Wiltshire-based business, The Hills Group, has embraced its festive spirit by donating to three local charities, in place of sending out Christmas cards this year.

Threshold Housing Link, Julia’s House, and Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service were welcomed to Hills’ head office in Swindon and presented with £250 each for their respective charities.

Corporate Fundraiser for Julia’s House, Jo Common said: “At Julia’s House, we look after the most seriously ill children in Swindon and Wiltshire. Our dedicated team of nurses and carers are a lifeline, providing essential respite breaks to give exhausted families relief from round-the-clock care, helping to prevent them from reaching breaking point. We rely on the community for 92% of our funding, so it is thanks to organisations like The Hills Group and this wonderful donation, that we can continue to provide this vital care.”

Collecting the donation on behalf of Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, Kate Rowland, Training and Business Development Manager said: “Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service were delighted to learn that we were one of the recipients of a donation from The Hills Group. Demand for our services sadly remains high, particularly over the Christmas period and every donation supports our work with victims of domestic abuse and their children.”

The Hills group is well known for its philanthropic work, having raised thousands of pounds for many charities throughout 2023.

Mike Hill, Chief Executive, The Hills Group said: “We pride ourselves on the support we give to a wide range of charities every year. We hope that these donations help Threshold Housing Link, Julia’s House, and Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service to continue the amazing services they all provide.”

Hills Quarry Products has continued to strengthen its presence in the ready-mixed concrete market by opening its eighth concrete plant.

The new site in Wilmington will provide high-quality concrete and screed to all customers, with product available for collection or delivery using 4m³, 6m³ and 8m³ sized vehicles.

The plant, based near Honiton in Devon, will also be registered with the Quality Scheme for Ready-Mixed Concrete (QSRMC).

Peter Andrew, Group Director Hills Quarry Products, said: “Following the recent opening of our Swindon plant, the Wilmington site will expand our ready-mixed concrete business even further. The new team at Wilmington will be working closely with the concrete team at Woodsford Quarry in Dorset. The plant will offer a wide range of delivery vehicles provided by site owner and franchisee Adrian Clarke.”

Terry Newsham, Commercial Business Manager, Hills Quarry Products, said: “We are delighted to have extended our presence in the South West with our new site near Honiton. The opening of our Wilmington concrete plant will further enhance the level of service we can provide to our customers.”

Bay Meadows, a new water meadow and chalk stream nature reserve owned by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, is now open to the public.

The nature reserve sits within the North Wessex Downs AONB, located on the outskirts of Marlborough in Wiltshire. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust purchased the site in 2022 to protect it from the threat of development, preserve it for the local community to enjoy and increase its biodiversity.

Bay Meadows is now both a nature park for everyone to visit and a nature reserve for wildlife, comprising 30 acres of restored water meadows. The River Og, a typical Wiltshire chalk stream, runs through the reserve and joins the River Kennet in the town, making Bay Meadows an important wildlife corridor between Ogbourne Maisey and Marlborough. Surveys undertaken as part of the project have revealed more than 300 species call Bay Meadows home, including otter and wild brown trout; it is also one of the last refuges of water voles, which have decreased by over 94% nationally and are now absent from most nearby counties.

Chairman Alan Pardoe and Chief Executive Mike Hill of The Hills Group opened Bay Meadows on 1 November at an official opening event attended by Ninna Gibson, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Nick Fogg, Mayor of Marlborough, and Nick Holliday, Committee Member of National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as a small group of the Trust’s major stakeholders.

Thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Hills Group, Dyson, Fish in Need, Marlborough Area Board, the Town Council, and other generous donors, the Trust completed a two-year programme of habitat restoration and community engagement work prior to the reserve opening. Attendees of the official opening event had the chance to learn about how Bay Meadows has been transformed for the benefit of wildlife and local people since the land was purchased.

As part of the restoration project, the floodplain meadow was restored to not only improve wetland habitat to attract more mammals, birds, fish and pollinators, but to also provide a nature-based solution to mitigating climate change. A series of shallow scrapes were created to hold water back in the floodplain, allowing it to be released slowly during extended dry periods to help sustain wildlife and provide ideal habitat for water birds. Trees and snakeshead fritillary bulbs were also planted with the help of community volunteers to increase biodiversity across the site. Grazing by a small herd of cattle has been introduced into the Wildlife Refuge area to create ideal conditions for more wildflowers to flourish.

As part of the community engagement work, schools, clubs and other organisations visited Bay Meadows to participate in fun, nature-based activities, such as building dens and bird boxes. A dedicated area was also set up to deliver wellbeing activities for the Trust’s Marlborough Wellbeing Programme, such as conservation work, wildlife walks and naturebased crafts, to increase nature connectedness in adults from the local community.

The opening of the nature reserve has given Marlborough communities access to a new nature-rich green space, with the creation of easy walking trails. For families, there is a picnic area, a den building area, logs to climb on and an enchanted tunnel. There is also a bug hunting trail, reptile mats and bug hotels for children to explore. WWT’s experts will continue to use the wellbeing area created as part of the project for guided activities.

Joanna Lewis, CEO of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said:

“The nature park will be a fantastic asset for this community – a place for local people to come to relax and unwind and connect with nature.”

“The people of Marlborough have really embraced the project. We’ve involved over 700 local people of all ages and backgrounds through family days, green prescription programmes, school visits and Forest School outreach.”

“Crucially for the long-term flourishing of wildlife on the reserve, we have inspired an amazing band of volunteers, who’ve been involved in citizen science surveying and all kinds of habitat improvements. When we stepped in, Bay Meadows was poor grazing land with limited biodiversity – our volunteers have already helped create new wetland scrapes, install special woody debris features to vary the water-flow of the Og to benefit water voles and dragonflies, planted thousands of beautiful snakeshead fritillaries and thousands of trees and bushes.”

“We need nature in our lives, for our health and happiness and for the resilience of our farming systems and the stability of our climate. In saving Bay Meadows, and working together to create a new nature reserve and a new community nature park, we have stood up for nature and for people.”

Mike Hill, Chief Executive of The Hills Group, said:

“It is a real honour to be able to open Bay Meadows and one that has been made even more special by our long-time links with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the town of Marlborough.”

“The Hills Group is delighted with the work Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has done in developing Bay Meadows for everyone to enjoy. It is another example of the excellent partnership between our two organisations.”

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was involved in this project, especially Gary Mantle, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s former CEO, whose passion, energy, and vision have been an inspiration to many of us for over 30 years.”

“The creation of Bay Meadows nature reserve is part of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s wider strategy to restore nature at a landscape scale by improving connectivity through wildlife corridors and better habitat management. The Trust is not only carrying out extensive works to improve, restore and create wetland habitat on its own nature reserves, but is also working with farmer clusters and landowners to restore a wide range of habitats across the wider landscape of Wiltshire.”

“Bay Meadows is now one of more than 40 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust natures reserves spread throughout the county covering over 3,000 acres, with all of Wiltshire’s habitats represented, from chalk downlands to woodlands. Find out more about Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/reserves.”

Hills Quarry Products’ application for a sand and gravel quarry at the old airfield near Down Ampney has been granted permission by Gloucestershire County Council.

The approval will ensure ongoing mineral supply to fuel continued economic stability and growth, both locally and nationally. Peter Andrew, Group Director, Hills Quarry Products said: “I am delighted that our detailed proposals, which include wide-ranging environmental considerations, have been approved and that Gloucestershire County Council has entrusted Hills with the management and restoration of this important historical site through the phased extraction of essential minerals. I am also very happy that this will provide ongoing employment opportunities and security within the business and for our suppliers.”

Mike Hill, CEO, The Hills Group said: “The company’s record for archaeology, award-winning restoration and community consultation is exemplary, as demonstrated throughout the Cotswold Water Park, and we are excited about commencing work on this critical project.”

The site will include an aggregate processing plant, a concrete plant and a bagging operation with the associated infrastructure of silt lagoons, offices, welfare facilities, wheel washes and weighbridges. The area to be extracted including the plant site and silt lagoons is 178 hectares and extraction will take place over approximately 13 years once initial site works are completed.

The proposal also includes the provision of an education and visitor centre which will inform the wider community about how aggregate extraction underpins many aspects of society from built infrastructure such as the construction of roads, houses and public buildings through to water purification and agriculture.

Two Hills Municipal Collections drivers were presented with Long Service Recognition Awards recently after decades of combined service.

David Hawkins, Kerbside LGV Driver, Sands Farm Collections, who started in 1978, has just celebrated 45 years working as both a loader and a driver around Wiltshire.

Paul Burke, Non LGV Driver, Salisbury Collections, has completed 40 years of service, working in various driving roles having started as a road sweeper for Salisbury District Council back in 1983.

A spokesperson for Hills said: “Hills are extremely proud to be able to present both drivers with these certificates in recognition of their long service. The awards are a true testament to the commitment and dedication they have shown over their long careers.”

Both employees have decided to bid farewell to the business to take their well-deserved retirements.

David Hawkins said: “I’ll really miss my colleagues the most. I was so lucky to have worked with a good team who all knew that if we all pulled together, we would crack it.”

Paul Burke said: “I will miss the routine of working and watching the seasons change while on the road. I’ll also miss my colleagues, but no doubt I will bump into them when they are out on their rounds.”

As part of Hills’ ongoing commitment to exceptional health and safety, Hills Waste Solutions has installed an innovative crossing system at their Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Calne.

The FHOSS Illuminated Safety Walkway System bridges the gap between people and plant to mitigate the risks. The new walkway, which forms part of a wider focus on pedestrian segregation, uses a combination of traffic lights, illuminated markers, and electromagnetic gates to control the flow of mobile plant and pedestrian movement.

Paul Elling, Compliance Manager for Hills Waste Solutions said: “Mitigating the risk to pedestrians across our industry is a priority safety issue and I commend all concerned for their innovative approach to managing this risk. The installation of this crossing is a clear demonstration of our commitment to avoiding accidents by separating pedestrians from moving plant.”

Lucky youngsters from the Southwick and North Bradley Beavers were recently given a unique tour of the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Sands Farm in Calne.

Henry Newbery, Recycling Team Manager, Hills Waste treated the group to a special demonstration of the waste sorting process.

The troupe were also shown around the plant while it was offline over a weekend to learn more about the importance of recycling waste correctly.

Henry Newbery, Recycling Team Manager, Hills Waste said: “It is lovely to be able to educate the next generation about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling their waste through effective waste management.”

They’ve been great partners for 25 years, and when it comes to The Hills Group and Cotswold Lakes Trust, it doesn’t seem a day too long.

The partnership has helped protect Kingfishers, Otters, Water Voles and many more species in the Cotswold Water Park. And by working together on everything from reed beds to fossil hunts and footpaths, they have helped to create one of the most stunning wetland landscapes in the UK.

Now The Hills Group and Cotswold Lakes Trust are celebrating their partnership and a commitment to build on their achievements in the Cotswold Water Park, restoring and creating an exceptional leisure amenity and haven for wildlife.

Group Director of Hills Quarry Products, Peter Andrew wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The Hills Group has been operating in the Cotswold Water Park for more than 100 years and has created many of the lakes and wonderful habitats you see today. We are proud to support Cotswold Lakes Trust and all they do for wildlife and the environment. They’re a great charity and we work extremely well together,” he said.

The Cotswold Water Park is a network of more than 180 lakes across 42 square miles which emerged from decades of intensive gravel extraction and restoration. It is now a unique wetland landscape.

The lakes are home to an amazing variety of wildlife and a host of leisure activities for its 20,000 residents and one million annual visitors. In 2021, it was recognised nationally as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Cotswold Lakes Trust’s Executive Chairman Paul Hazel praised Hills for the pivotal role the company has played in creating the Cotswold Water Park since its first gravel pit was dug a century ago.

“Their long-term commitment to restoration has played a fundamental role in creating this fantastic leisure area and a haven for wildlife,” he said.

“Their generosity in providing more than £1.3m through the Landfill Communities Fund has enabled the Trust to help preserve the amazing biodiversity of habitats and species in the Cotswold Water Park and to carry out projects ranging from the creation of nature reserves to improving public access and managing country parks.”

Based in Down Ampney, Cotswold Lakes Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees (all volunteers) who oversee the work of a team of seven staff, assisted by loyal volunteers. It receives no core funding from central or local government and relies heavily on donations.

Employees at Hills have donated Easter treats to put a smile on the faces of disadvantaged youngsters across Swindon.

Sweet treats were presented to Johanna Bryant, Project Director for STEP Swindon by the Hills’ employee charity committee.

STEP Swindon provides a safe, supportive environment for children and young people who are experiencing social isolation.

Johanna Bryant, Project Director, STEP Swindon said: “Times are so hard at the moment for many of the families we work with and Easter eggs are a luxury that most of them cannot afford. It is wonderful to be able to treat the children and young people with these generous gifts.”

A spokesperson for Hills said: “Employees have been very generous with their donations and we are proud to be able to support this marvellous cause. We hope that all the recipients will enjoy their Easter treats.”

Hills Quarry Products has strengthened its presence in the ready-mixed concrete market with the opening of its seventh concrete plant located at Unit 2, Kendrick Trading Estate, Galton Way, Swindon.

Peter Andrew, Group Director said: “Our new site at Swindon will greatly enhance the geographical area in which Hills Quarry Products operates and also expand the level of service we can provide to our customers with a mini-mix service now available from all our concrete plants.”

The site is registered with the Quality Scheme for Ready-Mixed Concrete (QSRMC) and will provide high-quality concrete and screed to both small and large customers with product available for collection or delivery using 4m³, 6m³ and 8m³ sized vehicles.

The plant will also offer 24-hour, seven day a week opening on request.