Bardon Hill is the highest point in Leicestershire, home to one of the UK’s largest hard rock quarries and over 200 species of spider. It sits on the edge of the Charnwood Forest and within the National Forest. The area is of significant conservation interest and has parts of the site designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This project is noteworthy on many levels; from the creation of habitat for individual species to the role of the conservation work at landscape scale.
In line with the biodiversity action plan for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, the aim was to improve the extent and habitat potential of the broad-leafed woodland and to create further heath-grassland, a characteristic of the Charnwood Forest.
Traditionally, the minerals industry uses opportunities to create habitat during the final, restoration phase of a quarry’s life. We have used the work at Bardon Hill to show the public and conservationists what can be achieved at a working quarry.
At the start of this project, Bardon Hill’s SSSI was defined by Natural England as being unfavourable, declining, as a result of extensive areas of rhododendron and a large pine woodland in a landscape of largely broad-leaf trees. The challenge is to improve this status by actively managing the area for wildlife.
We could not achieve this alone. This project has particular merit in the way partners have come together to address the conservation issues at Bardon Hill.
Each partner brings with them particular attributes, whether it be technical skill, financial resources or time. Differences of opinion have existed, but have not caused long term difficulties as the goals have remained the focus of attention. The relationships started informally and have become sustainable through achievement.
Aggregate Industries’ principal partners are Natural England, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT), British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and vitally, our local community.
Excellence & Exemplar Status:
Bardon Hill has turned its environment around through concerted efforts from all partners. Natural England now rate the ancient woodland as unfavourable, recovering with 40,000 local provenance broad-leaf trees and the heath land spreading as would be expected in the Charnwood area. We believe that Bardon Hill is an exemplar because of the way in which we have been able to show the public and conservationists what can be achieved for biodiversity at a working quarry.
In January 2008, Bardon Hill achieved Biodiversity Benchmark certification from The Wildlife Trusts, the first for an igneous rock quarry.
The Bardon Hill project carries influence both within the industry and the conservation movement. At a basic level, the site has been visited by a wide range of groups including schools, universities, British Geological Society (BGS), Butterfly Conservation, Loughborough Naturalist Society, photographers, Business in the Community (BiTC) and local residents. We also have regular visits from Natural England, BTCV and LRWT.
There are a number of public rights of way across the estate and interpretation boards have been sited to help raise awareness of elements of the project which they can see in front of them.
A range of publicity has been generated from the activities. The most notable being a BiTC Beacon event in 2006, showcasing conservation work using hebridean sheep to control scrub in the county BAP in 2007 and a six-page feature in the winter edition of Natural World, The Wildlife Trusts’ members magazine, entitled ‘A quarry that’s good for wildlife’.
BTCV has been bringing groups of people to Bardon Hill to learn how to work with stone by training them in the resurgent art of dry-stone walling. These are characteristic of the Charnwood landscape and provide linear habitats and pathways for plants and animals.
Local residents are getting the opportunities to learn from biodiversity partners not only about the environment on and around Bardon Hill, but small changes they are able to make in their own gardens to benefit biodiversity through the Breathing Places, Do One Thing campaign literature available at local events.
Resource Use, Air Quality & Biodiversity:
As a result of the project achievements to date, Bardon Hill sought and achieved The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark which demonstrates good management and improvement in performance. The land is periodically visited by all the biodiversity partners to give further advice and develop future management plans.
The condition of the SSSI on Bardon Hill has been unfavourable, improving since 2003 however this is not likely to be raised to the highest level of favourable for another 15 years or until the broad-leaf plantation is more established.
Performance & Measurement:
Biodiversity Challenge – An Action Plan for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (version 2, 2002) set out, amongst others, the following objectives;
• To create a further 100ha of heath-grassland targeting Charnwood Forest and areas adjacent to existing heath by 2010.
• To restore 100ha of planted ancient woodland sites (PAWS)
• LRWT to provide advice to all owners/managers of broadleaved woodland Wildlife Sites
“Less than 1% of Leicester is ancient woodland, and much of that has lost species through poor management. But Bardon’s magnificent mature oaks tower over bluebells, wood sorrel and enchanter’s nightshade.” Neill Talbot, Conservation Officer, LRWT.
“There is increasing awareness amongst the business community of the need to develop more sustainable business operations and I am delighted that Aggregate Industries is at the forefront of organisations who have achieved the Biodiversity Benchmark. Bardon Hill is a wonderful site for wildlife but in a manmade environment such as this, the richness of flora and fauna does not happen by accident. Aggregate Industries, together with all their partners and volunteer supporters, have worked incredibly hard to achieve The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark.” Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts
Community, Diversity, Skills & Training:
As an integral part of the on-going management, the British Trust of Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) have been working with local volunteers in training dry-stone wall construction, heath and woodland management as well as arranging scrub clearance days.
As part of educational awareness, educational visitors are frequently taken to Bardon Hill and the hopes and aspirations for the area explained. In 2008, an inaugural guided nature walk was held with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT) in order to provide an opportunity for local residents to learn more about their environment.
The local community have been kept informed of the progress through local press articles and company stakeholders through intermittent stories in our annual Sustainability Report.
Environmental. Social & Economic Benefits:
i) Environmental Sustainability: The primary benefit of this project is the creation and improvement of habitats on Bardon Hill. Increased awareness and understand of our land management practices, environmental impacts and methods of measurement and monitoring of biodiversity also contribute to our approach to sustainability.
ii) Social Sustainability: Increased engagement with our stakeholders, both local and national as well as adding to the quality of the local environment and public access to open spaces.
iii) Economic Sustainability: Through the understanding of the business and our management systems, stakeholders have an improved understanding of our local contribution and can actively participate during planning consultation. High standards of land stewardship should increase the trust stakeholders have in us and our operating practices.
1. SSSI Condition Summary http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Special/sssi/reportAction.cfm?report=sdrt18&category=S&reference=1002640
2. Natural World, Winter 2008 article, ‘A quarry that’s good for wildlife’ (circ. 765,000)
3. Ten years, Ten places. Aggregate Industries’ 2007 Sustainability report (of note, page 12 article on Bardon Hill)