Ecological Mitigation for Quarry Restoration

Taylor Wimpey

Keystone Habitats were appointed by Taylor Wimpey to address protected species constraints prior to and during re-profiling work to restore the 72ha former Chinnor Cement Works in Oxfordshire.

What Did We Do?

• Installed over 7km of heavy duty newt and reptile proof fencing
• Created newt and reptile hibernacula
• Cleared all tree and scrub vegetation in the re-profiling zone
• Installed protective fencing around stands of Japanese Knotweed and commenced an eradication programme
• Translocated orchids
• Carried out destructive searches

How Did We Do It?

• Regular programme meetings were held with Keystone Ecology, the client and their principal contractor
• We made use of existing machinery on site for destructive searches
• Vegetation clearance was largely timed to avoid the bird nesting season using a two phase cutting approach in areas with reptiles, completing clearance to ground level once reptile translocation was complete
• We assigned a Habitats Contracts Manager who was licensed to handle Great Crested Newts to manage the project

What Were The Outcomes?

• We devised a strategy that avoided the need for constant ecological supervision
• Our approach saved the client costs associated with such supervision
• We avoided programme delays