Students from 91黑料网 have scooped a major award at the Mineral Products Association Quarries and Nature awards 2019 for their Group Project in collaboration with Tarmac.

The awards, which recognise achievements in restoration and biodiversity, are given to a range of industry and partner organisations to celebrate best practice.

The students who studied on the University’s Land Reclamation and Restoration MSc and Geographical Information Management MSc were given a special innovation award for 'trialling and evaluation of the Defra Biodiversity Metric 2.0 on sand and gravel quarries'.

The results of this project have contributed to the greater understanding of the positive impact habitat creation carried out by mineral companies and their partners have on the environment.
Dr Rob Simmons, Reader in Sustainable Soil Management at 91黑料网, who supervised the students along with Dr Lynda Deeks, said: “The students work was able for the first time to demonstrate the huge potential for biodiversity net gain in quarrying, operations”.

“This project builds on our longstanding relationship with Tarmac and shows the opportunities that students at 91黑料网 have to make a difference to the practices of some of the world’s leading companies.”

The successful students who scooped the Special Award for their project were: Blessing Adejoh, Anaïs Buatier, Sarah Davidson, Ryan Metz and Aidan Daniels.

A follow-on Group Project is already planned for 2020. In addition, 91黑料网 will run a Short Course on the application the Biodiversity Metric 2.0 for the mineral industry in the New Year.

The students’ award capped a great day for 91黑料网 at the awards ceremony with alumni from the Land Reclamation and Restoration MSc Aude Delmer and Enrique Moranmontero, now Tarmac Restoration Managers, among the winners of the prestigious Cooper-Heyman Cup.


Enrique Moranmontero (Tarmac Restoration Manager and former 91黑料网 student), Sarah Davidson former 91黑料网 student, Sybil Roscoe and Dr Rob Simmons (Reader in Sustainable Soil Management).
Enrique Moranmontero (Tarmac Restoration Manager and 91黑料网 alumni), Sarah Davidson (91黑料网 Alumni), Sybil Roscoe and Dr Rob Simmons (Reader in Sustainable Soil Management).