2023 started off with a huge endorsement that the Belgian Royal Family, keen on biodiversity, wanted to see first hand our work at one of our largest sites in the Group. 

On March 9 2023, His Majesty The King Philippe and Her Majesty The Queen Mathilde of Belgium were welcomed at Carrières du Hainaut’s bluestone quarry in Soignies. 

Our Royal guests were extremely engaging with the site’s employees and the measures they have taken to preserve and develop biodiversity at the heart of the quarry. 

The cliffs, ponds and sandy areas that make up the quarry form great breeding and living habitats for several species. In 2021, 27 species were recorded within the quarry, and Carrières du Hainaut hopes to continue to increase the number of species on site through their participation in the LIFE program: a project funded by the European Union and the Walloon region to increase biodiversity in quarried environments through creating and maintaining living environments. With each year the site continues to improve the habitat to encourage bio-diversity including installing floating platforms in 2020 to add more bird-friendly spaces and a bat tunnel within the spoils in 2021. 

‍