Hanson UK has launched the third round of its biennial biodiversity research competition, the Quarry Life Award.
The competition is run by Hanson’s parent company HeidelbergCement in more than 20 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. It has been recognised as an official project as part of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and offers academics and students from universities and further education institutions the chance to win over €30,000 (£22,000) by finding new ideas for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity in quarries.
Proposals are being invited for projects based around one of five categories including habitat and species, biodiversity management and education.
Five Hanson sites are participating in the 2016 contest – the rock quarries at Batts Combe in Somerset, Craig yr Hesg in South Wales and Ingleton in Yorkshire; the cement limestone quarry Grange Top at Ketton in Rutland and Misson sand and gravel quarry in Nottinghamshire.
The deadline for submitting proposals is March 1, 2016. An independent panel of experts will then select five for the research phase to be carried out over the summer. Final projects must be submitted by September 30, 2016. Three UK winners will then be chosen by a national jury and share a prize fund of €10,000 (£7,000). They will also go forward to the international competition with a chance to scoop the top €30,000 (£22,000) prize.
Martin Crow, Hanson’s senior sustainability manager, said: “Our aim is to encourage projects which can support or enhance the work we are already doing to improve biodiversity and the quality of restoration at our sites.
“The award has increased dialogue with the academic community and NGOs which, in turn, is helping to inform the development of biodiversity action plans at all our sites.”
Almost 400 project proposals from 22 countries were submitted for the 2014 award with 95 projects selected for the research phase.
To find out more visit the Quarry Life Award website www.quarrylifeaward.com
