MPA's Restoration Awards

The mineral products industry is well placed to help halt biodiversity decline.

That was the message from the chief executive of 3593 Natural England, Dr Helen Phillips, and a host of other key stakeholders to members of the 2897 Mineral Products Association (MPA) at the association’s awards event held in London.

It attracted a wide range of NGO and environmental organisations and charted the way forward and shared best practice through the long-running MPA Restoration Awards and the inaugural Natural England Biodiversity Awards.

According to the MPA, UK biodiversity loss is a growing concern and the mineral products industry has significant potential to contribute to achieving the government’s biodiversity targets.

MPA members already have a long legacy of high quality restoration and biodiversity enhancement.

Around 90% of the mineral products industry is represented by MPA members, and the land they manage or control land is equivalent to a small national park and this includes at least two National Nature Reserves; 22 local nature reserves; 15 field study and education centres and 13 nature trails. The RSPB (2900 Royal Society for the protection of Birds) estimates that the industry could, on its own, deliver UK biodiversity targets for nine out of 11 priority habitats.

At the event, seven MPA Restoration Award winners were announced, including the winner of the top prize, the Cooper-Heyman Cup, and the runner-up. On the biodiversity side, there were 15 winners, which included the winner of the top Natural England Biodiversity Award 2011 (in association with the MPA), the runner-up and four smaller members who were presented with the MPA Award for SME Commitment to Biodiversity and Nature Conservation (3712 Brett Group, 3071 Marshalls, 3714 Sibelco UK and 3716 Smiths Bletchington).

A special MPA Award for Personal Commitment to Biodiversity and Nature Conservation was also awarded posthumously to Brian Butterfield, who was associated with 725 Lafarge Aggregates’ Panshanger quarry near Hertford for 48 years.

The Cooper-Heyman Cup winner was 868 Tarmac’s Bellmoor and Lound Estate in County Nottinghamshire, a major exercise in the recycling of countryside.

The winner of the Natural England Biodiversity Award was 643 Cemex UK’s Rugeley Quarry, a former sand and gravel quarry which will, by 2032, have added over 200 hectares of priority lowland heathland habitat.

The full results can be found at: External000oLinkExternalwww.mineralproducts.orgwww.mineralproducts.org/restoration_awards.htmfalsehttp://www.mineralproducts.org/restoration_awards.htmfalsefalse%>