HEIDELBERG Materials UK opened the doors to its Batts Combe Quarry for a family friendly open day raising more than £1,000 for Cheddar Youth Trust.

Around 500 local residents, including MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, Tessa Munt, turned up for a behind-the-scenes look at quarry operations.

Visitors had the opportunity to learn about how aggregates are used in our everyday lives, and how the company works to be a good neighbour and support biodiversity.

Visitors were able to get up close and personal to some of the plant machinery on site.
Visitors were able to get up close and personal to some of the plant machinery on site. (Neil Phillips Photo and Film Ltd)

Throughout the day, minibus tours also transported guests around the quarry so that they could view the quarry floor from the viewing platform as well as get a closer look at the huge machinery used on site.

A jumbo Caterpillar 775G off-road truck, a CAT395 Excavator and Volvo A25 Dumper truck were on display, with a chance to try out climb up into the operator’s seat.

A range of interactive stalls provided entertainment for the whole family, and the company’s technical team were on hand to show how limestone extracted from the quarry is transformed into building materials used in the infrastructure.

Other exhibitors included blasting specialists, BAM, who brought along Spot the robot dog which is used for autonomous site surveying, as well as mineralogists from the Russell Society and experts from Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Somerset Earth Science Centre.

Other exhibitors attended including experts from Russell Society and the Somerset Earth Science Centre.
Other exhibitors attended including experts from Russell Society and the Somerset Earth Science Centre. (Neil Phillips Photo and Film Ltd)

Unit Manager at Batts Combe Quarry, Simon Parkes, said: “It was wonderful to see so much interest from the community in our open day, with so many keen to explore the quarry and learn more about the importance of the materials we produce.

“We hope it gave visitors a good understanding of the role the quarry plays in the local area and perhaps inspired some of the young people who came along to consider a future in the industry.”