Photographs Taken During The Doran’s Rock Quarry Visit

The quarry is pretty well hidden from view from the main road although the yellow and blue lorries will be familiar to many. One of these big trucks even delivered Santa at Christmas into the Main Street! We were intrigued to learn more about the quarry.

From their headquarters at the old schoolhouse on the top of Doran’s Rock, we took a short walk through quiet woodland.

Suddenly, we came out under an open sky into a viewing area perched on the top edge of the quarry. In front of us, magnificent views of the countryside across to Strangford Lough.

Below, an unexpectedly broad and quite dramatic panorama: blue and battleship-grey cliffs, purple pools, drumlins of gravel, lego-sized trucks; rock-crushers, gravel grading machines, odd hills of broken brick and concrete (one of them the old Saintfield police station, another will be the old Downe Hospital in Downpatrick).

We learned from Stephen and Ian that a key aim of CES is to provide a safe operation with the least possible impact on the environment. Over the years, CES have planted over 5000 trees, and maintained some 25 acres of meadow and woodland. Because there are few vehicles and people, the quarry and its isolated edge is home to an array of lesser-seen wildlife such as buzzards, ravens, and Irish hares. Currently sand martins are in residence on the sand and gravel piles. CES are keen to contribute to the community and this is in evidence in their sponsorship of the Saintfield Show, their support for the Christmas Fair, and their contribution to the Saintfield News. CES are also corporate sponsors of the Ulster Wildlife Trust. Their commitment is also through environmental and bio-diversity support. Stephen and Ian showed us work in progress to build a nature path all the way round the quarry lip. Much of this is through very un-quarrylike field and native-species woodland, and a large pond with an island is under development. When finished, they plan to offer outings for schools and other interested groups. Special rock-blasting trips may even be arranged!

We came expecting to see an operational quarry, and we did. It was however most unexpected to be surprised by the sheer drama of the setting, and by the beauty of the extensive woods and pasture in the natural environment within feet of the precipices. We look forward to the completion of the nature path later this year. In the meantime our thanks to Ian and Stephen at CES for their time and hospitality.

It just goes to show, there is a lot more on our doorstep than we are often aware of!