Land and Environment 2023

We work hard to minimise the impact of our ongoing operations and restore our sites once operations cease, leaving a positive legacy for future generations. Tarmac’s Restoration Team provides support and guidance to operational teams on the management of biodiversity, restoration, and aftercare of extractive sites. As part of these restoration works, we are committed to a net positive biodiversity contribution. Once mineral extraction is completed, the land is restored to a range of different land uses, such as woodlands, agricultural fields, hedgerows, or conservation grasslands, leaving the natural environment in a measurably better state for biodiversity than before mineral extraction.

In support of improving local environments, in 2023 an extensive restoration project took place at Broom in Bedfordshire. Mineral extraction at Broom started in 1997, and the site has since been progressively restored to a mix of agriculture, wetlands, woodland and lakes.

The Broom Quarry restoration project involved the creation of 83 hectares of UK Priority Habitats – habitats considered as threatened in the UK – including the development of a wildlife reserve called the Broom East Wildlife Conservation Site. This positive impact will continue with the creation of an additional 71.6 hectares of wildlife habitats as part of the progressive restoration of Broom.

Tarmac is also in the process of completing a 20-year restoration project to turn the quarry at Scorton in North Yorkshire into a nature reserve. Part of the project includes the creation of new pathways created by Tarmac on previously quarried land, which lead to the nature reserve areas of the site.

While 6.5m tonnes of sand and gravel has been extracted, progressive restoration has closely followed afterwards, ensuring the restoration is maturing from the start. The 400-acre scheme to create wetlands, reedbeds, parkland and woodland, as well as extensive public access, has been challenging, but separating important areas from human disturbance using sensitive landform screens, tree planting and fencing has allowed wildlife to flourish.

Surveys record more than 150 bird species, including 44 birds that are classed as an ‘amber’ conservation concern, and 32 birds classed as ‘red’ species. Other wildlife is also widespread, with butterflies, dragonflies, mammals, and amphibian numbers on the increase in the reserve. Additionally, the endangered white-letter hairstreak butterfly is on site, with other protected species using the site for roosting and foraging. The mosaic of habitats has also attracted a wide range of flora – more than 120 plant species have been identified at the site.

As part of the project, 50 acres of new parkland, 34 acres of woodland and three acres of fringe reedbeds have been created. Tarmac provided public access to the restored areas in 2010, with footfall increasing since extraction concluded in 2021.

Panshanger Park in Hertfordshire, also a former quarry site, was restored to a stunning country park with several wetland areas and habitats. The restoration of the quarry workings provided the opportunity to increase and enhance the wetland habitats throughout the valley floor, with high priority habitats created which included 780 metres of chalk river, seven hectares of fen and wet grassland, and eight hectares of eutrophic standing water such as ponds and lakes. The park opened to the public in 2014 and in 2023 it hosted a number of events, including guided walks along the dragonfly trail.