Giant redwoods saved from quarry extension plan

The seqouia trees sit along the edge of a medieval ridge furrow grassland known as Paradise Field

A grove of some of the oldest redwoods growing in the UK has been saved.

Seven giant sequoia trees in Ketton, Rutland, faced the axe in expansion plans at Grange Top Quarry, but a campaign by villagers has led quarry owner Heidelberg Materials UK to revise its scheme to save the trees.

The campaign was backed by a 500-signature petition and also means a "substantial" part of the medieval ridge and furrow land at Paradise Field will be spared, said campaigner Jay Naylor.

Mark Page, from Heidelberg, said the company had "listened to residents' feedback" and would instead be allowing public access to the site.

Rutland County Council is currently considering an application for an expansion of operations at the limestone and clay quarry alongside a 30-year extension, to feed the Ketton Cement Works.

In the original application, two groves of redwoods off Empingham Road would have been lost to quarrying and an access road from the A606.

The trees were planted by Victorian landowner Thomas Burroughes in the late 1800s, likely sourced from Kew Gardens in London.

An expansion is planned for Grange Top Quarry to feed the nearby cement works

Ketton resident Dr Naylor said: "Me and my girlfriend went on a trip we'd been planning for years and years to California.

"I had some awareness about the plans to expand the quarry and I knew about the redwood trees, but it was really when I was in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, stood underneath a 3,000-year-old redwood tree, that I had this sudden desire to do something to save the ones back home.

"It says something about the cause that people genuinely care about it, and it was quite affirming to see that people do listen."

Mr Page, Heidelberg Materials UK land and mineral resources manager, said: "We have taken on board that the redwoods are a much-appreciated part of the local landscape and, although they are not a native species, we have listened to residents' feedback and will be keeping these trees in place.

"We are now drawing up plans to formally amend our proposals."