Reducing threats to biodiversity at mining and quarrying sites

Mining and quarrying disturbs the land, plants and animals at the site.

Your mine or quarry can play an important role in helping to conserve habitats and species. When you restore a site, you can provide new and sometimes rare habitats for plants and animals.

What you must do

Prevent damage to protected areas at your mine or quarry

You must prevent or repair any damage your activities could have on:

protected species, such as bluebells, bats, badgers, newts and nesting birds
protected habitats, such as the habitats of wild birds
protected sites, such as sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), or areas of special scientific interest in Northern Ireland (ASSI), special areas of conservation, special protected areas, or ramsar wetlands of international importance.

If you have protected species on your site, you may need consent to move them. For further information, see our nature conservation guidance.

Prevent environmental damage at your mine or quarry

If your activities cause or could cause environmental damage to biodiversity, see our guidance on environmental damage to biodiversity.

Check for tree preservation orders at your mine or quarry

Before you do anything to any tree at your site check with your local council, or local planning office in Northern Ireland, whether the trees are protected by a tree preservation order (TPO).

If you remove, prune, cut down, lop, top or ring bark a tree covered by a TPO without planning permission you are committing an offence.

If your site is in a conservation area the trees will automatically be protected.

Contact your local council

Northern Ireland: Local Councils

Check for invasive weeds at your mine or quarry

You should check your site for:

invasive weeds, such as Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed
injurious weeds in Scotland or noxious weeds in Northern Ireland, such as ragwort or curled dock.