A quarry near Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire has been restored to a new wetland habitat.

Tucklesholme quarry, formerly operated by Aggregate Industries, was purchased by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 2013, and in 2018 mineral extraction ceased and restoration works began. The two companies worked to transform the site.

This project follows the opening of Ripon City Wetlands in May, another Aggregate Industries quarry-turned-nature-reserve.

Tim Claxton, Regional Estates Manager at Aggregate Industries, said: "To have two quarry restorations in the space of weeks is incredibly rare, and is testament to our commitment to making sure our sites serve a purpose at the end of their lives.


"We worked closely with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to create a tailored environment for a wide array of species. We're looking forward to seeing our former site becoming a new home for an abundance of wildlife."

The new array of habitats at Tucklesholme includes extensive reedbeds which attract birds like ringed plover, oystercatcher, and the reclusive bittern. The reeds also act as a filter for the water they are rooted in, improving water quality and boosting the food supply for fish and birds.

The project also deliberately limited the numbers of trees planted in order to allow species to thrive with a reduced threat from predators, while also creating an open nature reserve for visitors to enjoy. Channels have also been dug around the site to provide additional, seasonal wetlands whenever the nearby river rises.

Tucklesholme is part of a wider project to transform former quarries in the region to create a wetland network dubbed 'Transforming the Trent Valley' by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.