Reclamation and restoration through surface mining often provides the opportunity to make previously despoiled land suitable for a variety of purposes such as for housing, industry and recreation.
Recent examples of this are at the Arkwright Site in Derbyshire, where a new town has been built to replace the old town, which was threatened by mine gas, at no cost to the public purse, and at Orgreave/Waverley where some 730 acres of land is being made available for employment and residential use from an area despoiled by Colliery tipping and Coke manufacture.
Reclamation includes the infilling of excavations, restoration of soils and aftercare of the restored land. Restoration refers to the replacement of soils, which have been carefully stripped and stored in accordance with an agreed soil handling strategy as part of the mining operations, onto suitably contoured ground. Aftercare is the carrying out of operations necessary to return the soil to its approved use.
Detailed restoration and aftercare schemes are submitted as part of the planning applications. These incorporate phased programmes of progressive restoration where practicable and the proper handling and conservation of soil resources.
Restoration schemes are drawn up following extensive consultation with appropriate bodies to meet local aspirations and where possible to support local initiatives.
Restoration includes the planting of trees and other vegetation of local provenance, of type and mixture agreed with the local authority following consultations with the County Ecologist and local wildlife groups to enhance the local and regional biodiversity in accordance with the National Vegetation Classification. Community funds are often provided in association with operating sites to give the local residents the opportunity to promote and achieve their own community environmental goals in their area.
Other examples of restoration include the creation of ecological and wildlife habitats from farmland.
Informal recreation and increased public access is catered for in the form of bridleways and footpaths, whilst the creation of playing fields provides for a more formal recreation.
UK COAL's expertise in restoration has been recognized by the winning of several environment awards including Durham County Council's Environment Award, for the restoration of the former Woodside Drift mine near to Consett in County Durham to a haven for wildlife.
The project was completed using only in-house resources and expertise.