Cloddach Quarry European restoration award

“’We are very proud to have received this award, it is a great recognition of the detailed schemes undertaken and reflects all the hard work of our employees to achieve the restoration.”

David Park, national restoration manager

Cloddach Quarry, sand and gravel quarry in Scotland, was awarded the Restoration Award, at the European Aggregates Association (UEPG) Sustainable Development Awards 2019, for its mosaic of lakes, wetlands, islands, wet woodland and agriculture.

Lake margins have been carefully shaped to encourage birdlife to the site, providing feeding, roosting, breeding and lofting with the formation of shallow wetlands, islands, land-bridges and gentle sloping beaches.

Panshanger Park in Hertfordshire also received a special mention in the Restoration category for its work undertaken to transform the former sand and gravel quarry into a country park.

In the Special Award for Biodiversity category, Sandy Heath quarry in Bedfordshire received a special mention for the Heathland creation at the site which has created habitats for birds, invertebrates and lichens.

Stuart Wykes, director of Land and Natural resources, added: “It’s great to see the team and everyone involved in these projects receive this type of recognition.

“It is important to us that we do sustainable mineral extraction and restoration at the sites we operate, so receiving these awards really does reinforce the work we do when it comes to biodiversity and restoration.”