The Kilwaughter Lime Quality Department attended the Larne Business Awards at a gala dinner in Ballygally Castle Hotel on Thursday night.

The annual event celebrated a range of outstanding business initiatives and top achievers throughout the local business community.

Kilwaughter Lime was shortlisted for an environmental accolade because of its ongoing sustainability schemes and was delighted to win the Best Environmental Business of 2016.

The company takes pride in caring for local environment, and environmental considerations are an integral part of business practice. The company site is situated on the edge of the Antrim Plateau; this is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty; so the effect of our operations on biodiversity and the surroundings countryside has always been a major consideration for the company.

Nearly 10 years ago a 50 acre area of land was set aside to reestablish an area of pristine native woodland and grassland, since then over 20,000 trees have been planted including Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch,Rowan and Alder.

Kilwaughter Lime, in conjunction with the RSPB has installed a variety of nest boxes for thrushes, robins and tits. There is also a motion detection camera in place to determine if red squirrels are

repopulating the area. Several tonnes of boulders have been placed strategically to provide habitat for smaller mammals and insects to colonise.

The area is carefully managed to provide a natural habitat without letting it become overgrown, routine surveys are completed to monitor the variety of species of flora and fauna and to help develop the full potential of the woodland.