Not all
quarrying is necessarily environmentally negative. For example,
many geological and biological SSSIs have been effectively created
or enhanced by quarrying, given careful management and often, passage
of time. This may be particularly advantageous where land would
otherwise have been devoted to inaccessible monoculture; quarrying
can increase both bio- and geodiversity. The planning permission
at Asham Wood was given up as part of an agreement to extend Whatley
Quarry, and the nature reserve at Asham Wood has now been extended
to cover parts of the former quarry which is now regenerating.
In some cases quarrying has provided recreational facilities, e.g.
diving centres at Vobster and Waterlip, or facilitated access to
some local cave systems.

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Former quarries have also been or could be used for a variety
of purposes, e.g. equipment testing (formerly) at Chelmscombe
and Vobster, concrete product manufacture at Westdown, Tor Hill
and Emborough, light industry at Waterlip and Bilbao and waste
recycling at Dulcote. Water storage may be another option. |