SP Energy Networks and Buglife Transform Substation Grasslands Into Thriving Pollinator Habitats Through the Pollinator B-Lines Project

Through the Pollinator B-Lines project, our team has been working with Buglife to transform unused spaces at several electrical substations into thriving wildlife habitats. Locations such as Busby, Leven, Livingston East and Drumcross have long been simple patches of grass, but through this project they are now being redesigned as rich, supportive environments for pollinators.

The work involves sowing wildflower seeds, planting plug plants and installing purpose-built bee posts to create sheltered nesting areas. Once completed, these sites will become diverse, nectar-rich grasslands that offer both food and safe breeding spaces for insects. Together, they will form a network of “stepping-stone” habitats—green corridors that allow insects to move more easily across the landscape, find resources, and thrive.

Teams from SP Energy Networks, Buglife and Tom Angel Studio recently came together to install new bee posts at the Busby substation. These posts provide crucial nesting space for solitary bees and wasps, which are among the world’s most important pollinators. At the site, 150 metres of mixed native hedgerow have already been planted, and additional wildflower seeding is planned as part of the habitat enhancement.

The bee posts were designed by Tom Angel of Tom Angel Studio and crafted from untreated Scottish larch by a carpenter based in Glasgow.Kelly Murray, Conservation Officer for Pollinators B-Lines at Buglife Scotland, explained that many of Scotland’s bees, butterflies and hoverflies are struggling due to modern land use. She noted that creating safe, well-connected areas for pollinators to feed and nest is essential for supporting their recovery.

She added that by working together, SP Energy Networks and Buglife are turning overlooked areas of land into a joined-up network of wildflower habitats across the Central Belt—making a real difference for wildlife.To ensure the long-term success of the project, all partners are developing ongoing management plans for each location.

These plans will guide how the new habitats are cared for over time, ensuring they continue to support pollinators, wildlife and the surrounding communities well into the future.Tayler Henderson, Sustainability Specialist at SP Energy Networks, said that the partnership with Buglife has provided an opportunity to improve biodiversity around substations while continuing to build the energy network needed for a cleaner future.

By investing in habitat creation and long-term maintenance, the company is strengthening environmental resilience across the region. Henderson added that SP Energy Networks aims to better understand how its infrastructure interacts with nature and to deliver positive outcomes through thoughtful planning and design—something this project demonstrates clearly.In the UK, around 240 of the roughly 270 bee species are solitary.

Unlike honeybees, they do not form colonies and do not produce honey. Instead, each bee nests on its own, often in hollow stems, small holes in wood or directly in the ground. These insects play a vital role in pollination, and the creation of tailor-made bee posts and flower-rich habitats ensures the shelter and food they rely on are readily available.

This initiative contributes to Buglife’s wider B-Lines programme, a nationwide effort to reconnect landscapes by creating a network of wildflower corridors that link urban areas with the countryside. By restoring at least 150,000 hectares of flower-rich land across the UK, the programme aims to give insects the space and resources they need to move freely, find food and reproduce—ultimately helping to rebuild struggling wildlife populations.

The project also supports our broader Action Plan for Nature, which is focused on halting and reversing biodiversity loss through targeted habitat restoration. Projects like Pollinator B-Lines ensure that as we invest in strengthening the energy network, we are also safeguarding Scotland’s natural environment and delivering lasting benefits to local communities.