A former working quarry in Yorkshire has been redeveloped into wetlands, serving as a nature reserve for a variety of wildlife.

Ripon City Wetlands, which lies between the Ripon Canal and the River Ure, is managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Aggregate Industries led the redevelopment of the area, first buying the quarrying rights from Brown and Potter and then working with the Trust and Middlemarch Environmental to design and create the wildlife space.

Guy Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at Aggregate Industries, said: "We are delighted that our quarry has been turned into such a significant place for wildlife. Sustainability and biodiversity are of the utmost importance to Aggregate Industries, and within that comes the beneficial restoration of sites to benefit the local community and the environment.

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"We not only worked closely with Dr. Phil Fermor of Middlemarch Environmental and the Trust to initially create the reserve, we are also committed to maintaining its success through providing funding to help manage the site over the next 50 years."

Jonathan Leadley, North Regional Manager for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, added: "We're looking forward to welcoming the public to Ripon City Wetlands, and we're sure they're going to love it. This wonderful new wetland adds to a suite of existing nature reserves along the River Ure corridor, including Nosterfield and High Batts. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust supports the creation of 'Living Landscapes' - wildlife habitats that are bigger, better-managed and more joined-up – and collectively, these nature reserves are the perfect embodiment of that aim."

The Wetlands is due to be opened to the public on 04 May.

(CM/JG)