Ecosystem services Archives - Nature After Minerals

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve

Gravel was extracted around Little Paxton between the 1940s and the early 1960s, resulting in a series of flooded pits. There were no plans to restore these for nature conservation, but later operators allowed natural regeneration to occur and by 1980 Paxton Pits had developed considerable wildlife interest, in particular for birds.

Newark – South Clifton Cluster

The Newark – Clifton area of the Trent valley has significant potential for wetland habitat creation; 1200 ha of mineral reserves located within this area. This potential will only be met if all stakeholders develop a shared vision; Nature After Minerals / RSPB facilitated two workshops to scope interest in developing a vision for wetland habitat creation, and then develop a partnership.

Middleton Lakes

The Middleton Lakes complex is located approximately 1.5km south west of Tamworth, within the River Tame valley. Principally in Staffordshire, part of the site crosses into the neighbouring county of Warwickshire.

Middleton Quarry

Middleton Quarry is a small chalk extraction site near the village of Middleton-on-the-Wolds in East Yorkshire. Nature After Minerals advised on the restoration of the quarry to lowland calcareous (chalk) grassland through discussions with the Mineral Planning Authority and the Planning Consultant acting on behalf of the operator and landowner.

Grensmaas/ Border Meuse

The Border Meuse is a 42 km section of the River Meuse/Maas that flows along the border between Belgium and the Netherlands. During the 1980s, more and more social resistance was being felt against gravel extraction, with past extraction sites resulting in vast areas of open water, adding little value in spatial quality.

Fagl Lane Quarry

Fagl Lane is a restored sand and gravel site, now managed by a Community Interest Company, who are looking to recreate an ancient managed landscape on the site, featuring farmland, woodland, wetlands, an operational Iron Age farm and Roman Fort, all for educational, research and leisure purposes.

Cam Quarry

Cam Quarry is a hard rock quarry situated within the Binevenagh AONB near the town of Macosquin. RESTORE worked with Whitemountain Quarries on restoring areas to wetland habitats, tying in with the surrounding natural landscape.

Ariel view showing a previously restored area (right) and the area in progress (left)

Brackagh Quarry

Brackagh Quarry is a large sand and gravel pit near the town of Draperstown, north of Cookstown. RESTORE worked with Creagh Concrete throughout the project, advising on the creation of priority wetland habitats. The operator also used the site to showcase the potential of best practice restoration to the wider industry and key decision-makers.

Bayston Hill Quarry

Located on the geographical feature ‘Sharpstone Ridge’, Bayston Hill quarry is situated on the southern outskirts of Shrewsbury. The site produces approximately 800,000 tonnes of a high specification aggregate each year, which is predominately used in road construction – including for Abu Dhabi’s new Formula 1 track. The quarry provides the largest reserve of gritstone in England.