THE area around a South Lakeland quarry is to be transformed by a range of environmental improvements thanks to a £120,000 grant from English Nature, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

A community group based in the parishes of Burton-in-Kendal and Holme has been awarded the money for work in the vicinity of Holme Park Quarry.

The funding was a result of a Government tax levied on every tonne of stone aggregate extracted from quarrying. Of the money received by the Treasury, ten per cent is set aside for the funding of local projects, to lessen the effect of quarrying on local communities and the environment.

Chairman of the quarry liaison committee Jane Hopwood said: "This grant from English Nature's aggregates levy sustainability fund will bring many benefits for wildlife and the people of Holme and Burton and we are very grateful for this generous support."

When the tax was introduced last year, the Holme Park Quarry Liaison Committee decided to apply for funding for a project to improve awareness and access to a large area of limestone upland running from Farleton Fell to Hutton Roof Crags. English Nature agreed to fund 95 per cent of the cost of the land management works, and other funding has been found to make up the shortfall.

The works will include restoration of dry-stone walling; tree planting; building of stiles; regeneration of woodland and turning a disused quarry into an amenity area. Maps and interpretation panels will be located in the nature reserves, leaflets will be printed and an education package for primary schools will be produced.

The agreed works must be completed by March 31, 2004, and substantial progress has been made. Resident Paul Rogers has been appointed project officer.

The liaison committee was set up to maintain good relations between the quarry operators and local communities. It includes representatives from Holme, Burton and Clawthorpe, Cumbria County and South Lakeland District Councils, Aggregate Industries UK Ltd and English Nature.

June 5, 2003 15:00