Project to connect with wild greenspace at Needingworth quarry

A project to connect communities with local wildlife at our Needingworth sand and gravel 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. 

The project, coordinated by RSBP, which has been working in partnership with us for 20 years to restore Needingworth into a 460ha wetland habitat, has been entered into the community stream of the contest. It will create a series of four new circular walking routes from the village to the nature reserve, which neighbouring communities will help to define, including installing features such as nest boxes or seating areas. Its aim is to foster a sense of ownership and appreciation among local people to protect the site for future generations, as well as promote the mental and physical benefits associated with having access to a wild local greenspace.

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.

Unit manager Hilton Law said: “This project is one of a handful in the UK to be selected for the 2022 Quarry Life Award. We are delighted that Needingworth is host to this exciting community 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