Today, when environmental matters are to the forefront of many people's concerns, Smiths aim to balance the conduct of their productive processes with due respect and care for the environment.

Planning mineral production to meet the demands of the consumer is a long involved process. This includes consultation with the public, and detailed applications to the mineral planning authorities in accordance with government policy.

Typically, a mineral planning permission will incorporate detailed plans for both production and restoration, as well as legal agreements on various matters. Such agreements may cover operational details, including routing vehicles away from villages, and contributions through planning gains.

By implementation of tree planting schemes, and sympathetic landscaping, quarried land is restored, either for return to agriculture, or to lakes for use in leisure pursuits or wildlife conservation.

Smiths Bletchington, farmers themselves through their farming subsidiary, Hardwick Farms Limited, are very much aware that the co-ordination of production and restoration to agriculture is of considerable importance in maintaining rural areas. Furthermore the group is committed to developing 'after use' on it's restored lakes, by offering leisure fishing through it's subsidiary, Linear Fisheries (Oxford) Limited. This will enable the public to enjoy recreational activities in the countryside where previously no such opportunity existed.

Smiths aim is to:

• Ensure compliance with existing environmental legislation.
• Develop and implement an effective environmental management system.
• Ensure that all employees are aware of environmental responsibilities in relation to their work activities.
• Implement improvement measures, where practical, when planning and developing new and existing operations.
• Continually look to reduce the environmental impact of company activities.
• Regularly audit and review the environmental performance of company sites.
• Respond to community environmental needs and concerns.