Restoration Activities - Quarry Sites

The TWIRLS project are carrying out on-site in-vessel aerobic composting and vegetation re-establishment trials on slate quarry waste in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. The aim of the trials is to demonstrate that wastes can be composted in appropriate combinations to create low nutrient soil forming media suitable for creating important upland habitatssuch as Calluna vulgaris L. (heather) moorland.

You can read about our on-going quarry restoration activities in our Blaenau Ffestiniog site diary.

This slate waste tip will undergo regrading and receive a topdressing soil-forming material before it is ready to be planted with native species typically found in the surrounding Welsh uplands. The soil-forming material will be specially designed to support target vegetation.

photo: Mark Nason

The view below gives an impression of our target restoration outcome – a mosaic of grassland, heath and rocky outcrops for lower plants to naturally establish.

photo: Mark Nason