National Grid In Tune With The Birds In Composers' Park  

15/11/2007

National Grid is funding an exciting new project to encourage more birds to nest in
Elstree’s Composers’ Park.

Working with Hertsmere Borough Council and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the company will be providing nest boxes on dozens of trees within the park.

The RSPB recently carried out a survey of bird numbers in the park and recommended that over 30 new bird boxes should be put up before the end of November 2007.

Austin Holland, of Watford RSPB, said: “Our recent survey in the park found several species of birds in healthy numbers, and we have made our recommendations for birdboxes based on these findings. We are grateful to National Grid for making this contribution to the bird habitats within the park”.

Composers’ Park has benefited from National Grid’s community sponsorship scheme as the company has been carrying out essential refurbishment works to the overhead electricity lines between Elstree substation and Scratchwood Sealing End Compound. National Grid has a small number of pylons just inside the park and is keen to give something back to the local community.

Wayne Hewson, project manager for National Grid, said: “Supporting projects like this is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the local community for their patience and understanding while we have been carrying out vital work to ensure a reliable electricity network.” 

The refurbishment works have involved vegetation management around the pylons, renewing the electricity lines, replacing the insulators and fittings and painting the pylons. National Grid has kept local people informed about the work throughout the project.

Ends

For further information please call Sarah Harris, National Grid Communications
on 07866 488894.

Notes to editor:

National Grid
National Grid is one of the world's largest utilities, focused on delivering energy safely, reliably, efficiently and responsibly. Our principal interests are in the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas in the UK and US.

We own and operate over 6,800 kilometres of high-pressure transmission pipeline across Great Britain, and 132,000 kilometres of lower-pressure distribution gas mains in the North West, the Midlands, East Anglia and North London – more than half of Britain's gas transportation network, delivering gas to around 11 million homes, offices and factories.

We operate the high-voltage electricity transmission network across Great Britain, and own the network in England and Wales.

National Grid will continue to manage the National Gas Emergency Service freephone line 0800 111 999*.

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.