Jackson: MPA quarries wildlife havens for the future (Image credit: Diem Photography)
UK biodiversity loss is a growing concern and the mineral products industry is uniquely placed with significant potential to contribute to achieving the government’s biodiversity targets.
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) event "Building on our Legacy: realising our potential – biodiversity and the Mineral Products Association" was held on 19 October at the Royal Society, in London, and shared best practice through the long-running MPA Restoration Awards and the inaugural Natural England Biodiversity Awards.
MPA members have a long history of high-quality restoration and biodiversity enhancement. The land they manage or control is equivalent to a small National Park and includes two national nature reserves, 22 local nature reserves, 15 field study and education centres and 13 nature trails.
Results of research were revealed at the event, including the news that, with 1,300 active sites across the UK, 56,000ha of the minerals industry estate is potentially suitable for restoration to priority habitats, as defined in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The industry leads the way in restoring the population of the previously declining bittern by hosting 15 per cent of the UK’s breeding pairs in reed beds created following quarrying. To date, 22 minerals sites have been certified by the externally assessed Wildlife Trusts Biodiversity Benchmark.
MPA members planted a million trees, planted 57km of hedgerows and built 21km of dry stone walls, between 2006 and 2010.
Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, presented the Natural England Biodiversity Awards, and declared that there were few other industries where the same degree of inspiring commitment was seen.
Barry Gardiner, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Biodiversity and Ed Miliband’s special envoy for climate change and the environment, spoke of the need to understand the value of the natural capital of the country and invited audience members to get involved with the investigations and subsequent report on planning and biodiversity.
"As an industry I would like to offer you that invitation now to get the benefit of your understanding," said Gardiner.
The MPA works closely with Natural England, the RSPB and Nature After Minerals (NAM), which aims to identify and deliver biodiversity opportunities on former minerals sites. NAM has advised the industry on the restoration of more than 2,000ha since 2006.
Speaking on behalf of NAM Dr Darren Moorcroft, head of conservation delivery at the RSPB, raised his concerns that nature was "intrinsically valuable" with studies demonstrating it is fundamentally important to our wellbeing and our economy.
Quarries are wildlife havens of the future
Nigel Jackson, MPA chief executive said: "MPA members’ quarries have long delivered biodiversity benefits and will be the wildlife havens of the future. I believe that the legacy we have built and the potential that we have to do more could make biodiversity a unique differentiator and defining characteristic for our sector – we are uniquely placed.
"I hope that we are finally seeing a shift in the perception of our industry from a threat to an opportunity and from unwanted to essential and increasingly sustainable.
"The government must realise, though, that for the industry to contribute wholly to the UK BAP and realise its full potential, the work of our members needs recognition and backing. We also need a thriving private sector, without which government aims for the economy and the public sector simply cannot be met. We need less regulation and lower taxation and a planning system that is really fit for purpose," he said.
Seven MPA Restoration Award winners were announced, including the winner of the Cooper-Heyman Cup.
On the biodiversity side, there were 15 winners, which included the winner of the top Natural England Biodiversity Award 2011 (in association with the MPA), the runner-up and four smaller members were presented with the MPA Award for SME Commitment to Biodiversity and Nature Conservation – Brett Group, Marshalls Plc, Sibelco UK Ltd and Smith & Sons (Bletchington) Ltd. A special MPA Award for Personal Commitment to Biodiversity and Nature Conservation was awarded posthumously to Brian Butterfield, who was associated with Lafarge Aggregates’ Panshanger quarry near Hertford for 48 years.
Tarmac’s Bellmoor and Lound Estate in Nottinghamshire won the Cooper-Heyman Cup. This quarry it was felt was an example of a major exercise in the recycling of countryside, with quarrying moving progressively through more than 600ha since the 1940s. Farmland and woodland have been restored to support community and leisure uses. At the heart of the site lies a 300ha area that was designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in 1992.
CEMEX UK’s Rugeley Quarry won the Natural England Biodiversity Award. At this quarry, the company will, by 2032, have added more than 200ha of priority lowland heathland habitat, contributing to the UK BAP and Staffordshire local BAP targets for this habitat.
The judges were impressed by the fact that CEMEX had voluntarily forgone quarrying to the permitted depth to ensure that the new heathland remained dry.
Alison Carter is the editor of Mineral Planning.
