Around 25 volunteers from teams working on the ongoing Beauly 132kV Substation upgrade and the proposed Fanellan Substation swapped their usual roles for spades and rakes, coordinating a programme of improvements across several village sites.

At Beauly Community Garden, volunteers installed three new raised planter beds, enhanced paving, added trellis for climbing plants and carried out general tidying ahead of the growing season.

They were joined by pupils from Beauly Primary School, who helped sow carrot seeds in newly prepared plots.

At the Lovat Memorial Garden, teams cleared paving slabs and removed leaves, weeds and branches to refresh the space. Further landscaping took place along Riverside Drive and Station Road, where verges were tidied, branches cleared and flower beds neatened.

The initiative was delivered in collaboration with local groups, including Beauly Community Council, which advised on where efforts would have most impact. Highland Fencing and Barriers, a subcontractor supporting the proposed Fanellan Substation, also volunteered staff, while students and apprentices on UHI Inverness's Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Scotland Academy short course gained practical experience by taking part.

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Residents, community garden members and the Community Council praised the visible improvements and the commitment shown by the project teams, with organisers noting the effort underlines SSEN Transmission and SEBAM's role as active and responsible partners in Beauly.

Nathaniel Uyoh, Assistant Project Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: "It's been fantastic to see colleagues, partners and members of the local community come together to benefit Beauly. These shared green spaces are clearly valued by residents, and we were proud to play our part in helping to refresh and enhance them ahead of this year's growing season.

This volunteering initiative is a great example of what can be achieved when project teams, contractors, community groups and young people work together. We're grateful to everyone who supported the day, including local organisations, UHI Inverness students and the excellent helping hand from pupils at Beauly Primary, and we're pleased the improvements will leave a lasting benefit for the community."

Both project teams plan further activities in the months ahead, including power washing paved areas, restoring and repainting benches, and additional tidy-up works across the village.

The joint effort reflects SSEN Transmission and SEBAM's continuing commitment to supporting local communities while delivering critical electricity infrastructure for the region.