Quarry handed back in superb condition

With more than 40 years' quarrying activity at Lynford Quarry in Norfolk at an end, the site was handed back to the Forestry Commission - fully restored to the conditions of the planning consent and owner's requirements - on 31 December.

During the restoration some 4000 new trees were planted, a reed swamp mosaic and Brecks grassland areas were restored, and a disabled access pathway created to the new bird hide and beach areas.

Planning consent to extract sand and gravel from the site was first granted in April 1959. A second application to extend the workings to 21.7 hectares followed in 1989, and the excavations were allowed to flood naturally to form two large lakes.

Ayton Asphalte (now Ayton Products) acquired the licence to extract in 1994 and was granted consent to extend the workings by approximately 11 hectares in March 2000 - and by doing so created a third lake.

Extraction finished in November 2006, by which time the total area of the site was approximately 75ha, of which 32.7ha has been used over the years for extraction.

Tony Hipperson, Ayton Products General Manager, said: "Over the life of the quarry it is estimated that 1.6 million tonnes of sand and gravel have been excavated, with Ayton responsible for approximately 750,000 tonnes.

"Product from the quarry has supported local housing, infrastructure, road improvements (including the A11 Attleborough Bypass) and agricultural land drainage schemes."

A public site opening is planned for late spring 2008.