Over 700 locals explore quarry operations at Chipping Sodbury quarry open day

Over the weekend, we opened the doors to our Chipping Sodbury quarry in South Gloucestershire for a family friendly open day, raising more than £1,600 for the town’s annual festival.

More than 700 local residents joined us throughout the day for a behind the scenes look at our quarry operations. Visitors were welcomed to our regional offices at The Ridge to learn about how aggregates are used and how we work hard to be a good neighbour and support biodiversity at our Chipping Sodbury quarry.

Throughout the day, bus tours also transported guests to the quarry floor, where they could explore the quarry and get a closer look at the huge machinery used on site.

At The Ridge, we hosted a range of interactive stalls to keep the whole family entertained. Teams from across the business, including our Business Service Centre, Contracting and Human Resources, were on hand to provide information on the different roles available within the industry, and how we’re working to build a more inclusive and diverse workforce. 

The Somerset Earth Science Centre also brought along its popular excavator simulator, which allowed users to virtually experience operating heavy machinery in a quarry. Plus, our asphalt and contracting teams were also on hand to show how the limestone extracted from the quarry is transformed into essential materials used in the infrastructure we rely on every day.

On the quarry floor, a Komatsu HD605 dump truck and a Komatsu PC950 excavator were on display, and attendees had the chance to climb into the operator’s seat to experience the sheer scale of the machines.

James Brown, Unit Manager, said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many people to our open day event to explore the quarry and learn more about the industry.

“It was really encouraging to see the level of interest from the wider public, especially young people, and to create a genuine sense of connection between the quarry team and the community.”

Nikki Rugg, Treasurer of Chipping Sodbury Festival, said: “We know that many in the community enjoyed seeing behind the scenes at the quarry and the festival team would like to thank Heidelberg Materials again for its support. Well done to all involved in delivering an excellent extension to this year’s festival programme.”