Great buildings and monuments of infrastructure get our attention. But how about the sources where the materials come from? We have a reason for pride there as well. Introducing NCC Kielo®– our living site.
Great buildings and monuments of infrastructure get our attention. But how about the sources where the materials come from? We have a reason for pride there as well. Introducing NCC Kielo®– our living site.
When gravel and rock is being extracted, pits and quarries are busy and rough workplaces. Our sites, with their exposed surfaces of sand, gravel or rock, offer an attractive environment for many species that are dis-placed, and even endangered, when dense vegetation establishes. Those quite rare species can often show up in our environments.
So, what we want to do is balance the bustling production with the harmony of the nature – plants, vegetation, insects, birds as well as all the things we don’t even see.
NCC Kielo – Our living site – is a concept where we make an ongoing effort to appreciate the value of both our expertise in converting rock into quality construction materials and the nature that gives us the opportunity for all this.
We believe that businesses like ours – that utilize the earth’s resources – must lead the way in making responsible choices concerning the nature. Therefore we consider our operations in relation to our neighborhood
and to biodiversity
NCC Kielo covers the philosophy, policies and actions that enhance biodiversity. We have identified a set of criteria for conducting structured biodiversity work where we focus on investigation, targets, measures, follow-up and results. When necessary, we revise and adapt the plans. When it’s time to record how we are doing, we estimate the costs, potential savings and earnings as well as summarize the biological result at the site.
What is unique about NCC Kielo is its comprehensive approach. We support, develop and enhance biodiversity both during operations and afterwards, in the rehabilitating phase. The actions resemble a quality system, because every gravel pit or quarry is an individual and needs an evaluation of its own.
We have designed NCC Kielo concept to cover expectations of both our customers and the community that remain in the circle of influence – municipalities and local people, landowners as well as the society as a whole.
Kielo is a Finnish word meaning Lily of the valley, the Finnish national flower. Carrying the soft midsummer night magic, it is a perfect name for the concept.
(Kielo is also an acronym built from KIviaineksen Elävä LuontO – “living nature of stone”).
When The Danish Society for Nature Conservation discovered that the rare Natterjack toad was in the area of Munke Bjergby gravel pit, we started a major work to ensure the best conditions for the toad. The Natterjack toad is a listed species from the habitat directive annex IV and is as such a strongly protected species. The species is favored by dynamic open landscape, with little or no vegetation cover, temporary small shallow ponds that dry out seasonally. In other words, everything you find in a gravel pit.
However, since the toad had established itself in an area of the grave where raw materials were to be dug, NCC and the Danish Society for Nature Conservation therefore joined forces. The solution was the move the toad to another area in the grave and to establish new breeding water holes for the toad.
More information in Danish available here.
Opened in 2009
When we realized that the rare dormouse was in the area around Sellebjerg gravel pit, we started a major work to ensure the best conditions for the mouse. The dormouse is one of Denmark's most endangered mammals, and it is only found in quite a few places in the country. Therefore it is on the Danish red list, which means that it is at risk of extinction. In collaboration with Hvidkilde Gods, we therefore spent two years optimizing the forest areas around the gravel pit, before the extraction of raw materials could begin in 2009. For example, about 250 nest boxes have been set up, which are specially designed for the dormouse, and we have established honeysuckle, larch trees, hazel, blackberry and rosehip bushes in the area.
More information in Danish available here
In 2003, NCC and the Guldborgsund Municipality started to work purposefully to increase biodiversity in a new area of Pederseje gravel pit. The new area consisted mainly of cultivated land, and NCC had observed different species of flora and fauna from the excavated areas of the existing gravel pit, which were good indicators of what the new area could be developed for. Today the area consists of a varied nature and serves as an oasis for many endangered animals and plants. The lakes contain many exciting aquatic plants and amphibians, and the gravel pit has become home to several interesting birds.
More information in Danish available here.
Sofiedal quarry is located 15 km from Karlstad and opened in 2018. The area for the quarry is about 33 hectares and surrounding land consists of mainly forest. Unlike other NCC Kielo quarries the biological perspective has been included here from the very beginning.
A set of measures for enhancing biodiversity has been identified for Sofiedal. Work has recently started and will progress with time. Some species expected to be affected by the measure are brines, bees, bumble bees and ants. In the future an artificial lake will be the habitat to lake species.
More information in Swedish available here.
Gökhem is a quarry located west of Falköping, a medium-sized quarry that NCC has been operating for five years. The quarry provides Falköping and the surrounding area with stone that can be used for various purposes, as it usually is. The unique thing about Gökhem is that it is created so that it forms a perfect environment for the blue-winged butterfly Polyommatini . The species thrives on thin earth-covered mountains with limited overgrowth, areas that tend to disappear when dry meadows and gravel pits are replanted to a large extent. In addition to the butterfly, the Sand Martin swallow is a species that has made itself at home in the quarry.
Opened in 2006
The Siem gravel pit in Denmark was not biologically diverse when extraction was started. It was a mono-culture of planted spruce. The target was to make the area more diverse by planting deciduous trees such as larch, pine and oak and create several small wetlands, ponds and open areas with grassland. During the follow-up in 2017, fifteen hectares had been rehabilitated while production was on-going. Biodiversity in the area was increasing.
More information in Danish available here.
Opened in 1960´s
NCC Kielo area in Ohkola Finland started its journey in 2012. The rocky area was partly filled up with received uncontaminated soil. The four-hectare area has become a a field with many different types of habitats such as rocky areas, wetlands and meadows. The area is also suitable to test different methods of eradication of invasive species. The area has been developed in cooperation with local nature organizations. Seed mixtures of field plants were planted and now there is a good seed-bank. A butterfly survey has been made and it is now a living area for many animals. There is a honey production in place and there will soon be a bird-watching tower in the area. Biodiversity continues to increase with new animals and plants.
More information in Finnish available here.
NCC and HSY founded and built a Bug Bar for pollinators in Ekomo, Espoo in May 2019. Ekomo is a circular economy area, where HSY (Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority) handles the waste from Helsinki metropolitan area with modern means. Ekomo area has many actors and NCC is one of them with crushing and selling stone materials. Right next to NCC’s quarry we have built a Bug Bar to provide better conditions for increasing biodiversity. A meadow with 20 different kinds of species of domestic wildflowers, creates good living conditions for pollinators. Tree stumps, pinecones, tree bark, sticks, reeds, moss and wood fungus were imported to the area as nesting materials for the insects. The meadow is also a testing area to control the growth of alien species with stone ash. Espoo NCC Kielo area was built on a voluntary basis together with actors in the Ekomo area.
More information in Finnish available here.
Hedrum quarry in Norway is know for its special blue Larvikitt, the national stone of Norway. The quarry has been in NCC possession for over 20 years, and it is a well-run quarry with high focus on the environment and fine products. Hedrum quarry produces amongst other NCC Machinsand, an environmental solution to natural sand. The area around the quarry has a been certified as a site with biodiversity, and the job continues to enhance both more small wetlands and areas for trees.
More information in Norwegian available here.
NCC Kielo program in the Pornainen quarry focuses on improving the living conditions of the butterfly species called Scarce fritillary. Larvae of the butterfly have been found in the area of the quarry. Scarce fritillary is an EU-protected butterfly species. Many of its old occurrences have disappeared in Europe, but in Finland the species is still vital. The edges of the quarry are pleasing to the butterfly larva, as it thrives on the sunny border of open area and vegetation. Its most important food plant is called Common Cow-wheat. NCC Kielo area in Pornainen is being developed to be even more favorable for the Scarce fritillary with the Common Cow-wheat.
More information in Finnish available here.
