Quarry Restoration

Stonecastle Quarry

The restoration plan for Stonecastle Quarry is to create a mosaic of wetland habitats. The phasing of mineral extraction is carefully planned to minimise environmental impacts and to enable progressive restoration of the extracted areas.

During the restoration process, we will use the topsoil, subsoil and overburdens that were stripped during Phase 1 to start restoring the areas where the extraction of sand and gravel has already taken place.

The approved restoration scheme (download below) has been designed to:

Restore some areas to traditional wet meadow and also create a large wetland habitat linked to the earlier wetland quarry restoration.
Protect the integrity of the most important sections of hedgerow

The restoration of the site will create around 65 hectares of UK Priority Habitats. These types of habitats have been identified as being the most threatened and in need of conservation action. The creation of these habitats will ensure there is a positive impact on local wildlife, transforming the current agricultural landscape into a haven for wildlife to thrive.

The agricultural fields along the north of the site will be transformed into rich riverside pasture with damp hollows. This will provide an ideal habitat for birds, reptiles, small mammals and invertebrates.

The extraction areas will be restored into extensive reedbeds and lakes, with gravel islands and wildflower meadows around the edges.

Hedgerows will be planted to improve the connectivity north to south, ensuring that local wildlife can move across the site so their populations can grow and expand.

Some of these habitats have already been created, including over six hectares of reedbeds, lakes and woodland.

Download Restoration Plan

A successful track record in Kent

At other sites in Kent, Tarmac has worked with Kent Wildlife Trust to deliver restoration plans at its former quarries, creating nature reserves at Sevenoaks and Holborough Marshes.

Holborough Marshes

The thriving 35-hectare nature reserve, once part of Tarmac’s largest cement and quarrying operations, has been managed on behalf of Tarmac by Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) for nearly a quarter of a century, demonstrating an excellent collaboration between the two organisations.

The reserve, on the flood plain of the River Medway, has been classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has a superb range of wetland habitats with tidal brackish reedbeds, freshwater marsh, marshy grassland, scrub, woodland, freshwater and saline dykes.

The site is also very important for a diverse range of birds. The reed-beds support breeding reed and sedge warblers as well as providing important migratory roosting sites for swallows and sand martins. Wildfowl take advantage of the wetland areas and Cetti’s Warbler and Nightingale can be found in the scrub. A variety of plant species are found on the site, including marsh-mallow and early and southern marsh-orchid, meadow sweet, knappweeds and bladderwort.

The conservation area is also bucking trends with its thriving population of water voles – the UK’s fastest declining mammal.

The marsh is a patchwork of wet fields and scrub crisscrossed by ditches and home to many rare and unusual plants and animals. A network of paths provide access for people’s quiet enjoyment.

Since 1995, Tamac has worked with Kent Wildlife Trust under a regular reviewed Management Agreement, funding a warden who, with a number of volunteers, is dedicated to looking after the Marsh.

As part of our continued commitment to restoration and biodiversity in this nationally important site, Tarmac renewed this agreement in 2020 demonstrating our commitment to the continued husbandry and improvements at this flourishing nature reserve.

Tarmac is proud to be able to continue working with the Trust to develop the nature reserve still further, creating a wildlife haven for the enjoyment of all.

You can find more information by visiting Kent Wildlife Trusts Website:

Holborough Marshes

Sevenoaks