Soil carbon preservation project to improve biodiversity at Grange Top

A project to investigate the preservation of carbon in soil to enhance biodiversity at Grange Top 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. 

Coordinated by Cranfield University, the project at Grange Top, which provides the limestone and clay needed for cement manufacture at our Ketton works, has been entered into the research stream of the contest. It will compare different soils at the site with the aim of providing best practice guidance to improve the potential for restored soils to store carbon and enhance soil biodiversity.

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.

Quarry manager Aurelien Colas said: “This project is one of a handful in the UK to be selected for the 2022 Quarry Life Award. We are delighted that Grange Top 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