s cheaper andproduces a refurbished motor thatlooks as good as new. But, says theFEC’s Andrew Kneeshaw, it is notalways the best solution.

Two important factors canrender the “cheapest” option themost expensive in the long run.

New high-efficiency replacementmotors are more efficient than olderones. Thicker copper windingsreduce waste heat production,better lamination design reduceslosses and a more efficient coolingsystem cuts ancillary power use.The resulting two to three per centefficiency increase may seem small,said Andrew, but when it isconsidered that a motor willconsume its own value in energy inunder seven weeks, paybacks onmarginal efficiency improvementscan be very rapid.

“Add to this a marginal decreasein efficiency which generally occurswhen a motor is rewound and whatresults is a compelling argument toupgrade a motor on failure ratherthan rewind,” said Andrew.

Rewind or notrewind, that’sthe question

The National Farmers’Union, in conjunction with Forum

for the Future*, has won £171,000from Defra to help communicate climate

change and global warming issues to farmers.This will cover subjects including the effect on

cropping and the role of renewable fuel. FEC willprovide information to the project in the area of

energy efficiency. The money comes from Defra’sClimate Challenge fund which is enabling different

sectors to reduce their contribution to climatechange and respond to its impact.*Forum for

the Future is a charity set up 10 years agoto work in partnership with business,

the public sector and others tobuild a sustainable future.

UPDATEA new energyreflective film forlining buildings,which reduces heatlost through thetransfer of radiantenergy has beenproduced by Valéron. A foil material — currently on trial in severalUK poultry buildings, see picture — is encapsulated in a toughplastic film which can resist tearing and severe physical damage.This means it is difficult to damage during installation and resistsaggressive cleaning and power washing.

As well as its heat reflective properties, it seals draughtsthrough the structure and also increases the effectiveness of light.

The manufacturer says the material improves conditions insidepoultry houses, increasing flock health and growth ratios by helpingto reduce the detrimental effects associated with heat or coldstress, gas build-up, biological contaminants and cross infection.

Potato cost survey chips in

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It’s competition time again!We are offering a copy of

The Tree Council’s new bookTrees in Your Ground* to 25grantors who answer thefollowing question correctly.You’ll find the answer in thisissue of Gridline.

The question is: “NationalGrid is adopting IVMtechniques. What does IVMstand for?”

Send your answers toGridline Competition, PapersPublishing, Stirling House,College Road, CheltenhamGL53 7HY, or email:john@paperspublishing.co.uk

Entries must be receivedby ??????

*The book — backed byNational Grid, which hasworked in partnership with TheTree Council since 1990, aimsto encourage everyone tovalue and care for trees in theirneighbourhoods. It also helpspeople to choose the righttrees for their patch.

Copies are available bysending a cheque for £8.99(including postage andpacking) to The Tree Council,71 Newcomen Street, LondonSE1 1YT.

THERE’S TOP-NOTCH bubblyon hand when grantor Ian Birdand his wife Sheila celebratefamily birthdays this month.

Ian, of Catchgate Farm,Castle Eden, Hartlepool, has wonfour bottles of Camel Valley Brutproduced by fellow grantor BobLindo at his winery in Cornwall.

We featured Bob’s award-winning wine in the last issue ofGridline and invited readers toenter a competition to win fourbottles of the 2004 vintage.

All they had to do was give usthe freephone telephone numberof National Grid’s TransmissionEnquiries team. Ian was one ofmany who gave us the correctanswer — 0800 731 2961 — andhis name was first out of the hat.

Ian and Sheila, pictured, whohave two daughters, say theyboth enjoy a glass of wine andlook forward to sampling Bob’ssparkling wine.

“Sheila is always enteringcompetitions and a few years agowas on a real winning streak. Butwe haven’t won anything forages,” said Ian. “Perhaps this winwill start us on another winningstreak!”

A prize to tree-sure

Gridline: Published by National Grid, National Grid House, Warwick Technology Park, Gallows Hill, Warwick CV34 6DA; written and produced by PapersPublishing, Stirling House, College Road, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 7HY; printed by Severnprint Limited, Gloucester GL2 5EU, on Greencoat Velvet, manufacturedfrom 75 per cent recycled fibre, of which 55 per cent is post-consumer and 20 per cent post-industrial. Printed using Ecotricity — power from renewable sources.

Bubbling overBubbling over