Tarmac is the proud recipient of a series of award wins at the prestigious MPA Quarries & Nature 2025 Awards. The event recognises excellence in habitat creation and biodiversity enhancement, showcasing how sustainable mineral extraction can leave a lasting positive legacy for nature.
Tarmac’s commitment to high-quality restoration and innovative environmental practices was recognised across multiple categories. The organisation won the Restoration Award for the transformation of Langford Quarry, a project delivered in partnership with the RSPB, while its collaboration with Cranfield University earned the Innovation Award. In addition, the planned restoration of Wivenhoe Quarry and the landscape-scale restoration work at Dry Rigg and Arcow quarries were both highly commended.
Adding to these successes, David Park, former National Restoration Manager at Tarmac, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. David retired in 2021 after 39 years with the company, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping and delivering industry-leading restoration projects.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Langford Quarry, which won the Restoration Award for its long-term transformation into a thriving wetland habitat. This success is the result of a decades-long partnership between Tarmac and the RSPB, which began in 1988 with a joint planning application. Over the years, the phased restoration of Langford Quarry has created 120 hectares of wetland nature reserve, now known as RSPB Langford Lowfields.
Sitting on the banks of the River Trent, Langford Lowfields is a flagship example of sustainable quarry restoration, featuring a range of wetland habitats including reedbeds, species-rich hay meadows, wet woodland, and scrub. Today, it is the largest reedbed in the East Midlands and a crucial inland refuge for rare and declining species impacted by climate change and sea level rise.
The project is part of a broader vision to restore and connect wetland habitats across the Trent Valley, with neighbouring Tarmac sites, such as Besthorpe Quarry, also being restored to wetlands in partnership with conservation organisations. The transfer of Langford Lowfields to the RSPB in early 2023 ensures its long-term management and protection as a haven for wildlife.
Kevin Mawby, Langford Site Manager at Tarmac, and RSPB’s Joe Harris & previous Langford Site Manager, Michael Copleston; now Head of England at RSPB have worked for many years to bring the site restoration to fruition.
Jenny Oldroyd, Restoration Manager at Tarmac, said: “At Tarmac, we are committed to delivering quarry restoration that goes beyond compliance, creating landscapes that benefit biodiversity, local communities, and future generations. The recognition of Langford Quarry, in particular, highlights how long-term vision and collaboration can achieve outstanding results.”
Beccy Speight, Chief Executive Officer at RSPB, said: “We’re facing significant declines in biodiversity and it’s crucial we work together to stop and reverse this. The mineral industry really is leading the way, showing how biodiversity can be embraced, and that growth for business and nature can be achieved hand in hand. This award for RSPB Langford Lowfields highlights the power of partnerships and how working together for a common cause can create wonderful places for wildlife and people. We’ve just seen another record-breaking year for Bittern numbers, and quarry restorations have been a big part of this success story, enabling us to create major wetland habitats that support a range of species.”
Michael Copleston, Director at RSPB England, said: “Our partnership with Tarmac at Langford Lowfield is a fantastic example of bringing wildlife back to the area that had previously been absent for centuries. Working in partnership has allowed us to create a major wetland habitat that forms the largest reed bed in the East Midlands. This partnership underlines the incredible value of working across sectors to deliver nature recovery, and to have won this award is a fantastic accolade. Having personally spent a decade working directly with this partnership I’m especially proud of the teams achievements as creating amazing places for nature from scratch takes perseverance, hard work and ambition.”
In addition to the Langford Quarry success, Tarmac was also recognised for its collaboration with Cranfield University, winning the Innovation Award. This project highlights Tarmac’s commitment to exploring new ways to enhance biodiversity, support climate resilience, and deliver sustainable restoration outcomes.
Tarmac also received high commendations for two additional projects: the planned restoration of Wivenhoe Quarry and the landscape-scale restoration work at Dry Rigg and Arcow quarries, which are helping to create interconnected natural habitats.
Enrique Moran Montero, National Restoration Manager at Tarmac, said: “These awards are a testament to the dedication and expertise of our restoration teams, as well as the strength of our partnerships with conservation organisations and academic institutions.”
Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University’s School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing, added: “It was fantastic to see Tarmac and Cranfield University win the Innovation Category at the prestigious MPA Quarries and Nature 2025 awards for ‘Measuring and Integrating Biodiversity Net Gain and Carbon Sequestration at Maxey Quarry and Wivenhoe Quarry’
“All the entries were truly inspiring and the event was an exemplar of how industry can work in partnership with other organisations such as the RSPB, local councils, volunteers and Wildlife Trusts to achieved incredible biodiversity and recreational benefits.
“Over the last 12 years Tarmac has participated in a successful partnership with Cranfield University where MSc students have undertaken their group research projects based around real-life topics based at Tarmac sites.
“It was also wonderful to see Mr Enrique Moran Montero continue to excel. Enrique is the Tarmac National Restoration Manager and a Cranfield Alumnus. He won the Cranfield Excellence in Achievement Award in 2024 for recent environment and agrifood graduates.”
