| Background and site description |
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The site is in the North Pennines, comprising an active hillside limestone quarry being continuously restored, and including Geological SSSI Fairy Hole Caves – the area’s largest wet cave with pre-glacial sediments.
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| Initiative |
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The original restoration consents covered restoration to low grade agricultural land. However, over the course of restoration work site staff and a consultant identified ways to develop and expand the site’s ecological interest. Particular areas of interest include establishing shallow water bodies rare in the area to attract wildfowl and geese, as well as an area of Limestone Pavement. Species present include grey partridge (short list BAP species). The company works with a sympathetic mineral planning department in Durham County Council, as well as the local Wildlife Trust. Restoration is on-going.
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| Costs |
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The restoration budget part-funds the nature conservation work, which has run from £10,000 to £15,000pa. since 1987. Around 50 per cent of that figure is spent in complying with planning requirements.
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| Benefits |
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- The commitment of the site manager has raised the profile of the site’s nature conservation potential.
- Good working partnerships have been established with local people and conservation groups.
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| Contribution to biodiversity |
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- Grey Partridge is a Short List BAP species, for which an Action Plan has been prepared.
- The site demonstrates how restoration proposals and consents can be adjusted in order to enhance biodiversity in a number of important areas where the interest and commitment exists within a company or site operator.
- The site offers huge potential for developing a number of biodiversity objectives.
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| Contact |
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Durham Biodiversity Partnership
Andy Lees
Implementation Officer
Durham Biodiversity Partnership
c/o Durham Wildlife Trust
Rainton Meadows
Chilton Moor
Houghton-le-Spring
Tyne & Wear DH4 6PU
andylees@durhambiodiversity.org.uk
0191 5843112
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