Transport and other infrastructure

Our transport infrastructure and the land which surrounds it can provide valuable habitats for wildlife, and even some open space for recreation e.g. along disused railway lines.

Roads and railway lines often create natural corridors through otherwise intensively-managed or developed areas. With a bit of careful thought on layout, design and management they can be used to the benefit of biodiversity and the people using them. For example management of road verge vegetation to retain or enhance the natural flora, planting roundabouts with native species, careful design of new roads to avoid or mitigate severance of pathways for animals like badgers and otters.

The following guidance is available for the management of transport and infrastructure projects for biodiversity.

Planning considerations

• Habitat Fragmentation due to Transportation Infrastructure 
• Biodiversity and Environmental Impact Assessment: Good practice guide for road schemes 
• Biodiversity and railways   
• European Commission: Green Infrastructure 
• Natural England's Green Infrastructure Guidance   
• The View from the Road

Habitat management

• Urban grassland management (including road verge  
• Flowers on the verge: Planting on countryside road verges 
• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges: Vol. 10, section 3.1 - The Wildflower Handbook 
• Scotland's native trees and shrubs: A designer's guide to their selection, procurement and use in road landscape 
• Guide to woodland creation for wildlife 
• Road Verges    - a BSBI project

Species

• Bats and lighting in the UK   
• Bats in bridges   
• Bats and buildings   
• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges: Volume 10, section 4, Nature conservation  (all parts) 
• Toads on Roads: Advice for planners and highway engineers 
• Land management for butterflies 
• Otters and development 
• Badgers and development
• Highways Agency Environment Strategy