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.
If they want it to be a wildlife bridge, they shouldn’t let people on it.
Animals do get around during daylight also, are they supposed to wait for nighttime to cross?
Wildlife keeps its distance from humans.
Edit: when i read about this a few years ago, i was sure it would be a wildlife only bridge. Humans have enough ways to get around. This doesn’t make sense.
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.