By Liam Perkins, Night Shift Quarry Manager, Dove Holes

Small Dale is a small hamlet that shares its border with Dove Holes quarry. Like many hamlets and villages in the area, Small Dale increased in size during the 1800’s as the country’s demand for limestone increased and workmen and their families moved to the area. Despite the influx of the workmen and the need for more houses, Small Dale has managed to stay as a ‘scattering’ of beautiful cottages based around a ‘green’ which until recently was looking a bit tired.

It was last year when Angela who jokingly referred to herself as the ‘village mouth piece’ approached the quarry asking if we could “add a bit of colour” to the area. The trees and bushes around the green were either over grown or dead and the surrounding fence was rotten and collapsing.

It was decided to organise a Lend a Hand event to trim back the greenery, replace the fence and add some plant pots for colour. Firstly, we had to approach Steve Morten who owns and runs Town & Country bagging plant which is situated here at the Dove Holes site. Steve originates from Small Dale and was only too happy to purchase the materials needed which included three used beer barrels from Buxton Brewery which Steve Croft professionally cut in half for us to use as planters.

Next step was to plan a dry day to do the work and in early September (2023) Michael Craven led a small team from the night shift to complete the task. At various times of the day different locals turned up to help out or just to show their appreciation which was a great help and made the event feel very worthwhile.

After the event Angela was in touch to thank Cemex and Steve from Town and Country. She said the event had ‘lifted’ the locals into action with garden gates being painted, flowers planted, and grass verges cut to perfection. “You must come back in spring for photo’s when the bulbs we’ve planted have flowered” she said. And that’s exactly what we did!