Review Topic - Creating Environmental Improvements through Restoration

For the purposes of this review, restoration has been defined as the reclamation, rehabilitation or re-integration of an aggregate quarry to a positive after use. Restoration covers all stages of the rehabilitation process from start to finish: planning, consultation and assessment; investigation; design; implementation; and management stages.

Quarry restoration often involves creating a new landform that affects the visual impact and landscape character of the site. It always gives rise to changes in the ground and ground surface that provide a new context for the site in terms of the other major elements of the post-closure environmental footprint: water, biodiversity, and geodiversity. These changes may provide opportunities for a range of after-uses, and challenges to be overcome (such as long term site safety if public access is contemplated). It may be possible to establish some elements of the new environmental footprint progressively (as excavation proceeds) and, even where progressive restoration is not an option, there are a number of techniques of temporary restoration that can limit landscape and visual impacts during the life of a quarry.

Numerous ALSF projects were relevant to this review. However, many of the site specific projects funded by Natural England and English Heritage were of a practical nature and were not written up in report format, so just forty reports were included in the review.

The projects cover issues and techniques relating to restoration at each of the quarry life-cycle phases (planning and design, operational, and post-closure).

Planning and design phase

The need for quarry restoration to be planned from the outset (and continually reviewed throughout the operational phase and again before the final restoration is implemented) is recognised by many of the ALSF reports. Some cover the legislative framework while others consider the planning and design process, including the technical aspects. Stakeholder involvement is emphasised frequently.

Restoration both incorporates mitigation measures relating to elements of the environmental footprint of quarrying and can be used in its own right as a mitigation measure. It is thus an essential consideration in quarry design and environmental assessment at the planning stage of the quarry life-cycle. ALSF reports consider a number of specific technical aspects of restoration as a mitigation measure, including: water-based restoration; visual screening; resolving conflicts with aviation; creating secure and sustainable final slopes; and enabling stakeholder communities to visualise future restored quarry landscapes. Many reports emphasise the role restored quarries can play in the promotion of educational, cultural, ecological and geological objectives.

Operational phase

Virtually all the ALSF reports provide some useful information on the preparation and enablement of restoration during and/or at the end of the operational stage of the quarry life-cycle. Restoration approaches suitable for non-agricultural uses are considered, while other projects cover matters such as spoil remediation or special blasting techniques for producing safe faces and slopes. The topic of quarry “wet” areas and their restoration is researched, with good advice and recommendations. The subjects of art/culture and science have been addressed by some reports, considering the educational and cultural opportunities a quarry restoration can provide. Some projects which had a focus on training included aspects of restoration.

A few reports considered the benefits of progressive restoration techniques. These are particularly achievable in sand and gravel quarries but also in some hard-rock operations where the deposit is to be worked in phases or upper slopes can be restored as the quarry is deepened. Progressive restoration requires a lot of pre-planning, investigation, preparation and management. This is ideally achieved through an integrated quarry design process that balances the commercial objectives of the quarry with its environmental impact and the safety and operational issues that arise. In many cases, progressive restoration may mitigate negative impacts and reassure stakeholders. In some sites, it also presents the opportunity to release completed areas for a beneficial after-use (subject to safety and environmental considerations associated with the proximity of ongoing working).

Post-closure phase

Final restoration is comprehensively covered by all the reports reviewed, with some suggesting innovative uses. These include Arts/Sculpture facilities, biomass energy production, restoration for the benefit of people with disabilities, and a wide range of educational uses. Geoconservation and bioconservation are two of the key objectives of many of the restoration schemes considered.

Proper consideration of restoration management is essential if a restoration scheme is to succeed in the longer term. All the ALSF reports cover the ongoing management issues, many emphasising the importance of continuing stakeholder involvement and some highlighting the importance of safety.

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