These Case Study pages showcase examples of good practice in minerals restoration which is benefiting the natural environment and people.
- All
- Land forming
- Soil safeguarding
- Water control
Weatherhill Quarry
Weatherhill Quarry is a 116h silica sand quarry situated within the North Pennines SAC / SPA. Following the cessation of extraction works, the operator is obliged to submit a reclamation scheme for the site. Given the sensitive location of the site, Nature After Minerals was asked to provide advice for a restoration scheme that maximises biodiversity, while also extending the internationally-important habitats in the surrounding designated land.
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.
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.
Belcoo Quarry
Belcoo Quarry is a 40ha site situated 2km from the town of Belcoo. The site does not currently have a restoration plan for the final end-use. RESTORE provided advice to the operator on key habitats and biodiversity-focussed features which should be targeted with the proposed restoration plan.
Block Fen
The proposed restoration of three quarries in Cambridgeshire is potentially a very interesting (and unusual) case where mineral extraction followed by restoration using inert waste should enable wet grassland to be created, safeguarding the long-term potential of the “best and most versatile” (BMV) agricultural soils present.