Agricultural grassland is still the most commonafter-use for landfill sites. This paper examines reasons forconsidering alternative after-uses. Opportunities for increasingbiodiversity should be taken wherever possible and landfillrestoration can assist this objective if the correct techniques areused. The paper outlines practical techniques for achievingecological diversity through landfill resorting aimed at after-usesthat include nature conservation and amenity. It emphasises theimportance of predevelopment ecological surveys of both speciesand habitat characteristics. This will identify the essentialcharacteristics of the habitat to be re-created. The suitability andapplication of a full range of techniques from non-intervention,through techniques that combine intervention and naturaldevelopment, to habitat creation are described. Techniques forcreation and aftercare of species-rich grassland, heathland andwetland habitats are included. The application of such techniquesto landfill restoration is assessed using the practical experience ofthe author. The advisability of planting tress on landfill sites isexplored with reference to research carried out by the UKForestry Commission. The different constraints placed uponlandfill restoration as compared with mineral site restoration andthe effect of these constraints on restoration for ecologicaldiversity are described.
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