Dove Holes’ blooming Biodiversity

When it comes to biodiversity and ecology the team at Dove Holes quarry are most known for their work protecting the future of the Twite bird population. However, they have been working to retain and improve the outcome for all wildlife at the quarry. 

Many quarry sites within CEMEX have Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs for short.) These plans take a holistic look at wildlife within the quarry and incorporate habitat and wildlife aspirations for the site, feeding into the active restoration of the quarry. Each site is reviewed annually against the actions proposed in these plans, to gauge progress. These results are reported on and feed into CEMEX Europe. 

The team at Dove holes is doing really well against their actions; monitoring and supplementary feeding Twites and enhancing grassland by improving management.  They currently manage the grassland with cattle to help the wildflowers flourish. 

Limestone and chalk grasslands have more flowers than any other type of grassland, but have declined by 94% in recent years. These grasslands in turn support specialist butterflies like Marbled Whites and numerous other invertebrates. Other actions include bird and bat boxes in the woodland fringes, with Barn Owl boxes next on the list. 

However, the most spectacular result last summer was the success of the annual flower mix that was sown on limestone rubble at the back of the car park. Wildflowers like low nutrients and can grow in the most seemingly inhospitable places. This vivid show of colour is not just great for feeding our eyes and soul, but is a fantastic nectar source for bees, butterflies, hoverflies and invertebrates. 

Team Dove Holes have raised the bar and shown what can be done at other CEMEX chalk and limestone quarries that have the base rock ingredients to create fantastic habitats that are rare and declining. Their positive impact is helping CEMEX buck that trend.