A wildlife charity has said they will keep an eye on a former Nottinghamshire quarry as it goes under the hammer. The former Ratcher Hill sand quarry in Mansfield will head to auction on December 8.
It comes after Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust issued a plea to the prospective owners to commit to protecting the site's vital wildlife habitats. The privately-owned site on the edge of Sherwood Forest, spans 76 acres and has a guide price of £50,000 plus.
The site is subject to a 20-year aftercare scheme resulting from its use as a quarry. The Wildlife Trust believes it is vital whoever purchases the site is fully aware of the legal aftercare obligations and the huge potential for further habitat restoration on site.
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The Trust’s Head of Nature Recover (North), Janice Bradley, said: “Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s efforts to ensure that the site is properly restored, in the heart of one of the most important remaining areas of the Sherwood Forest Landscape, stretch back over 20 years.
"We were commissioned to create a restoration plan in 2002, and have continued to work through the minerals planning process and the development of the Local Plan to ensure that restored areas are cared for and protected for future generations.”
Auction Estates, which is conducting the sale, describes the site as having scope for a range of ecological, leisure or business uses, subject to the buyer obtaining planning permission.
They said: "A rare opportunity to acquire a 76 acre former Sand Quarry in North Nottinghamshire, comprising heath and grassland, lakes and open land with a dedicated car park and workshop facility."
The wildlife charity believes it is vital areas are restored after commercial activity such as quarrying and are maintained not just during the period prescribed in planning obligations.
The charity also wants to ensure the site’s wildlife value is not undermined in future and is open to continuing to provide ecological advice to future owners.
Janice said: “As we all face up to the climate and ecological crises we have to put nature on the path to recovery and sites such as the former Ratcher Hill Quarry are vital to future success.
"Restored areas connected to remaining fragments of habitat have a huge potential and they must continue to be protected and enhanced. We very much hope the new owners of the site appreciate its unique potential and we would be delighted to continue to provide advice as the site’s wildlife value develops”.
She added: “Having pushed for habitat restoration on the site over the past twenty years as part of our wider efforts to restore key parts of the Sherwood Forest landscape and having previously fought the allocation of parts of the site for development, we will not stand by and watch its value decline.
"We will continue to keep a careful eye on the site to ensure that the owners comply with their minerals planning obligations and we will be working with Nottinghamshire County Council, in their role as the Minerals Planning Authority, to do so."
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