Viridor supports conservation of Oxfordshire dinosaur footprints

Posted 26 Jan 2010

On 19 January, Natural England announced that the dinosaur footprints and tracks at Ardley Quarry, near Bicester in Oxfordshire, have been notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, making it the first SSSI to be designated by Natural England for its geological features alone.

Viridor has landfill, recycling and renewable power operations at Ardley.  The SSSI designation does not apply to the operational landfill area or to that proposed for an energy from waste facility.  It would protect any trackways from exposure to the elements and erosion should any be uncovered in the future as limestone extraction on the south of the site takes place.

Victor Perez-Mares, communications manager for Viridor - operator of the landfill site where the original footprints were found - commented: "Since the discovery of the footprints in 1998, we have been working closely with Natural England, Oxford University Natural History Museum and the County Museum not only to preserve them where feasible and appropriate, but also to ensure wide and suitable accessibility for the public.

"With funding from Viridor Credits via the Landfill Communities Fund, a dinosaur garden has been created at the County's museum in Woodstock, where the real footprints can be seen, together with information about them and a replica of one of dinosaurs in a ‘prehistoric' setting. Fantastic displays have also been created at the Oxford University Natural History Museum, helping visitor numbers rocket.  Furthermore, an exciting educational DVD, including unique computer-generated animation of the beasts themselves, has been produced and made available to schools in the area to widen the accessibility and understanding of this important topic.

"We look forward to working with Natural England and other relevant stakeholders to ensure this unique geological feature is looked after for generations to come."

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