Network for Nature

Devon wildlife trust feasibility study

The Project

Did you know that transport is responsible for harming millions of animals per year and also negatively impacts their habitats?

Linear infrastructure is a major cause of reducing available habitat and on top of this, wildlife-vehicle collisions can have serious consequences for local species populations.

Working in partnership with the Devon Wildlife Trust, we have conducted a feasibility study to assess which crossing structures could be strategically enhanced to defragment the landscape across Devon and encourage the safe movement of wildlife.

A38 Devon Expressway dissecting Chudleigh Knighton Heath nature reserve

The Process

Phase 1

Research local species ecology and their interactions with roads.

Phase 2

Review existing road ecology and conflict management tools and literature.

Phase 3

Identifying potential crossing structures in Devon and assessing their potential to aid wildlife connectivity.

Phase 4

Propose suitable structures and enhancements that can be considered at multiple priority locations.

Animex team members surveying existing structures and surrounding habitats on A38 and A30

The Outcome

Our aim is for this project to help local and national stakeholders see the importance and potential to enhance our existing infrastructure to reduce defragmentation and enhance wildlife connectivity across the UK.

There are many projects that are already implementing mitigation measures to ensure natural corridors are retained as our infrastructure expands and improves but more needs to be done.

Some good examples include the installation of Dormouse Bridges on the M1 to improve connectivity for this endangered species as well as the installation of an Animex Habiat Highway on a bridge over the M27.

As part of this project, we hope to be able to identify affordable enhancements that can be implemented to a wide variety of structures at a fraction of the cost of building new green bridges.

Animex Dormouse Bridges installed on exisiting structures crossing the M1