March 2008

CHARNWOOD FOREST NATURE RESERVES RECEIVE CONCRETE HELP FROM AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES

Bardon Aggregates has provided some unusual help for the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to protect their nature reserves in Charnwood Forest - in the form of a concrete donation.

Bardon Hill Quarry has donated 110 cubic metres of ready -mixed concrete to create a corral at Charnwood Lodge National Nature Reserve for the Trust’s herd of longhorn cattle. This means they can be over wintered there instead of on the nature reservewhere trampling on wet ground could cause serious damage.

Finding somewhere off the reserve for the cattle was becoming a problem for the Trust so they turned to Aggregate Industries for assistance. Bardon Aggregates donated the sand and aggregate, whilst Bardon Concrete mixed and delivered the materials. Even the impact of the materials was carefully considered with the concrete using fly-ash to partially replace the cement.

Trust Director, Simon Bentley said, “This is a significant contribution to our ability to conserve Leicestershire’s wildlife for future generations. We needed to provide sound, hard-standing for the cattle in winter because they can cause serious damage to the nature reserve. We work with Aggregate Industries across the county and their generosity is extremely well received.”

Director of Bardon Aggregates, Simon Taylor, said “The nature reserve is right on our doorstep at Bardon Hill and is a vital part of the greater Charnwood Forest landscape. I thought this was an excellent opportunity to show people that concrete can contribute to nature conservation.”

“We try to work closely with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and have used their experience and expertise at our Bardon Hill and Croft quarries ,” he added.

Chris House, General Manager for Bardon Concrete, said, “When we were first approached I was unsure that we could donate all that was required but with some good communication we teamed up to provide all the necessary material for this excellent project.”

Ben Vivian, the company’s UK Corporate Social Responsibility Advisor, has been working with The Wildlife Trusts nationally for some years, on a range or local and national schemes, including support for the BBC Breathing Places campaign. He said, “This is a really important area for nature conservation on a landscape scale. Various organisations are working to protect and extend the Charnwood Forest area. We are helping both with this project and the ongoing landscaping and planting around Bardon Hill.”

 

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