Talking tunnels and turbines in the hazy February sunshine


28th Feb 2019
by Rowan McCleary

Two schools were able to make the most of the unseasonably warm weather upon Tongland Dam during their visits to the Galloway Hydro Scheme this week

Primary 5 pupils from Noblehill Primary School enjoy a wander across the 298m long Tongland Dam
Primary 5 pupils from Noblehill Primary School enjoy a wander across the 298m long Tongland Dam

This week, two large groups visited Tongland for a tour of the Power Station and Dam.  Being based locally to the Power Station, the large group of 35 children from Twynholm Primary School were already quite familiar with the workings of the station.  On Wednesday, 25 Primary 5 pupils from Noblehill Primary (in Dumfries) were also surprisingly familiar with the locations of the dams, particularly upstream in the system.    

Due to the large numbers attending the tours this week, we were accompanied by a Drax engineer, who was able to provide a great insight into the workings of the station, particularly the gadgets and panels in the control room.  The tours were made all the more special with the unseasonably hot and hazy February sunshine.  It really was a treat to be out and about! 

If you are a primary or secondary school covering topics such as electricity/renewable energy/hydro power or have an interest in interactions between nature and hydro power generation and would like to have a two hour tour of Tongland Power Station and Dam, please contact Barbara Maxwell at Drax via email:  Barbara.Maxwell@drax.com for more information.   

Latest News


Sticklebacks returned to Buittle Reservoir

3-spined sticklebacks have been introduced to Buittle Reservoir following the eradication of signal crayfish using poison

Impacts of acidification on Brown trout populations in Southwest Scotland

A paper just published in the leading peer-reviewed Journal of Fish Biology looks at the current numbers and genetic diversity of Brown trout populations in Southwest Scotland.

Celebrating World Ocean Day

To celebrate our river and oceans the GFT team joined other conservation organisations for a World Oceans Day extravaganza held in Port Williams harbour!

Next Previous