Local quarry wins BTO award
Tarmac's Ibsley Quarry has won first place in the Bird Species category for quarry sites with less than five hectares of water in the British Trust for Ornithology - British Energy Business Bird Challenge 2008.
A total of 70 businesses in industries ranging from aggregate, water and power companies to agricultural, research and commercial took part in the Challenge.
Kate Aldridge, challenge organiser for the BTO, said: "This year, competing sites have recorded the greatest number of bird species since the Challenge began, giving a real indication that the efforts that these companies are putting in to improve their sites for birds and other wildlife are really paying off. The Challenge gives the BTO an opportunity to celebrate all the hard work site managers, employees and volunteers have invested in these business wildlife havens. We offer our congratulations to all those involved. They thoroughly deserve this award."
Stuart Goldthorpe, Tarmac's restoration manager for the area, said: "The reedbeds in particular play a great part in the conservation and nurturing of rare bird species and a further five hectares are planned in the future where it is hoped sedge warblers and bitterns will nest. During the Challenge, 74 bird species were sighted which included black tailed godwits, little and great crested grebes, gadwall, shelducks, oystercatchers, lapwings and little ringed plover."
Ibsley Quarry ceased operations around nine months ago and is now fully restored with small lakes, reedbeds and grazing. Tarmac arduously worked to a programme of restoration set by Hampshire County Council and introduced a north to south public footpath in addition to the existing right of way across the land. Twenty acres of back up grazing - land set aside for New Forest Commoners to graze their cattle - have been restored in line with the National Trust's aim for more common land to be created countrywide.
Patrick Webster, parish councillor for Ibsley and also a resident for 60 years, said "The Ibsley lake is the best lake for wildlife in the Avon Valley with the reedbeds providing the perfect environment in which our best loved British birds can flourish and grow in numbers."
25 March 2009
