We must ensure that the UK’s first ever heathland green bridge, straddling the A3 and a lifeline for diminishing wildlife, isn’t the last of its kind to open, says John Lewis-Stempel.
Why did the hedgehog cross the road? Perhaps it was out hunting slugs or seeking a mate. Unfortunately, it was run over when on its nocturnal ramble; up to 335,000 hedgehogs die each year on UK roads. Flattened. Together with about 750,000 other wild things.
How could the animals not end up as roadkill? The UK has a road network totalling about 262,300 miles, along which we drive 41.3 million licensed vehicles. People find tarmac and four wheels useful, whereas Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and friends find the road network at best a barrier, at worst a mortal experience and, somewhere in between, they discover themselves stranded in fragmented habitats with diminishing resources and a shrinking gene pool.
Looking at the mock-up, it seems like there is a path for people down one side but it’s a wide bridge and there’s plenty of undergrowth for animals.
You’re right, these are good news and it is better than nothing anyway. It’s just a little depressing when these kinds of projects always take so long to be realized.
Could also maybe have made a mock-up highlighting some wildlife crossing the bridge, which allegedly is the purpose of this bridge.
I know, i sound like a deer using lemmy. I don’t know myself, why this irritated me.