About Shap Beck quarry
Shap Beck Quarry is located just north of the village of Shap, quite close to the granite quarries. The geology here is however from sediments that were deposited in a tropical sea that was the first to flood across the slates and granites of Cumbria after they formed in the Caledonian Orogeny, around 400 million years ago. They are made of the mineral calcite, which is calcium carbonate and were originally deposited as shells, broken shell fragments and algal secretions in shallow seas.
The Quarry received a new plant in 1999 and since 2009 supplies around 650,000 tonnes of crushed kiln feed limestone from Shap Beck to Shap Fell processing plant nearby (Tata steel) and used in the large scale production of lime for steelmaking.
The quarry also supplies around 300,000 to local and regional markets and has an on-site plant for making asphalt for road surfacing. There are 21 people employed directly and the quarry supports a further 30 jobs for drivers and contractors. The site extends to 118 hectares.
Ecology
Shap Beck is dominated by the exposed bare ground, buildings and machinery associated with the quarry works. The area also includes a number of water bodies, including the Shap Beck, which flows along the east side of the site, and a number of ponds and calcareous semi-improved grasslands, willow-alder scrub and mixed plantation, all predominantly around the site perimeter.
Identified habitats include bare ground of the operational areas, semi-improved calcareous and acid grassland, tall herb and ruderal vegetation, mixed plantation, standing and running water. Two water features have potentially more than local ecological significance - Sweetholme Ponds and Shap Beck.
Careers
We advertise our opportunities on the Heidelberg Materials website, leading online job boards and in print media.
Address
Shap Quarry
Shap Beck Quarry
Shap
CA10 2NX Penrith
United Kingdom