A FLINTSHIRE quarry is opening its doors to participants in its biodiversity research competition.

Heidelberg Materials' Cefn Mawr quarry, near Mold, which provides the limestone needed for cement production at Padeswood cement works, has launched the sixth round of the Quarry Life Award. Participants from more than 15 countries worldwide can pitch their project ideas for sustainable quarry management and compete for prizes totalling €300,000 (approx. £250,000).

The Quarry Life Award was first established in 2011 to support and increase biodiversity at quarry sites, strengthen communication channels with neighbours and educate and raise awareness about the importance of nature and habitats. The award has since received more than 1,500 submissions and has generated over 450 innovative project ideas to promote and protect biodiversity.

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Jason Parry, quarry manager at Cefn Mawr quarry, said: "The protection and enhancement of biodiversity is at the core of our sustainability strategy, so our aim is to encourage projects that can support the work we are already doing to improve biodiversity and the quality of restoration at our sites.

"We would also like to hear from people who have ideas which will create a better understanding of the importance of quarrying and its vital role in constructing and maintaining the built environment like our homes, schools, roads and hospitals.

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"The Quarry Life Award aligns with our 2030 commitment to build a nature positive future and, by increasing dialogue with academics, NGOs and our local communities, is helping to inform the development of biodiversity action plans at all our sites."

At a national level, projects can be carried out in either the 'research' or 'community' streams, both of which offer a £4,000 top prize.

The research stream focuses on scientific projects that increase knowledge of quarry-specific ecology and/or lead to improved biodiversity, landscape, or water management. It is aimed primarily at academics, scientists and research groups, with categories covering biodiversity management, habitat and species research.

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The community stream is for projects that help the quarry to better connect with its neighbours and raise awareness among the wider public of the biodiversity at extraction sites. This stream is open to everyone - individuals, students, schools and community groups.

National winners will advance to the international stage of the competition, with prizes awarded in the following categories: biodiversity management, habitat and species, beyond quarry borders, biodiversity and education, connecting quarries and communities, and nature-based solutions. The best projects in each of the six categories will be rewarded with a prize of €10,000 (approx. £8,400) each. The best project overall will receive no less than €30,000 (approx. £25,300) in total.

Project proposals, based at Cefn Mawr quarry, are invited to be submitted on the Quarry Life Award website by November 18, 2024. A panel of experts will then select six of the proposals to become projects to be carried out between January and September 2025.