Barton quarry project to support new quarry lake habitats

A project investigating the long-term management of rare quarry lake habitats at Barton sand and gravel quarry has been selected as one of just six schemes in the UK to participate in the fifth round of our biodiversity competition, the Quarry Life Award.

The global competition is run every three years by our parent company HeidelbergCement to raise the understanding of the biodiversity value of quarrying sites during and after extraction and share new best practices. 

The project, coordinated by Loughborough University, has been entered into the research stream of the contest. It will investigate natural sediments found in Barton’s wetland-lakes – a high biodiversity ecosystem which is becoming increasingly rare in the UK – to provide long-term data on how aquatic biodiversity has developed over time, including the possible impact of pollution. Its aim is to use the findings to support and inform the development and optimal management of these potentially important regional and national habitats.

The project is competing in the national round of the awards, which offers a top prize of £5,000 to the winner. If successful, it will be put forward into the international stage of the competition, where it will be up against projects from countries across the globe to try and claim the £26,000 prize for best overall project.

Area operations manager Dominic Hodgson said: “This project is one of a handful in the UK to be selected for the 2022 Quarry Life Award. We are delighted that Barton is host to this exciting research scheme and look forward to seeing how it informs best practice in enhancing biodiversity and restoration at our site.”

To find out more visit the Quarry Life Award website www.quarrylifeaward.co.uk