Creating Cornwall’s Forests: Local School Joins Imerys in Tree Planting Effort

In an exciting new development, Imerys has launched a plan this autumn to plant 150,000 trees on old mining land over the next three years, as part of its ongoing nature restoration efforts. This ambitious project kicked off with a visit to Whitemoor Academy, where children were introduced to the restoration work and given the chance to participate and share ideas.

Restoring Life to Dubbers Dam

Located just outside of Roche, the Dubbers Dam site has already seen significant transformation. To date, more than 75 hectares of the old mining area have been restored by Imerys, which has employed an innovative process. After backfilling the land with a mix of rocks, sand, and compostable waste, the site has been enriched with a new soil layer and sprayed with grass and wildflower seeds, creating a vibrant habitat that’s now home to red deer, skylarks, little ringed plovers, and Cornish honey bees.

Thanks to a grant from DEFRA and collaboration with Cornwall Council and the Forestry Commission, Imerys is now able to expand this work by introducing woodlands and developing additional footpaths for the local community’s enjoyment.

A Learning Experience for Local Pupils

Sean Simpson, Imerys’ Waste Recycling and Planning Manager, visited Whitemoor Academy to explain the project to the children. He was struck by the students’ knowledge and enthusiasm:

“We were very impressed with how much the children knew about mining! Over the next months we look forward to hearing their ideas about how we can improve the restored areas, and we will be taking them up to have a look around and even plant a few trees with us!”

Local ecologist Bob Bosisto joined the visit, sharing insights on the wildlife already thriving at the site, including rare species like dormice. Bob added, “The diversity will only improve as we plant more trees and maybe introduce bee hives next year. We are really looking forward to showing the children around and seeing what they think we should do next.”

Hands-On Planting and Future Visits

To further involve the school in the project, Imerys provided 30 trees for Whitemoor Academy students to plant on their own grounds. Each student also received a bag filled with information about the restoration project to take home. In the coming weeks, small groups from the school will visit the Dubbers Dam site to assist with tree planting and engage in fun nature activities.

As Cornwall’s landscape is enriched with new woodland, Imerys is hopeful that this project will not only contribute to biodiversity but also inspire the next generation of environmental caretakers.