NGET owns 21,900 steel lattice pylons that carry overhead transmission conductor wires in England and Wales. Transmission pylon steelwork condition can deteriorate through corrosion, so periodic assessments are made to understand the health of the network. NGET inspects around 3,650 steel lattice pylons each year, capturing high definition still colour images of steelwork using helicopters and manually flown drones.

Based in Nailsea, Ravenswood School enables local children with complex learning needs to flourish. A £18,050 grant from National Grid helped the school to take their sensory room to the next level.

Every pupil at Ravenswood has unique needs and an individually-tailored curriculum; the sensory room plays a crucial role in their progress. Over the years, use of the room had started to take its toll, and it had become outdated and in need of a refresh. The funding helped the school fund the upgrades to this greatly needed resource.

Last week, school children from East Huntspill Academy near Highbridge in Somerset were invited onto site to add the finishing touch to one of the pylons. The Year 6 pupils placed a time capsule inside the hollow stem of ‘their’ T-pylon, located close to the village. The contents were created by pupils to mark the historic milestone of the world’s first T-pylons being built in Somerset.

Starting at sites in Leeds and Warwick, this first phase of the partnership will recruit for roles such as business analyst, product designer and control room operator. The programme involves a 12-week paid placement where individuals are able to use their skills in real-life situations, work closely with teams at National Grid and get an understanding of what the business does. Successful placements will then be transitioned into permanent roles.

To make way for the new connection, National Grid is removing 67km of existing overhead wires and pylons – 249 in total – from the Somerset landscape.

Part of the Mendip Hills will be pylon-free for the first time since the 1930s

35 pylons are being removed between Loxton and Sandford, where instead of building T-pylons we have installed underground cables under the Mendip Hills, leaving this part of the Area of Outstanding Beauty pylon-free for the first time in 91 years!

And on Thursday 28 April, school children from East Huntspill Academy near Highbridge in Somerset were invited onto site to add the finishing touch to one of the pylons. The Year 6 pupils placed a time capsule inside the hollow stem of ‘their’ T-pylon, located close to the village. The contents were created by pupils to mark the historic milestone of the world’s first T-pylons being built in Somerset.

The fish rescues are part of National Grid’s commitment to protecting local wildlife while working to connect Hinkley Point C power station to the existing National Grid network; which, when complete, will bring low-carbon energy to the south west and connect six million UK homes and businesses.

The fish needed to be moved to allow culverts to be constructed to the specification of the Parrett Internal Drainage Board. The culverts were needed to provide access to towers, to allow for the installation of conductors across the new route into Shurton Substation.

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