Slate - Post Industrial Rehabilitation
Removing the scars of industry from the landscape is today
given the importance it deserves though reclamation and
rehabilitation. Nowhere is this more true than in the north Wales
slate quarrying area.
Reclamation can both restore and remodel landscapes affected
by quarrying and indeed construction projects, which involves
civil engineering, earth moving and ecological technology to
create natural environments. In order to achieve this natural
materials and processess should be used to work with nature.
It is essential to establish an after-use scheme before
preparing a land restoration programme, and the choice of
after-use will of course influence the design solution and
restoration techniques adopted. Attention must also be given to
identifying the most appropriate ecosystem for the site as well
as considering the visual effects at the initial stages. Nature
conservation is the practice that protects and and enhances
biodiversity.
Diversification of wildlife habitats such as grassland,
heathland, woodland and wetland are used to simulate the
conditions that occur in the natural environment. In such cases
local native species of trees and cuttings would be used since
they show the greatest capacity for survival in hostile
environments. This, in turn results in ecological compatability
between the restoration scheme and surrounding landscape, and
also receives sympathy from the conservation and amenity
movement.
Quick-fix answers are rarely the right way forward, since it
is paramount in ecosystem modelling to choose genetically
suitable native plants, shrubs and trees to produce desirable
results. Open spaces also have to be managed as well as exposed
rock and water features to create a variety of wildlife
habitats.
An integral part of such projects is the preparation of
aftercare programmes.
In 1993 Alfred McAlpine (Slate Products) Ltd., the owners of
the Penrhyn Quarry requested an environmental assessment from
Cynefin Environmental Consultants Ltd with regards permission to
extend the quarry by opening up some40 hectares of land on the
southwestern fringes of the existing quarry to obtain fresh
sources of new material. This area was just outside the northern
boundary of the Snowdonia National Park and about one half of it
was within the northern boundary of the Glydeiriau Site of
Special Scientific interest. The countryside on all sides of the
of the proposed extension , except that which adjoined the
existing quarry was typical Snowdonia heathland and bog, with
very low agricultural value and was used for sheep grazing.
The proposed development would affect the vegetation and
wildlife in the area to be quarried. However, these plant
communities and habitats were typical of the wet acid soils in an
upland area of northwest wales and well replicated in that part
of Snowdonia. The mitigation measures that were proposed would
ensure that the peat bog at Gwaun Gynfi, below the site would not
be affected. Also, the wider mitiation programme would recreate
existing habitats as well as establishing new ecological systems
to increase the natural variation occuring in the area. The
restoration schemes proposed were water based and included a lake
surrounded by moraines containing a variety of plant communities
and wildlife habitats.
The landscaping measures were required for the following
reasons:
- to reduce the visual impact of the quarry and tips;
- to replace or enhance ecological conditions affected in the area;
- to provide opportunities;
- to develop techniques of using natural
processes;
- to reclaim slate wastelands;
- to offer, in the
Bethesda area, landscape with enhanced ecological and aesthetic qualities;and ·
- to provide landforms that will make contributions
to the leisure, recreational and educational facilities of the
community.
Similar projects have been and are being undertaken at many
quarrying sites in the area.
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