Biodiversity

Biodiversity is often taken for granted or neglected. It is often believed to be someone else’s responsibility, yet business development can lead to a slow but steady attrition of biodiversity without it ever being realised.

As a demonstration of our commitment to the environment, at our Newton Aycliffe plant in the UK we are helping to protect wildlife on the site through the implementation of a biodiversity management plan. Also, at our Rafnes site in Norway a comprehensive ecotoxicity study has been performed by an independent company and concluded that the potential for bioaccumulation effects at this site were very low.

Case study: Newton Aycliffe Site Nature Trail

Produced as part of a Local Agenda 21 initiative by the local County Durham authority, a biodiversity plan was prepared covering the 2.5 hectare wildwood area within the manufacturing site. A survey of the plants and animals contained within the area was undertaken, revealing a high density of flora and fauna including around 120 types of flowering plants and trees, 36 bird species, 14 different mammals and 15 types of butterfly.

The woodland has developed naturally from an old hedgerow which was planted as a boundary fence over fifty years ago. Protected by the secure nature of Hydro Polymers' present day site, it is now an ecologically rich area of secondary woodland and grassland on calcareous soil, containing many plant species typical of the limestone areas of County Durham.

Following recommendations for the future management and protection of the wildlife interest, the Plan was implemented to ensure that valuable woodland and grassland habitats received long term protection. A small 350m nature trail and pond dipping platform were constructed in 1999 by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, to encompass the wood and adjacent calcareous grassland.

Of special interest are the variety of orchids that grow freely in the wood, including the tway blade, broad leafed helleborine, early purple orchid, bee orchid and common spotted orchid. The sensitive nature of the woodland has been carefully considered, so that visiting schoolchildren can benefit from the diverse and fascinating experience of the nature trail, without threatening the shy birds and mammals that have made the area their home. Formal nature paths link together a diversity of habitats and vegetation zones, namely the pond, woodland, woodland edge, calcareous grassland, damp grassland and scrub/thicket.