Cockrow Bridge, a green wildlife crossing nearing completion in Surrey, will provide a vital connection between fragmented lowland heath habitats severed by the A3 motorway. The structure was commissioned by National Highways as part of environmental mitigation measures accompanying the £317m M25 improvement scheme, which included widening works at the Wisley interchange. It will enable a range of species to traverse a six-lane carriageway where vehicles travel at speed, addressing the ecological barrier that has long prevented connectivity between the internationally important reserves.
James Herd, Director of Reserves Management at Surrey Wildlife Trust, has documented a marked decline in reptile populations across Wisley and Ockham commons over the past decade. The protected heathland, which historically supported the sand lizard - Britain's rarest lizard - has experienced significant habitat fragmentation since the A3 divided the reserves. Herd emphasises that such infrastructure is essential not only for charismatic species but for reconnecting entire communities of insects and smaller fauna. The bridge represents an opportunity to restore ecological permeability to this biodiverse landscape.