Our Craig-yr-Hesg quarry in the Taff Valley, near Pontypridd, has been operating since 1885. It contributes more than £2 million a year to the local economy and employs a team of 17 at the site, while a further 60+ maintenance engineers and HGV drivers depend on it for their livelihood.
Craig-yr-Hesg provides high quality blue pennant sandstone for use in road surfacing across south Wales and beyond. The stone has a high polished stone value, which means that it has a very high skid resistance, making it the ideal choice for use on motorways and airport runways.
Reserves at the site have been secured until 2049 following the granting of planning permission to extend the site and access a further 10 million tonnes of stone in October 2022.
Habitats within the quarry include semi natural woodland, small pockets of heathland, rock and scree, open habitat on previously disturbed ground and quarry benches and tips that are regenerating naturally to woodland. A wide range of flora and fauna has made the quarry its home, including nesting barn owls and peregrine falcons, and we work closely with an independent ecologist to protect and enhance biodiversity at the site.
We are committed to being a good neighbour and actively support local initiatives and programmes which benefit the community and environment.