National Grid has a network of environmental education centres across the UK, all sited on land owned by the company adjacent to substations. They are centres of excellence for environmental education and have been developed in partnership with local authorities and environmental charities, demonstrating how industry and the environment can co-exist to the benefit of all. They are primarily geared to provide outdoor education for school children from within their respective catchment area and offer imaginative activities designed to support key National Curriculum targets and informal education for other community groups

The sites are increasingly used for non-school environmental education, life-long learning and environmental training for local business. Outreach programmes addressing waste minimisation and energy efficiency issues are also delivered from a number of the centres.

The environment centres help to meet National Grid's commitment to operating as a socially and environmentally responsible business, through mitigating the impact of substations on rural environments. They also help by improving the environmental status and biodiversity of the land on which we operate and demonstrating community investment by providing work for 80 staff and 150 volunteers.

Our centres welcome 90,000 visitors per year, and reach an additional 15,000 through outreach.

Environmental volunteering celebrated at Skelton Grange - 15 June 2009

On world environment day National Grid arranged a celebration of volunteering at its environmental education centre in Skelton Grange, Leeds.

The event celebrated BTCV's 50th anniversary and recgnised the significant amount of envronmental volunteering that takes place across National Grid's network of environmental education centres and through its team challenge programmes.

Among the guests were Nick Winser, Executive Director, and Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Rupert Evenett represented BTCV.

Nick Winser spoke about the importance of the centre and its contribution to the local community, as well as future initiatives, including the company's energy ambassadors scheme.

National Grid is constantly looking for opportunities within the business to be more energy efficient and reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases - the company has set itself a target of 45 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by at least 2050. Employees have an important role to play by embracing the climate change challenge and energy efficiency.