06 July 2010
EDF Energy employees will be doing their bit to help wildlife in a corner of East London which is being spruced up in time for the 2012 Olympics.
The five-strong team will be spending the day helping with scrub clearance and creating wildlife-friendly habitats on The Greenway, a once-forgotten pathway that runs close to the site of the new Olympic Park in Stratford, and will be the main pedestrian access during the 2012 games.
The EDF Energy staff are carrying out the work as part of the company’s Helping Hands programme which gives employees two days a year helping local community organisations.
The London Wildlife Trust is helping to transform The Greenway, which was once totally neglected, into something to be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and wild creatures alike. The trail runs from Wick Lane in Tower Hamlets to Beckton and the team of EDF Energy project and programme managers from London will be working on a section close to the London Olympics site.
Carlo Laurenzi, chief executive of London Wildlife Trust, said: “Improving the Greenway for wildlife and people is essential work, forming a link in the capital’s Green Grid network and creating a better environment for local communities.
“Volunteers from London’s business community are a key part of our work and we are grateful to staff from EDF Energy for their enthusiastic efforts to help enhance London’s wildlife and natural spaces.”
The little-known pathway is home to all kinds of wildlife and the aim is to build bird and bat boxes, and other small structures to encourage insects and invertebrates. The EDF Energy volunteers will also be helping out with scrub clearance in the area.
Gary Bond, an IT project manager based at EDF Energy’s offices in Newington House said: “We did some similar volunteering work last year in Docklands and we were keen to do something that was related to improving the environment for people and other species again this year.”
The others in the team are John Harries, Maria Heather, Paul Claxton, and David Griffiths who are located in EDF Energy offices in Newington House, Victoria and Southwark Bridge Road.
ENDS
For more information please contact Andrew Drinkwater or Charlotte Mitchell in the EDF Energy Press Office on 01293 509133.
Notes to editors:
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around a fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Climate and Social Commitments EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental and social programme of any UK energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.
London Wildlife Trust
London Wildlife Trust is the only charity dedicated solely to protecting the capital's wildlife and wild spaces, engaging London's diverse communities through access to nature reserves, campaigning, volunteering and education. For more information go to www.wildlondon.org.uk