Red squirrels, skylarks, bats and bee orchids made to feel welcome at Tarmac quarry sites

Tarmac is going a step further to encourage and develop a wealth of wildlife at its quarries throughout Durham and Gateshead by producing Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) for all its quarries in the county. These plans will assist the company to operate and manage its sites in a way which protects and enhances everything from wildlife, plants and trees to other biodiversity ranging from toadstools to mosses. The Company currently has an interest in six quarries in the region, covering over 350 ha of land. The BAPs will complement the potential for significant wildlife enhancement projects already carried out through site restoration.

The Tarmac Durham BAP project is being produced in line with a corporate commitment made by Tarmac to have Biodiversity Action Plans in place at all of its operational UK sites by the end of 2007. A county-wide plan for Northumberland has already been launched in January with the help of famous botanist, author and broadcaster Professor David Bellamy OBE.

Mike Young, Tarmac estates manager for County Durham, said: "The BAP process has helped us target and prioritise the opportunities we have to protect and enhance wildlife at our quarry sites. Many of our quarries serve as a haven for species which have been more or less excluded from the wider countryside. Active and restored quarries support a wealth of wildlife such as red squirrel, linnet, skylark and bats, all of national conservation concern in addition to rare fauna such as bee orchids."

'As land managers, we not only protect vulnerable species during the extraction process but also have unparalleled opportunities to create new habitats for wildlife during and after quarrying activity."

A draft BAP will be launched for public comment later in 2007.