ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
LANGFORD LOWFIELDS LEADING THE WAY IN WETLAND RESTORATION
Langford Lowfields continued to show what thoughtful, long-term restoration can achieve in 2025. Decades of coordinated planning and collaboration have shaped a thriving wetland landscape, supported by tailored reedbed design, carefully engineered water-control structures, and a detailed programme of ecological monitoring. These features contributed to strong biodiversity outcomes, including a fourfold biodiversity net gain compared with the former agricultural land and the creation of a significant inland reedbed at a time when coastal habitats face increasing pressure. The reserve’s success also reflects the steady involvement of local volunteers and positive community engagement, helping manage visitor access while protecting sensitive habitats.
Langford now plays an important role in guiding Tarmac’s future restoration work. The site’s integrated approach, aligning extraction with progressive habitat creation, using on-site materials effectively and embedding long term monitoring, has already been adopted as best practice across 39 current partnerships.
DELIVERING RESTORATION THROUGH LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS
Tarmac’s work at Nosterfield continues to demonstrate the value of strong partnerships in delivering long‑term environmental benefits – in 2025, our renewed agreement with the Lower Ure Conservation Trust (LUCT) strengthened a collaboration that spans more than two decades and has already transformed former quarry land into one of the North of England’s most valued wetland landscapes. The new Memorandum of Understanding sets out a shared vision to 2050, ensuring that future restoration supports rich biodiversity, reflects the area’s cultural heritage, and provides greater public access. Together, we are working to create a connected wetland landscape that supports rare and recovering species, from wet grassland specialists to reedbed wildlife, using locally sourced plant material grown through LUCT’s dedicated nursery.
This partnership is central to our wider approach to biodiversity and land management across the Nosterfield area. Habitat creation already includes wetland, grassland, reedbeds and fen, supporting a vast array of bird and butterfly species, and a wide range of native plants. The reserve has become a focal point for local people, with volunteers helping deliver guided visits, well-being activities and wildlife workshops that deepen community engagement with nature. By combining Tarmac’s experience in land restoration with LUCT’s ecological expertise, we are shaping a long term plan that enhances priority habitats, strengthens nature recovery, and opens opportunities for people to experience a landscape rich in both wildlife and heritage.
PROTECTING ONE OF BRITAIN'S RAREST BATS
The confirmation of an endangered grey long eared bat roost at our site in north Kent was a significant biodiversity find for 2025. Listed as Endangered on the Red List for British Mammals, and with fewer than 1,000 individuals known in the UK, the species is one of the country’s rarest mammals. DNA testing twice-verified the droppings found during a Tarmac commissioned survey, marking a rare record beyond the species’ usual southern range.
Protecting this roost is now a priority for Tarmac. We are working with Mountfield Ecology to ensure the identified roost is safeguarded while essential building works take place, preventing any disturbance to the bat. Additional conservation measures are being introduced in the surrounding area to improve habitat conditions and support the species’ chances of survival. Through its affiliate membership of the new North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve, Tarmac is also contributing to wider efforts to enhance habitat networks and strengthen long‑term protection for this highly threatened species.
HONEYCRETE: BOOSTING NATURE AT TUNSTEAD
At Tunstead cement plant, our beekeeping initiative continued to flourish in 2025, reflecting the cement team’s hands-on approach to enhancing nature. With around 100,000 honeybees now settled into three on-site hives, our volunteer beekeepers have taken full responsibility for caring for the colonies, learning to build frames, check colony health, and manage seasonal risks. Their commitment has paid off- all colonies successfully overwintered, and the team produced around 300 jars of “Honeycrete,” raising more than £800 for our 2025 charity, Blythe House Hospice. This blend of creativity, environmental care and community support has made the project a standout example of nature led action within an industrial setting.
CELEBRATING LEADERSHIP IN RESTORATION AND INNOVATION
Tarmac’s restoration work received significant recognition at the MPA Quarries & Nature 2025 Awards, highlighting the strength of our long-term partnerships and our commitment to high quality habitat creation. The transformation of Langford Quarry into a thriving wetland landscape earned the Restoration Award, reflecting decades of collaborative work with the RSPB to create what is now the largest reedbed in the East Midlands, and an important refuge for species affected by climate change and sea level rise. The judging also recognised the depth of our wider restoration programme, with the planned restoration of Wivenhoe Quarry and the land scape-scale efforts at Dry Rigg and Arcow quarries both receiving high commendations for their contribution to creating connected, resilient natural habitats. These achievements demonstrate the impact of Tarmac’s sustained stewardship and the legacy of expertise built by our restoration teams.
Our commitment to innovation was also celebrated at the awards, where Tarmac, in collaboration with Cranfield University, won the Innovation Award. This was in recognition of our shared work to explore new approaches to measuring and enhancing biodiversity net gain and carbon sequestration at sites such as Maxey and Wivenhoe.
RESTORING THE SCARCE TUFTED-SEDGE AT PANSHANGER
One of Britain’s rarest wetland plants, the critically endangered Scarce Tufted‑sedge, has been given a new foothold at Panshanger Park through a targeted conservation effort. More than 900 plants were grown at the specialist nursery at Nosterfield Nature Reserve, a restored Tarmac quarry, before being introduced into carefully prepared wetland scrapes within Broadwater Marsh. These scrapes were created by the ranger team to mimic the muddy, waterlogged conditions the sedge depends on, and with the support of fifteen dedicated volunteers, 375 young plants were successfully established on site.
This work gives the species a more secure future after previously surviving at just a single location in the UK. The reintroduction builds on Tarmac’s wider commitment to collaborative, evidence‑led restoration, showing how focused action and shared expertise can give rare species the chance to thrive again.
RESTORING LANDSCAPES AND SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY AT TUNSTEAD
Tunstead Quarry, one of Tarmac’s largest sites in Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park, reflects the company’s strong commitment to responsible restoration and biodiversity enhancement. The site’s approach prioritises restoring land in line with the character of the White Peak and creating conditions that support a wide range of natural habitats.
In 2025, Tarmac also delivered a significant calcareous grassland restoration project at Flag Dale, an area within its freehold. More than four acres of dense scrub were cleared to allow sunlight to reach the ground and encourage the recovery of native herbs and wildflowers. With around 90% of the UK’s species‑rich grassland lost over the past century, this work represents a meaningful step in restoring a nationally rare habitat reliant on traditional practices such as coppicing and grazing.
OUR WOODLAND STRATEGY
In 2025, we launched our Woodland Strategy - bringing together decades of work to create, manage and enhance woodland across our estate into one clear, accessible platform. It marks a step change in how we approach woodland; setting a consistent, evidence-led direction for how we manage land, support nature recovery and deliver long-term value for communities.
As the largest landholder in the UK construction materials sector, land stewardship is fundamental to how we operate. For decades, we have been creating and improving woodland as part of our long-term approach to land management.
At the same time, our role as a minerals operator is essential to delivering the infrastructure the UK depends on. Balancing these responsibilities is critical - but it also creates a unique opportunity that is directly linked to the nature of our business. Quarrying is a temporary land use. As our sites are restored, we can reshape landscapes at scale - creating new woodland, improving existing habitats, and delivering lasting benefits for nature, climate resilience and local communities.
You can explore the Woodland Strategy hub, read case studies and learn more about our approach.
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Tarmac continues to operate under a comprehensive Environmental Management System that enables us to effectively control and minimise the environmental impacts of our activities. This framework, supported by detailed site level procedures, underpins our commitment to high standards of environmental management, with more than 300 of our operational sites accredited to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard.
A culture of continual improvement remains central to how we manage the environment, and we are consistently refining both our practices and the way we record and assess performance to ensure we keep strengthening our approach year on year.
PROTECTING AIR QUALITY
Tarmac remains committed to minimising its impact on air quality and continually reducing emissions wherever possible. Managing emissions effectively is a core part of how we operate, and our cement plants use best available techniques to control and limit releases to the atmosphere.
Emissions are tracked through our Environmental Management System, with performance routinely monitored and reported to environmental authorities across the UK. This visibility and transparency help ensure we maintain high standards of air quality management and drive continuous improvement for the benefit of our stakeholders.
LOOKING FORWARD
Supporting nature recovery, delivering biodiversity net gain, building climate resilience and creating lasting value for communities remains central to our approach. Our Woodland Strategy provides the next step, strengthening and guiding this work through an evidence‑led framework as restored landscapes take shape.
