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E3.3m to turn quarries into wildlife havens

QUARRIES across Northern Ireland are to be transformed into wildlife havens as part of a e 3.3 million (£2.8m) EU project.

The Restore scheme aims to turn mineral extraction sites across Northern Ireland and Britain into new habitats.

Conservationists have hailed it as a vital lifeline for nature after a major wildlife report found that 60 per cent of UK species are in decline.

Loss of natural habitats was singled out as one of the biggest causes of the decline, according to the State of Nature report compiled by 25 leading nature organisations.

The Restore project will be officially launched at a reception at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in London on September 25.

James Robinson, director of RSPB Northern Ireland, said the quarry restoration scheme would help bring wildlife back to the north.

"I have walked through wildlife havens providing safe nesting sites for peregrine falcons and alive with butterflies and wild flowers where once there were diggers, excavations and conveyor belts," he said.

"These transformations show that with the right expertise and dedication it is possible to bring wildlife back to the Northern Ireland countryside for all to enjoy."

The project is funded by the European Union's Inter-reg IVB North West Europe fund.

Quarry restorations under a connected scheme have already helped improve wildlife at sites in England.

A rare spider-eating wasp was recorded at a restored quarry in Bedfordshire, while there were increased sightings of the threatened small blue and grizzled skip-per butterflies at a Warwick-shire site.

Gordon Best, regional director of the Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland, said the industry had developed important partnerships with environ-mental groups.

"The Restore project is truly exciting and offers enormous potential for us to go even further than before and create a legacy that will enhance and protect biodiversity across Northern Ireland," he said.