History
The area around Little Paxton has been quarried for gravel for many years, possibly centuries. The gravel was originally used as a dressing for local roads. In the 19th Century the gravel was used for the buildings and improvement of local houses. The site as it is seen today was started in 1939 when a 5 acre pit was opened to meet the demand for gravel which was needed to build runways at the start of the war. They first extracted from what is now the Sailing Lake, then in the early 60's they extracted from Rudd Lake then Hayling Lake. The irregular shaped pits, which now provide a haven for wildlife, were the result of unsophisticated gravel extraction (compared to today's standards) by a dredger sucking up the gravel like a vacuum cleaner. The shallower pools were dug as protection for the main working area to hold back the water due to the absence of pumps, the high water table and frequent flooding. During the 1940's, 50's and 60's the processing plant was located in the open area where today reserve visitors stand to view the cormorant roosts from the Hayden Hide!
After about 20 years extraction the labyrinth of large and small lakes with pockets of undisturbed gravel and clay led to the inherent quality of the reserve today. The site is still being dug with the intention of re-working the "holes" into sites suitable for wildlife, including predator free islands for ground nesting birds. The gravel is sold mainly within a 25 mile radius from the quarry, to companies making concrete, roofing tiles (sand), building blocks (sand & pea gravel), or to builders merchants.
Extending the Reserve
Aggregate Industries, operating to the north of the Reserve, has submitted a planning application to make a final extension to its quarry. Huntingdonshire District Council has agreed to manage the enlarged Nature Reserve, clearing the way to agreement between the Council, Aggregate Industries and the landowners under a 'Section 106' agreement. If it all goes ahead, the Reserve will be over 3.5 times bigger than at present. This would extend the Nature Reserve to 285 hectares and would mean the creation of new lakes, islands, species rich grassland, scrub for nightingales, marshy margins, wet woodland and a 24 hectare reedbed large enough to hold bearded tit and breeding bittern. The increased footpath network would bring the total in the Paxton Pits complex to 27km, and there would be a new circular 8.4km cycleway.
Aggregate Industries are proposing a phased release of land into the reserve as areas become redundant to the quarrying operation. The first of the restored areas could be part of the reserve as early as 2006, with a further major area being released in 2007. The project is due to be completed by 2016.
For further information about the proposed extension, visit the Friends of Paxton Pits website by using the link on the right.