The UK's first 'green bridge' for wildlife has opened in Surrey, connecting two halves of a rare lowland heath habitat that were separated by the A3 motorway. The Cockrow Bridge, built as part of the M25 improvement scheme, is designed to allow animals such as lizards, snakes, and insects to move safely between the Wisley and Ockham commons.
James Herd, director of reserves management at the Surrey Wildlife Trust, said the A3 had fragmented the habitat, isolating species on either side. 'It has disconnected the ecological permeability of the site,' he said. 'Species on this side of the common can't get to that side because there's six lanes of tarmac and vehicles doing 70mph in the way.'
The bridge is a floating patch of heathland, with heather, sand piles for sand lizards, and logs for reptiles to cool down. Wildlife such as foxes, roe deer, and adders have already been spotted using it. Ben Hewlett, senior biodiversity adviser at National Highways, said the UK lags behind continental Europe and North America, which have over 1,000 such crossings.
According to the State of Nature report, average abundance of UK species has fallen by 19% since 1970, with 16% of assessed species threatened with extinction. Herd said the bridge will help reconnect populations and improve genetic diversity, allowing species to adapt to climate change.
