A derelict eyesore? That's how the developers consistently refer to the proposed SnOasis site. We think they must have derelict eyesight because the proposed site for the SnOasis complex is, in fact, a beautiful wildlife haven. Over two thirds of the site is either virgin farmland or fully restored chalk grassland dotted with numerous ponds and lakes. The site and adjacent area is home to many varieties of wildlife including over 100 species of birds, extremely rare and protected pond bats; over 20 badger setts; foxes and other mammals and reptiles. The site is home to a large quantity of internationally protected great crested newts.
Most of the site has been restored. The former Blue Circle quarry consists of clay soil over sand and gravel which in turn lies over chalk. The chalk was extracted to form the deep quarry at the Gt. Blakenham end. It is this deep pit that you often get shown to describe the site - it is being used by Viridor Ltd as a landfill site. The bulk of the quarry was only used to extract sand and gravel and lies as a shallow bowl about 20 feet below the surrounding land. It is this part of the quarry that has been restored and forms the main area where the SnOasis complex will be built. The rest of the site was never quarried and is virgin farmland. Much of the site lies within the Gipping Valley Special Landscape area.
Wildlife be be devastated. The developers propose that the wildlife should be moved to a 30 acre area of farmland. Quite how this could happen is unclear, perhaps they will be chased there by JCB's or carried by hand ! In reality, the farmland is rich in nutrients after many years of commercial farming. This would not allow the development of natural chalk grassland and would pollute the ponds. Removing the topsoil has been suggested but even with this, naturalisation to be similar to the current quarry site would take a number of years. It is not clear if the developers would wait that long. In addition, the proposed area is only about one tenth of the size of the current site and it would be next to a noisy, bright, leisure complex catering for possibly millions of people a year. Faced with such challenges of high nitrate levels, a small, well lit  and noisy site, it seems very likely that the wildlife would simply leave or perish. Read more.
Gipping Valley Special Landscape Area Much of the site lies within the Gipping Valley landscape area and the land to the north and west of the site is a beautiful and hidden part of Suffolk. There are two valleys, one running through the village of Baylham and the other running between Nettlestead  and Lt Blakenham. If you have not visited this area, you really should before making up your mind about SnOasis - it is an outstanding area of natural beauty. Read more.