Aggregate Industries teams up with wildlife trust to create wetland habitat

Aggregate Industries recently restored one of its former quarries into a wetland habitat in conjunction with the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, a testament to the company’s commitment to making sure its sites serve a purpose after use.

Tucklesholme quarry, just outside of Burton-upon-Trent, was purchased by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 2013, and in 2018 Aggregate Industries ceased mineral extraction and restoration works began.

Tim Claxton, Regional Estates Manager at Aggregate Industries, said: “We worked closely with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to create a tailored environment for a wide array of species. We’re looking forward to seeing our former site becoming a new home for an abundance of wildlife.”

As part of the work at Tucklesholme, habitats now include extensive reedbeds which attract birds like ringed plover, oystercatcher, and the reclusive bittern. The reeds also act as a filter for the water they are rooted in, improving water quality and boosting the food supply for fish and birds.

The project also deliberately limited the numbers of trees planted in order to allow species to thrive with a reduced threat from predators, while also creating an open nature reserve for visitors to enjoy.

In addition, Channels have been dug around the site to provide extra, seasonal wetlands whenever the nearby river rises.

Jeff Sim, Senior Conservation Manager at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, comments: “We are hopeful of Tucklesholme developing into one of our finest nature reserves and a place for a wide array of wildlife for many years to come. We have a real hope that Tucklesholme will one day be the breeding home of bitterns – who rely on habitats like reedbeds to breed and thrive.”

This is now the second opening of an Aggregate Industries quarry-turned-nature-reserve this year, following the opening of Ripon City Wetlands in May. Tucklesholme is part of a wider project to transform former quarries in the region to create a wetland network dubbed ‘Transforming the Trent Valley’ by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

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