Marshalls’ specialist dimensional stone business, Stancliffe Stone, one of the UK’s largest dimensional stone suppliers, have gained recognition from The Wildlife Trusts for their proactive approach and commitment to biodiversity at their Stoke Hall site.

This is the second Biodiversity Benchmark for Land Management Marshalls have received from The Wildlife Trusts. The first was for their Maltby site near Rotherham.

They started working towards their second by creating a biodiversity action plan for Stoke Hall in March 2007.

With extensive research and partnership work looking at the quarry, woodland and production plant, the project team produced individual biodiversity plans for reptiles, bats, birds, invertebrates, woodland and heath cud-weed.

The help of Stancliffe Stone employees, the neighbouring land owner, Peak Park advisers and local wildlife specialists were enlisted in the project.

Ian Manley, Marshalls’ EnvironmentaI lmprovements Manager, said: “The support of the employees on site has been fantastic. They have been involved in erecting bird and bat boxes and they are now monitoring wildlife on site on a regular basis, which has been invaluable in helping to produce the action plans for future improvements.”

Marshalls have now made a commitment to put in place biodiversity action plans for as many of their sites as they feasibly can by 2012.

Christine Morris, their Group Environmental Adviser, says: “We’re really proud to have achieved this second Biodiversity Benchmark.

“Our biodiversity projects form part of our commitment to being a sustainable business and are a natural progression from the work we have already undertaken on management systems for environment, health & safety, and quality.”

Peter Dorans, Biodiversity Benchmark Manager at the Wildlife Trusts, says the Trusts are delighted that Marshalls have achieved the Biodiversity Benchmark for this site.

He says: “Extensive and notable work has been carried out to ensure the site thrives as a haven for wildlife.

“To have achieved the Biodiversity Benchmark on this second site shows a genuine commitment by Marshalls for the long-term protection and enhancement of biodiversity on their sites.”