Abstract. This article reviews different techniques for reclaiming quarries in England. They can be used to reclaim abandoned quarries as well as those that are still operating. A number of reclamation techniques have been developed to revert land that has been quarried for minerals to some productive state. The techniques discussed in this paper include rollover slopes, backfilling, bench-planting, and restoration blasting. These techniques are mainly used to prepare quarry landform to support vegetation, ensure safety at site, as well as accommodate different afteruses. A less conventional method of natural recovery or spontaneous succession is also discussed. Whether applied solely or in combination, the use of these techniques has a potential to enhance the environmental qualities of land degraded by quarrying.

This study sought to establish an inventory of plant species established at three gravel borrow pits around Gaborone, Botswana. At each, plant data were collected from randomly selected 10 x 10 m quadrats within and up to 30 m away from the borrow pits. Species of Acacia were the most numerous in the pits, while more non-woody than woody species were established within the pits. Most woody species within the pits were not found around the pits, and most of the non-woody species within the pits were found around them, with the exception of the Tlokweng pit.

This study investigated the effect of different limestone quarry reclamation treatment options on people's perception of reclaimed limestone quarries. Ten different combinations of treatment methods and after-care for reclaiming quarries were simulated from which fifty still images were captured along a transect at five different distances from 50m to 6400m. The attractiveness and different landscape characteristics were rated at the University of Sheffield by seventy students with different academic backgrounds. Highly visible rock was least preferred whereas landscapes that contained water and trees received the highest preference ratings. The methodology and overall findings would be applicable to landscape quality assessment and reclamation in other settings