Biodiversity In Action
Hanson UK demonstrate how they are meeting their commitment to habitat creation and management
The quarrying industry has an important part to play in reshaping the landscape to enhance biological diversity both during and after mineral extraction by implementing biodiversity action plans.
Habitats can change naturally over time but they can also be created and managed as part of the mineral extraction process to form a valuable biodiversity resource.
Biodiversity action plans (BAPs) allow the minerals industry to work with local communities and wildlife organizations to create vibrant, species-rich habitats at existing sites and through restoration.
Government policy
The Government’s biodiversity policy originates from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Two years later the UK BAP was published and set as an overall goal: ‘To conserve and enhance biological diversity within the UK, and to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity through all appropriate mechanisms’.
The UK BAP aims to protect habitats and species in decline or under threat by setting up measureable, achievable, realistic, time-bound national targets. These are in the form of action plans for a series of priority habitats and species. The Government’s nature conservation agencies (English Nature, The Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage and Joint Nature Conservation Committee) are working in partnership with other organizations to establish a range of programmes to deliver the objectives over a 20-year period.
To support these aims, local BAPs have been prepared by a range of organizations in both the public and private sector. The plans outline actions to be taken to conserve and enhance species and habitats identified in the UK BAP, and those that may have a particular local significance. They rely on local partnerships to prioritize resources, maintain programmes and provide valuable ecological information.
Biodiversity in action
In the six years since Hanson UK launched their biodiversity and geodiversity action plan in August 2005, the company has put in place more than 50 site-specific plans.
The commitment to produce company-wide biodiversity and geodiversity action plans dates back to April 2000 when Hanson became the first UK quarrying company to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with English Nature (now Natural England) to improve communications and understanding.
The partnership agreement was designed to provide extra safeguards for landscapes and vital wildlife habitats on company-owned land – Hanson are responsible for more than 80 sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), 68 of which are in England.
Under the agreement, Hanson committed to work to improve standards of conservation management in both active and disused quarries with the aim of maintaining and enhancing their SSSIs. They also pledged to work closely with Natural England when planning restoration schemes and to produce company biodiversity and geodiversity action plans.
The agreement was updated to encompass Hanson’s marine dredging and building products businesses, and a similar agreement has been signed with the Countryside Council for Wales with matching commitments covering activities in Wales.
Case study 1
Keepershield Quarry, Northumberland
Part of Hanson’s Keepershield Quarry, near Hexham, in Northumberland, which has provided a new home for one of Britain’s rarest flowers, is thought to be the first translocation site to gain SSSI status from Natural England.
It follows a two-year project carried out between 1998 and 2000 to transplant Alchemilla micans, Britain’s rarest lady’s mantle, which is found on only a handful of sites in north-east England, all of which are grasslands with shallow soils overlying whinstone or dolerite.
One of the most prolific sites at Keepershield had planning permission for quarrying, so after widespread consultation it was decided to move the entire habitat on to bare, level whinstone in an area adjacent to the quarry that will eventually form part of the final restoration plan.
The turf was stripped and stored, and the shallow topsoil taken to the new site where the turf was relaid. The Alchemilla plants, which had earlier been dug up by volunteer students from Germany and potted temporarily, were then replanted.
The project won praise from Dr John Richards, retired professor of botany at Newcastle University, who said: ‘I confess, I was sceptical about the likely success of this exercise and thought privately that the main British locality for this species had probably been lost. But, in my opinion, this translocation has been a resounding success. One of the best examples of a whin grassland still in existence has been successfully re-created from scratch.’
Dr Richards visited the translocation site last summer and was shown the results by Hanson unit manager Bruce Lowdon, who has followed the project from the start. ‘Bruce was very proud of what has been achieved and he had every right to be,’ said Dr Richards. ‘Alchemillas in excellent health and vigour abounded and most plants were flowering. Several other species were also flourishing.’
Hanson landscape manager Georgina Watkins said: ‘Natural England is normally reluctant to recognize translocation sites, as it could set a precedent for others to move SSSIs. But this project has shown what can be done with careful planning and commitment and is a credit to everyone concerned, particularly the site employees.’
She added that once SSSI status had been registered, the company would have legal obligations to manage the site in an appropriate manner.
Case study 2
Horton-in-Ribblesdale Quarry, Yorkshire
A five-year project to establish a large area of juniper at Hanson’s Horton-in-Ribblesdale Quarry, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is under way.
Juniper is a UK BAP priority species whose population is in decline, despite efforts to encourage natural regeneration.
Working in partnership with Hanson, the Park authority is providing 480 locally sourced juniper plants to be introduced over five years within a 2ha stock- and rabbit-proof enclosure alongside the quarry. The first phase of 100 plants began in March this year. When complete it will be the largest juniper plantation in the National Park.
Hanson’s senior landscape architect, Richard Hughes, said: ‘The enclosure is on the Malham and Arncliffe Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Ingleborough Complex Special Area of Conservation. This site was chosen because it encompasses the veteran juniper trees on the edges of the Moughton Common and Ingleborough Nature Reserves. It’s a great scheme which will help to implement both the National Park’s and our own Biodiversity Action Plans.’
The plants are grown from seeds harvested from an adjacent natural population then propagated and established at Cheviot Trees in Berwick-upon-Tweed. The project has won the support of local conservation groups and Natural England.
