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March/April Item 1

Press Releases - March/April 2005

Item 1

1st March 2005

Best Birdwatching Sites 2004

The British Trust for Ornithology has today announced the results of the BTO-Hanson Business Bird Challenge 2004 – the competition to find the country’s best industrial and commercial sites for birds. An impressive total of 259 species was recorded across the sites by local birdwatchers working with company staff.

The Challenge
Over 90 business sites took part in the BTO-Hanson Business Bird Challenge 2004. This competition recognises the sensitive management of industrial sites across the country, which is reflected in the diversity and number of bird species using these sites.

The Challenge attracted businesses from a wide range of industries, from aggregate, water and power companies to agricultural, research and commercial. It was good to see some friendly competition, both within and between companies.

Entries were divided into eleven categories, reflecting the sizes and diversity of participating sites. Competition was often intense and in some cases only three species separated the winner from the runner up.

The eleven winners of the different categories were as follows:

Winning Sites	Category	County	No. of species
Ripon Quarry (Hanson Aggregates)	Quarry	North Yorkshire	149
Brockholes Quarry (Hanson Aggregates)	Medium Quarry	Lancashire	148
Little Paxton Quarry (Bardon Aggregates)	Large Quarry	Cambridgeshire	158
Borras Quarry (Tarmac Central)	Dry Quarry	Clwyd	74
Greatham Works (Huntsman Tioxide)	Commercial	Cleveland	149
Sizewell B (British Energy)	Power Station	Suffolk	150
Ogston Reservoir (Severn Trent Water)	Wetland	Derbyshire	159
Farmoor Reservoir (Thames Water)	Large Wetland	Oxfordshire	153
Lound Quarry (Tarmac Central)	Major Wetland	Nottinghamshire	188
Dungeness Nature Reserve (Hanson)	Restoration	Kent	160
Pollybell Farms (Lovedon Estates)	Research & Light Industry	Nottinghamshire	143

Announcing these results, Helen Kramer, the Challenge organiser for the British Trust for Ornithology said:

“The remarkable number of species found at participating sites reflects the sensitive habitat management taking place at commercial sites throughout the UK. All the winners should be proud of their achievements. To attract 74 species to a small site with no wetland area is as impressive as drawing 188 species to a major wetland. Congratulations to all involved.”

The Challenge was sponsored for a second time by leading quarrying company Hanson. David Weeks, Head of Communications said:

“Once again the Challenge emphasises that business, and particularly the minerals industry through the restoration and management of its sites, makes a huge contribution towards biodiversity in the UK.”

Notes for editors

Results table

Winning Sites	Site Category	Details
Hanson AggregatesRipon Quarry(North Yorkshire)	Quarry	Press Contact: Mr David WeeksTel: 01454 316000 E-mail:
Hanson AggregatesBrockholes Quarry(Lancashire)	Medium Quarry	Press Contact: Mr David WeeksTel: 01454 316000 E-mail:
Bardon AggregatesLittle Paxton Quarry(Cambridgeshire)	Large Quarry	Press Contact: Dr Ben VivianTel: 01530 512218 E-mail:
Tarmac CentralBorras Quarry(Clwyd)	Dry Quarry	Press Contact: Mr George ElliottTel: 01298 768555 E-mail:
Huntsman TioxideGreatham Works(Cleveland)	Commercial	Press Contact: Mr B PerfittTel: 01642 834693 E-mail:
British EnergySizewell B Power Station(Suffolk)	Power Station	Press Contact: Ms Christine BlytheTel: 01452 652985 E-mail:
Severn Trent WaterOgston Reservoir(Derbyshire)	Wetland	Press Contact: Mr Andy Warren E-mail:
Thames Water Farmoor Reservoir(Oxfordshire)	Large Wetland	Press Contact: Mr Dave JonesTel: 0118 964 0279 E-mail:
Tarmac CentralLound Quarry(Nottinghamshire)	Major Wetland	Press Contact: Mr George ElliottTel: 01298 768555 E-mail:
HansonDungeness Nature Reserve (Kent)	Restoration	Press Contact: Mr Paul OuthwaiteTel: 01273 775333 E-mail:
Lovedon EstatesPollybell Farms (Nottinghamshire)	Research & Light Industry	Press Contact: Mr P CornishTel: 01427 872461

For further information please contact:

British Trust for Ornithology
Graham Appleton or Sandra Sparkes on 01842 750050 or e-mail:

Hanson Aggregates
David Harding on 07967 655379 or e-mail:

For bird images alongside articles please contact

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