AFTER

Once the mineral company has taken out all the gravel, they will have a plan of how the quarry will be restored. Here are some ideas of what can be done:

Return to farmland

Fill the quarry in with rocks and soil, to create a field for cattle and sheep to graze. It is important that the material used is not contaminated as this will pollute the soil and rivers. By returning the quarry back to fields it means that farmers can still earn a living.

Commercial use

Leave the pit to fill up with water and be used for water sports, leisure activities or as a setting for lakeside accommodation and holiday housing. This provides the thousands of tourists who visit the Cotswold Water Park somewhere attractive to stay, and gives them plenty of opportunities for water based activities.

Nature reserve

Leave the pit to fill with water and use as a site for nature conservation. By planting reedbeds and creating special habitats, the lake can be a home for loads of different wildlife, both on the land and in the water. The Cotswold Water Park is home to a huge variety of waterbirds, along with dragonflies, damselflies, otters, water voles, fish, and songbirds.

Sometimes a pit is partially filled in with sand and soil, then left as a shallow wetland which can become a wildlife haven for birds, dragonflies and fish.

On the Quarry Creations Game you can choose what to do with your quarry