These Case Study pages showcase examples of good practice in minerals restoration which is benefiting the natural environment and people.

All
  • All
  • Agriculture
  • Coastal
  • Enhancement of non-operational land
  • Grassland
  • Heathland
  • Natural regeneration
  • Reedbed
  • Upland
  • Wetland
  • Woodland

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.

Manor Farm (Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve)

The Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (formerly known as Manor Farm) is a 50 hectare wetland nature reserve beside the River Great Ouse at Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes.

Low Hedgeley Quarry

Low Hedgeley is a former sand and gravel extraction site in north east England. The site had been formerly restored to a mixed nature conservation / agricultural afteruse, however the land owner wanted to explore opportunities for increasing the biodiversity value of features at the site, namely a steep sided island.

Llynclys

Limestone has been quarried at Llynclys for over 150 years. In past years the quarry operations were widely spread and included limekilns with a rail link. The extent of the operating area is now far reduced from these early days to a single office with a one-way traffic system.

Linner Loop

The Linner Loop is situated along the River Maas/Meuse in the Province of Limburg, Netherlands. This area initially began to be dredged in the 1920s by the Dutch Railway Company for railway ballast pebble, with the subsequent extraction of sand and gravel for the construction industry.

Langford Lowfields

Langford Lowfields is adjacent to the River Trent approximately 5km north of Newark. It is one of four active sand, gravel and sandstone quarries currently operated by Tarmac in Nottinghamshire.

Farnham Quarry

Farnham quarry is adjacent to Aldershot on the Surrey/Hampshire border, surrounded by major roads and housing. Hanson Aggregates inherited the 50 ha site from Pioneer who began extracting sand and gravel here in the late 1990s. Extraction ceased in 2010, allowing Hanson to commence the final phases of restoration.

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.

Dungeness

The Dungeness peninsular is the largest shingle structure in the UK and large parts have several important nature conservation designations; including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for habitats and rare species.

Crawcrook Quarry

Crawcrook Quarry is a 28ha site situated between the villages of Wylam and Crawcrook, in Tyne and Wear. Nature After Minerals worked with the RSPB-CEMEX biodiversity adviser input to a restoration plan for the site. Extraction ceased in 2012; the site had started to develop some significant biodiversity interest through natural regeneration.