Schumacher Ziegelei

Objective

The site of the Schumacher brickworks is a nationally important amphibian spawning ground. Yellow-bellied toads, midwife toads, natterjack toads and grass snakes are the species which are being encouraged at various locations across the site.

Context

Part of the area is devoted to active extraction with many dynamic sites being created by the extraction of clay. An adjacent part which was quarried in the 1980s is currently being turned over entirely to nature. The whole area is subject to ecological planning in tandem. The collaboration between planners, machine operators working on site, external groups and nature conservation specialists is enhancing the area in a major way.

Solution

Due to the less intensive extraction of clay in the active part of the quarry, temporary sites are being created in an ideal way without major alterations in operating practice. The main work is confined to training machine operators. At the transition between the active and worked-out parts of the quarry, where the majority of midwife toads are to be found, the population is being encouraged by specific planning of extraction activities. In the nature reserve section, maintenance work is aimed mainly at encouraging the yellow-bellied toads and grass snakes. In order to foster the different living spaces, the FSKB staff supports the companies during the maintenance work every year.

Result

The differing approaches taken for the sake of these rare species are having great success. Another major success was the work initiative undertaken in 2007: a group of volunteers from a Swiss bank looked after the area for the sake of the protected species.

Partners

FSKB.