Home / Environment / Wildlife Bridge Reconnects Fragmented Surrey Heathland
Wildlife Bridge Reconnects Fragmented Surrey Heathland
12 May
Summary
- A new wildlife bridge over the A3 connects fragmented heathland habitats.
- The bridge aims to help biodiversity recover from habitat fragmentation.
- It provides safe passage for insects, reptiles, and ground-nesting birds.
A new wildlife crossing, dubbed Cockrow Bridge, is nearing completion over the A3 in Surrey, England. This "green bridge" is designed to reconnect fragmented lowland heathland habitats, an internationally important site for biodiversity. The A3 road previously split the Wisley and Ockham commons, hindering wildlife movement and leading to a decline in species.
National Highways constructed the bridge as a mitigation for the M25 improvement scheme. The bridge itself is a transplanted section of heathland, already showing new growth. It is intended to facilitate the movement of various species, including sand lizards, insects, and ground-nesting birds, thereby supporting genetic diversity and ecosystem resilience.
Experts highlight the critical role of such infrastructure in combating biodiversity loss, which has seen a significant decline in the UK. While the UK lags behind other regions in building green bridges, Cockrow Bridge represents a significant step. Its success could serve as a model for future projects, with a proposal to allocate 1-3% of road scheme costs to greening elements for landscape defragmentation.
