Smiths giving nature a home -

Water Blitz May 2017 

Working in partnership with the Lower Windrush Valley Project and Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) Smiths have, for the second year running, been involved with the “Water Blitz” spearheaded locally by Wild Oxfordshire but part of a much larger campaign across the Thames Basin. Using free kits issued by FHT, Smiths and Linear Fisheries have carried out simple water tests on lakes and waterbodies in the Lower Windrush valley. The aim is to help raise awareness of the extent of water pollution and to find the remaining areas of cleaner water which are so important for freshwater wildlife. This study also links up with the Lottery funded ‘Clean Water for Wildlife Survey ‘being carried out by FHT which again is helping to understand the extent of water pollution in our ponds, lakes and streams.  

State of Nature in Oxfordshire 2017

Smiths have been actively involved with the 2017 Wild Oxfordshire report in to the State of Nature in Oxfordshire and co-sponsored the launch at Blenheim Palace in March to a selected audience. The report is the most comprehensive review of nature across Oxfordshire and is a collaboration of environmental organisations and partners from across the county. It highlights the future threats to wildlife from new developments and infrastructure projects, as well as ways to halt the decline of wildlife across the county. It also shines a light on those projects where there has been success for nature including a case study by Smiths for their ambitious planned restoration scheme at Gill Mill Quarry near Witney. www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/stateofnature

Freshwater Habitats Trust

Quarrying has the opportunity to deliver significant biodiversity gains through carefully designed restoration schemes and Smiths has worked closely with Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) to help deliver these aims.  We have a long-standing relationship with FHT through the Million Ponds Project and directly with their work for us at our Ardley North and Gill Mill quarries where we have drawn on their expertise to create new ponds on restored mineral sites. They continue to monitor the freshwater habitats at our award winning Rushy Common nature reserve and over the next few years will help us create a new pond complex on land at Gill Mill. www.freshwaterhabitats.org.uk

RSPB

The RSPB have provided invaluable advice to Smiths on the design of the reedbed restoration scheme that will form the core of the extensive new nature reserve at our Gill Mill quarry once sand and gravel extraction has finished. With ongoing reedbed creation schemes on mineral sites elsewhere in the country the RSPB have first-hand knowledge of the work required to get this habitat established and thriving. It’s a significant comfort to Smiths that RSPB experts are willing and able to provide us with support and advice as the first part of the eventual 60Ha of reedbed creation gets underway at Gill Mill. Smiths are looking forward to a long relationship with RSPB and are pleased to be corporate supporters of their aim to give nature a home. www.rspb.org.uk

Nature After Minerals

Nature After Minerals is a (NAM) is a partnership programme, led by the RSPB and supported by Natural England, the Mineral Products Association and the British Aggregates Association. Smiths have been an active partner of NAM contributing to its inaugural report on how mineral site restoration can benefit people and wildlife published in November 2006. NAM works with all stakeholders; operators, minerals planners, environmental NGOs, statutory bodies and local communities to better understand, promote and share best-practice in minerals restoration for a nature conservation end-use. Smiths have benefited from restoration advice provided by the NAM project officer and team, have hosted site visits at their award-winning Gill Mill quarry and continue to provide technical advice to the NAM steering group. www.afterminerals.com