June 2007
Forfar Quarry
Receives Top Restoration Award
Bardon Aggregates’ Forfar Quarry in Angus,
Scotland has been recognised as a leader in quarry restoration,
after receiving the industry's premier award for best practice, the
Quarry Products Association (QPA), Cooper Heyman Cup.
Since decommissioning the site in 2000, Bardon
Aggregates, which is owned by Aggregate Industries, has been
working in partnership with the local Murton Wildlife Trust and
landowners, Mr and Mrs Hill, to design and create a community
education facility and nature reserve that can be enjoyed by
visitors of all ages.
The sand and gravel quarry, located a few
miles east of Forfar, Scotland, consists of two areas, Murton and
Fledmyre, both of which have been restored to the highest standard
and now attract a large number of visitors, birds and
animals.
Officially opened in September 2006, by the Rt
Hon. Lord Fowler, who is a non executive director of Aggregate
Industries, the site comprises five lakes, each of which plays a
different role in the reserve.
Many of the lake edges have been left open to
encourage wading birds and there are also a number of geese,
redshank, ducks coot and Sand martins nesting in and around the
area. The innovative artificial nesting facilities for Sand
martins, designed and constructed in Murton, is recognised
throughout the UK as a leading innovation in nesting provision for
these vulnerable birds.
Alistair Bremner, Bardon Aggregate’s area
manager, said: “We are really pleased to have been recognised by
the industry’s governing body, the Quarry Products Association in
this way.
“Quarry manager, David Crabb and Mr and Mrs
Hill, who had the original idea for the site, have both been
integral in the restoration and without their hard work,
determination and dedication, the site would not have been such a
great success.
“It has been hard work transforming the site,
but the area now plays an important role within the local
community, having been divided into different sections. Each area
focuses on a particular subject; be it education, wildlife or
flora. For example, the western part of the site includes a
smallholding that is used to teach young farmers and local school
children organic agricultural skills and countryside skills.”
Al Borland, reserve manager of the Murton
Wildlife Trust, was instrumental in the re-development of the site.
He says: “It is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard
work of everyone involved. The personal commitment and dedication
of the team at Bardon Aggregates has exceeded any of their
obligations or our expectations and we couldn’t have done it
without them. Together we have created an exciting and dynamic
facility for the people of Angus and beyond.”
On presenting the award, the judging panel
noted that: “It is not only an excellently restored site but is
also a tremendous community asset, meeting a local need for many
types of countryside training. The attention to detail,
particularly in the landscaping, lifts the site above other
restorations.”
Current plans include expanding the use of the
nature reserve as an education resource and creating an inclusive,
interactive community farm for recreation, education and as a
centre for community welfare improvement.