All of a Flutter at CEMEX’S Rugby Amphitheatre

Management of seven CEMEX UK sites around Rugby Warwickshire, in partnership with Butterfly Conservation, has resulted in increased numbers of one or more nationally rare species despite overall butterfly numbers being at an all-time low.

Green Hairstreaks, which nationally have declined by 68%*, are now found at four of the CEMEX sites, with biodiversity priority species such as the Small Blue and Grizzled Skipper also increasing at the sites. Management of the land around the sites through landscape-scale conservation now provides better butterfly habitat. An outstanding example of landscape-scale conservation is the ‘butterfly amphitheatre’ created at Rugby cement plant. Here, as with the other sites such as New Bilton Quarry, the aim is to connect more areas of suitable habitat, preventing species from becoming marooned in one area with limited food sources and possibility of inbreeding.

Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation Officer, Mike Slatter comments “ 2012 was disastrously wet for butterflies and it dented the good conservation progress made in recent years. However, with the provision of better quality habitat, and in this case some of the best habitat, on a landscape scale such as on these CEMEX sites, recovery can take place.”

The conservation work is continuing with activities such as the seeding of Birds-food trefoil, Kidney Vetch and Creeping Cinquefoil much to the delight of the butterfly population in Warwickshire.

RSPB and CEMEX UK are working together to enrich nature and increase the biodiversity of CEMEX UK operations. In 2010, CEMEX supported by the RSPB, launched its biodiversity strategy with a commitment to the creation and maintenance of 1,000 hectares of priority habitats by 2020. This is the equivalent to approximately 100 hectares per annum and represents a major investment in protecting and promoting nature and wildlife for future generations to enjoy.

Ends

More information:

For further information contact Elizabeth Young, email: Elizabeth.young@cemex.com telephone: 01932 583214

• According the UK butterfly population change 2011 -2012 conducted by UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, the changes in the population were as follows. The Scotch Argus thrives in damp conditions, hence the increase.
   

  Green hairstreak	-68%
  Heath fritillary	-50%
  Small tortoiseshell	-37%
  Orange-tip	-34%
  Scotch argus	+55%

• Helping to build a Greater Britain – CEMEX’s vision is to help build a greater Britain by providing solutions to construction problems through our innovative building materials, our expertise, our understanding of the construction issues and our people.  We aim to create the best service and the best solutions for a better future.    
    
• CEMEX is a global building solutions company and leading supplier of cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates. In the UK, CEMEX also produces asphalt, and has a significant share of the concrete- paving and block sectors. Additionally, the company is the leading supplier of concrete sleepers to the rail industry and a supplier of PFA cement additives. CEMEX has a national supply network in the UK with over 360 locations, to ensure that quality building materials are available to customers locally. For more information, see www.CEMEX.co.uk, www.CEMEX.com