Why did the grass snake cross the road? Reptiles moved to new habitats as part of Cornwall A30 upgrade
The joke has always posed the question why the chicken crossed the road.
But it was no joke for contractors working on National Highways’ A30 upgrade in Cornwall when presented with the challenge of safely relocating reptiles from one side of the road to the other.
Ecology teams working for principal contractors Costain were tasked with finding a way of moving traditional reptile habitats near St Newlyn East to make way for construction of the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross dualling scheme.
Earlier survey work identified a number of reptile populations – including adders, grass snakes, slow worms and common lizards – occupying land at Higher Ennis, on the path of the new route near Carland Cross.
To ensure the preservation of the native species, a team of nationally recognised environment consultants from Truro-based Spalding Associates undertook a painstaking operation to safely gather up the reptiles, before the heathland itself was cut into turfs and transferred across the road to a location close to a Site of Special Scientific Interest at Newlyn Downs.
To gather the reptiles, squares of roofing felt are placed at regular intervals. Warmer than the surrounding vegetation, the felt attracts reptile species and ecologists can then hand-catch any reptiles sheltering underneath, before relocating them.
The SSSI offers an excellent habitat for the reptiles to thrive. With permission from Natural England, two reptile ‘houses’ have been built within the SSSI, making the Newlyn Downs habitat even better for reptiles, and ecologists are already seeing success, with the slow worms, lizards and snakes now settling nicely into their new home.
The new habitat has been successfully completed in time for winter when reptiles’ activity slows and the various species are making good use of the specially created reptile hibernacula.
Following the reptile removal, and following Spalding Associates’ guidance and methodology, species-rich areas of heathland have been excavated and translocated across the road to a new area north of Carland Cross.
The heathland contains precious flora species, including ling heather, dwarf gorse, and bristle bent grass that provide a vital habitat for invertebrates and ground nesting birds, such as the meadow pipit to bees, and its preservation will maintain biodiversity in the area for many years to come.
Around 370 species of invertebrate were recorded within the heathland, among them seven nationally scarce species, such as the leaf and rove beetles, theridiid spider, leaf weevil, dolichopodid fly and leafhopper.
Matt Palmer, Ecological Clerk of Works for Costain, said: “We’re undertaking an enormous amount of ecological and environmental work ahead of and during construction and local specialists Cornwall Environmental Consultants and Spalding Associates have been hugely helpful in achieving this.
“We’ve been particularly diligent with the reptile translocation – from one side of the A30 to the other – and it’s really pleasing to see that the creatures have settled into their homes in time for winter and the colder weather.
“The work will maintain populations of protected species in the area and help to enhance biodiversity once the construction work is completed.”
Nick Simmonds-Screech, National Highways’ Project Director for the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross scheme, said: “We’re really proud of the work we’re undertaking to protect the ecology and environment in the area, and the reptile relocation work is a glowing example of this.
“The design of the road has been carried out in the most sympathetic way for both local people, the travelling public, wildlife and the environment, and we’re currently forecasting a net gain of around 20% in biodiversity as part of the work we’re doing on the scheme.”
Extensive ecological surveys identified otter, badger and bat habitats to the north and south of the new route, and a total of 29 multi-species crossing points, including culverts fitted with otter ledges, and a ‘green bridge’ at Marazanvose, are being constructed to maintain and improve habitat connectivity across the new road.
As construction progresses, the beams for the green bridge – the seventh of its kind in the country – have already been lifted into place by a 350-tonne crane.
As part of the major road upgrade, nearly eight miles of Cornish hedging is also being constructed from locally quarried stone, which will ultimately provide further wildlife habitats.
The scheme will also see over 28 miles of new drainage to protect the local area and water courses, new filtration ponds, native tree planting, the construction of earth barriers and sound-absorbing fencing.
The £330 million upgrade is scheduled to be open to traffic in winter 2023 and further information on environmental mitigation and other details are available at National Highways’ A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross web page.
The cost of developing the scheme is being partly funded by an £8 million contribution from the European Regional Development Fund, with an additional £12 million for the construction phase. The remainder of the cost of developing and delivering the scheme is being funded by central Government.
Notes to Editors
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