Restored Brett Quarry Site Wins Industry Commendation
Brett has won a commendation for their restoration of the Great Stour Way & Hambrook Marshes site in Kent.
Brett has won a commendation by the Mineral Products Association (MPA) in association with Natural England for their restoration of the Great Stour Way & Hambrook Marshes site in Canterbury, Kent.
This award is the 50th in forty-three years for the Brett Group and continues to build on a legacy of being custodians to land that is effectively ‘borrowed’ and given back with so much added for the local community and future generations.
The site, which is open to the public, runs along the route of the Stour River and was progressively worked and carefully restored over a 30 year period in partnership with local authorities and specialist groups. The restoration has achieved areas that are rich in wildlife with many species that are accessible to visitors, and provides a place for people to walk, run, cycle and wildlife watch. There are ten lakes on the site, and the Hambrook Marshes Nature Reserve which is widely used by local schools and colleges as an educational site for their wildlife and countryside management courses.
Bill Brett, Chairman of the Brett Group commented, "Restoration is a key part of what we do and is a priority from the very first planning application at any site. This latest award is the result of the efforts and foresight of so many Brett people who take great pride in what they do. Of course we will continue to work in consultation with local communities to ensure we deliver high quality restored sites that enrich wildlife and add real value to the local area."
Nigel Jackson, Chief Executive of the MPA, speaking at the awards said, "Once again our members have demonstrated how much good work they are doing to achieve high quality restoration and to protect and enhance biodiversity throughout the country.....an area of priority habitats the equivalent of at least five 'Richmond Parks' has already been created on minerals sites, with this set to double as currently worked sites are restored."
Phil Harding, former Farms and Restoration Manager at the Brett Group was awarded the Butterfield Trophy for Individual Contribution to Biodiversity. Talking about Phil’s achievement Bill said, "During his time as Farms and Restoration Manager for the Brett Group Phil has built on our historic legacy that has helped deliver a long list of award winning projects. It is in no small part due to Phil’s effort and dedication that we have won the top industry award, the Cooper-Heyman cup no fewer than five times.”
The MPA also announced the creation of their online resource the “National Nature Parks” showing areas that have been restored by the industry for public use across the UK. www.mineralproducts.org/nature_map.htm
Click here to see The Great Stour Way & Hambrook Marshes site in more detail.
