The substation, on Green Moor Road, was specially selected to receive a community makeover as part of Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project.
Substations are critical parts of the power network, bringing electricity to local homes and businesses.
Through Transforming our Spaces Electricity North West has identified areas of land around substations which have suffered vandalism, lack wildlife, or may lack funding to carry out such community projects.
As part of the revamp, engineers first cleared the site and planted beautiful wild flowers and herbs as well as installing bird feeders and bug hotels.
Mrs Harrison and Sam Pollen, Egremont ward councillor for Copeland Council, were then invited to see the completed project and meet members of the Electricity North West team.
Angie Thornton, delivery manager at Electricity North West, who is heading up the Transforming our Spaces project, said: “We are all absolutely delighted with the results from our Egremont project and it was a pleasure to welcome Trudy Harrison MP and Councillor Sam Pollen.”
“The site truly has been transformed. What used to be an eyesore is now a beautifully vibrant area for the local community to take pride in and also a space for revitalising insects & wildlife.”
“Substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are a key part of the electricity network. The project has been extremely well received by the community and already, residents are keen to get involved and replant flowers in the future.”
As well as Egremont, eight other substations throughout the region will receive makeovers.
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison added: “Electricity North West has planted what was previously grassland, requiring regular and costly maintenance, into a beautiful and environmentally beneficial wildflower oasis.”
“Its lead has been inspirational and will hopefully motivate others to do the same. Residents of Green Moor Road and the surrounding community can now enjoy the sight of colourful summer flowers and autumn seed heads whilst insects, including hundreds of pollinators, also enjoy the pollen and nectar. This is an economic, environmental and social win, win, win project which should be replicated all over the UK.”
Copeland Council councillor, Sam Pollen, explained his delight at the project and hopes to see more in the area.
“It’s the small things that matter,” Councillor Pollen said.”
“I can’t thank Electricity North West enough for their hard work on the project, it looks tremendous and the people of Egremont really do appreciate it.”
“After seeing the results, I’m hoping other organisations take note and mirror what was happened on similar bits of land across the town.”
