Glebe Lake: From Quarry to Wildlife Haven
When minerals are dug out of the ground, there is a requirement to restore that land for beneficial purposes. In doing so, there are opportunities to enhance landscapes, support wildlife, reduce flood risk and provide public access – all benefitting local communities and Surrey’s residents.
A good example of this is Glebe Lake, near Redhill.
In January 2025, Glebe Lake was nominated for the Mineral Products Association Restoration and Biodiversity Awards, recognising its contribution to improving habitats and supporting nature. The award celebrates sites and developers that take an innovative approach to biodiversity, helping wildlife to thrive through the creation and management of valuable habitats.
Glebe Lake is located around 2.6 kilometres east of Redhill within the wider Holmethorpe Sandpits Complex, an area with a long history of mineral extraction. Over the years, minerals including Fuller's earth, clay, sand and gravel, and silica sand have been worked in the area. The original planning permission for mineral extraction at Glebe Lake was granted in 1954, with further permissions following in later years.
The lake itself was created as a result of historic Fuller's earth extraction. Over time, it became a 21 metre (68 foot) deep-water body used for recreational carp fishing. It also played an important role in managing surface water from the surrounding area. However, because of its depth and the presence of large numbers of carp, the lake offered limited value for wildlife and nature conservation.
In 2014, planning permission was granted for the extraction of around 4.1 million tonnes of soft sand at the neighbouring Mercers South Quarry. During the development of the quarry, concerns were raised locally about land stability between the quarry and Glebe Lake. This created an opportunity to look at how Glebe Lake could be enhanced, not only to address stability concerns but also to deliver significant environmental improvements to the area.
In 2016, J&J Franks Limited brought forward plans to properly restore the former quarry, and remodel and improve Glebe Lake. Surrey County Council granted planning permission for the project, which transformed the lake into a richer and more diverse habitat.
Removing fish and de-watering Glebe Lake
The restoration work involved carefully draining the lake and relocating the carp to a local agricultural college. The lake was then reshaped using inert construction materials and engineering clay, creating shallower water areas, islands and varied wetland habitats. Around 80% of the surrounding trees and scrub were removed to allow more sunlight to reach the water and wetland areas, encouraging the growth of plants that support insects and other wildlife.
Engineering works
These changes have made the site much more attractive to wildlife. Wading birds such as redshank and snipe can now use the site, while the restored landscape also provides shelter for bats, reptiles and amphibians.
The restoration and enhancement works were completed in 2021. Since then, the site has been managed and monitored in partnership with Surrey Wildlife Trust to help ensure the long-term success of the habitats that have been created.
The creation of the island
The results have been encouraging. Recent monitoring has recorded a variety of wildlife at the site, including coots, mallards, Canada geese, roe deer and common blue damselflies.
Glebe Lake demonstrates how former mineral extraction sites can be successfully restored to create thriving habitats for wildlife while continuing to deliver wider environmental benefits. The project shows how quarry restoration can transform a former extraction site into a valuable landscape that supports nature, helps manage water, and contributes to Surrey's natural environment for years to come.
Glebe Lake today
The PDF plan below shows the proposed landscaping works at Glebe Lake. The proposals include the construction of clay bunds around parts of the lake perimeter and the placement of fill material within sections of the lake to create a revised landform. The cross-sections illustrate the relationship between existing ground levels, the proposed bunds, infill areas and the future water level.
Files available to download
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Proposed Glebe Lake Re-Profiling and Cross Sections (PDF)
Technical drawing showing the proposed re-profiling of Glebe Lake, including infill levels, clay bund levels and cross-section views.