Corylus has been one of the main players in the development and restoration of Brickworth Sand Quarry near Whiteparish in south-east Wiltshire.

Corylus was appointed by the site operator, Raymond Brown Quarry Products, in 2016 to undertake a landscape and visual impact assessment of the site and local area, and to prepare a phased working and restoration scheme for a planning application for a major extension to the quarry, to yield a further 1.3 million tonnes of soft sand.

The proposed extraction areas mostly comprised coniferous woodland plantation, but importantly these plantations were sited on ancient woodland soils. The site also contained a number of protected species including dormice, badgers and bats.  

Working closely with the project ecologist and geotechnical consultants, Corylus designed a sensitive working and restoration scheme involving the translocation of protected species, the clearing of existing plantations and the careful stripping and preservation of ancient woodland soils prior to each phase of sand extraction. Following the completion of extraction, it is proposed to backfill the quarry voids with imported inert construction waste and soils in order to recreate a naturally rolling landform, followed by the phased respreading of the indigenous woodland soils.

Corylus also prepared a long-term management plan, in collaboration with the project ecologists, which proposed the planting up of the majority of the restored site with native broadleaf trees and shrubs, along with the creation of a more diverse mosaic of woodland habitats including open glades and rides, and a series of small ponds and drainage lagoons.

The planning application for the quarry extension was granted permission in 2017, and later that year the restoration scheme was successful in winning the prestigious ‘Biodiversity – Planned Restoration’ award at the Mineral Planning Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony.

The quarry is currently being progressively restored. The extraction and restoration works are illustrated in the photographs below:

Sand extraction at the site prior to backfilling and restoration.

The same area in October 2023 following the completion of restoration.

An area of the restored quarry which has been replanted with native broadleaf tree species following sand extraction (Oct. 2023).

Areas of ongoing sand extraction and landform restoration (Oct 2023).

For more information or to discuss your project, contact us at info@corylus-ltd