Landscape Impact and Restoration
Landscape Impact and Restoration
Wherever possible old areas of tipped material are landscaped using a
variety of methods. For quarries at higher altitudes any kind of
planting would have little success therefore the aim with these is to
create a 'crag and scree' effect by leaving some rock faces exposed
with finer material below thus imitating the natural effects of erosion.
For quarries at lower levels, the tips are landscaped using fine slate
waste mixed with imported soil and trees are then planted (under
schemes agreed with the National Park).
At Broughton Moor quarry an 80 hectare tree planting scheme has been
carried out under the Woodland Challenge Fund. This incorporates
several species of native woodland including alder, juniper, sessile
oak, rowan and birch. A new footpath linked to a small car park by
wooden walkways is open to the public and not only will this scheme
mature with time, it will also serve as a screen for the quarrying
operations.
Two of Burlington's quarries are bounded by Sites of Special Scientific
Interest; the one at Kirkby because of the heather moorland and at
Elterwater for the oak woodland and its associated lichens and mosses.
In the case of Elterwater quarry a program of rhododendron eradication
is under way to prevent this invasive plant from spreading into the
SSSI. Other potential problems identified by Natural England such as
Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed are regularly treated each year
wherever they occur. |
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