Ecoducts in Holland

goosey · #1 (**permalink**) 04-11-2007, 05:55 PM

I wasn't quite sure where to place this thread, I was going to put it in environmental issues but it didn't fit into any of the catagories.

Someone from England asked me the other day what I knew about "Green bridges" in Holland. I vaguely remebered something about them in the Hoge Veluwe National Park to aid wild life crossing busy roads. So I checked it out and found this info which shows exactly what Ecoducts are, I thought I would share it.
They are pretty impressive and that they work for what they were intended is even better.

http://www.eurosite-nature.org/IMG/p...monumenten.pdf

In Cumbria in England I have seen bridges across the motorway for farmers to get their animals from one part of their land to another when the motorway cuts through - but this isn't the same.
I have also seen ropes high above the roads for red squirrels to cross.

Are there structures similar this else where in the world to help wildlife?

paul m · #2 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007, 08:51 AM

I like that word, have not heard it before - 'ecoduct'.
Rather late in the day some authorities are realising that you need corridors of green space within towns and that these are useless unless you can allow animals across roads.

In Mile End, in eastern London, a very nice green corridor has been created along the canal. It has many components including an 'ecology area' Discover Tower Hamlets - Parks - Mile End park although, ironically, it was first conceived in 1940! Better late than never ...

Crucially, they recognised that it is bisected by some seriously busy roads and therefore created green bridges:

goosey · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007, 10:35 AM

That is excellent, seeing something like this in the middle of a city has to be good news! It seems much more remarkable than those in the country side. What a shame it took so long to come to fruition, someone was obviously environmentally friendly before it became a real issue. If it was taken up then, would it have changed the way others thought or would the architect of this, have been seen as an "odd bod"?
I like the photo, is it one you had tucked away for a rainy day?

paul m · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007, 10:51 AM

Most cities have (or had

) natural green corridors. In Manchester the Irwell, in London the Lea Valley - unfortunately much of the latter will be destroyed by the buildings for the Olympic Games .....

There are less natural corridors especially the railway lines but also, paradoxically, motorway embankments - though woe betide any animal that tries to cross the M1!

I know that I go on about this but the great thing about Sheffield is its green spaces - apart from the city centre, there is no blockage of the river valleys and we have connected green woodlands and parks. Many due to the philanthropic industrialists who bought up swathes of what were then countryside and donated them to the city delberately to stop building - you don't get businessmen like that nowadays, sadly.

Of course, I reckon that Sheffield is the 'greenest' city in Britain, probably Europe or the World. Any other contenders?

Quote:

Originally Posted by goosey

That is excellent, seeing something like this in the middle of a city has to be good news! It seems much more remarkable than those in the country side. What a shame it took so long to come to fruition, someone was obviously environmentally friendly before it became a real issue. If it was taken up then, would it have changed the way others thought or would the architect of this, have been seen as an "odd bod"?
I like the photo, is it one you had tucked away for a rainy day?

Guy F · #5 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007, 05:06 PM

I've seen pictures of these things before, they seem like an excellent idea, and could well save many animals lives

Hopefully we'll get a few more in the UK in the future.
Guy

paul m · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2007, 07:20 PM

... but I'm not sure they'd be much use for a hedgehog with vertigo.

Yes, surely they will save a few animal lives but they are also important for flightless invertebrates and even plants. As the climate changes, insects and plants will need to move northwards (or southwards if the climate starts to cool) which will be very difficult if they must cross 100km of concrete desert ... thus the need for corridors.

I do, also, have this view of small animals leaping from a bridge like this onto the top of a 97 'bus and getting a free ride to Epping Forest!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy F

I've seen pictures of these things before, they seem like an excellent idea, and could well save many animals lives

Hopefully we'll get a few more in the UK in the future.
Guy

frostfire · #7 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 09:15 PM

A new way of keeping wildlife of the roads has been being tested in Holland and has proved to be a real succes.
They have placed rotating mirrors allong certain roads in forest areas. The mirrors reflect the light of headlights and the light frightens of animals, so they don't cross the road and get hit. They have also tried using non rotating mirrors, but the rotating ones reflect the light more often and further.
Since they have been in use, the amount of accidents with larger mammals, such as deer, has been reduced to nil.

paul m · #8 (**permalink**) 24-03-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frostfire

A new way of keeping wildlife of the roads has been being tested in Holland and has proved to be a real succes.
They have placed rotating mirrors allong certain roads in forest areas. The mirrors reflect the light of headlights and the light frightens of animals, so they don't cross the road and get hit. They have also tried using non rotating mirrors, but the rotating ones reflect the light more often and further.
Since they have been in use, the amount of accidents with larger mammals, such as deer, has been reduced to nil.

Glad to hear of that - nice to have a success story.
Isn't it rather disconcerting for motorists?

Pudding4brains · #9 (**permalink**) 24-03-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul m

Isn't it rather disconcerting for motorists?

No, they're quite okay actually. I made a picture some time ago, but can't seem to find it now...

It's basically a two wires fixed together in their center as a cross with little rectangular reflecting plates (just stainless steel I think) attached at each wire end and the whole thing suspended on a wire attached at the center of the cross from a little beam/wire on the side of a old fashioned roadside reflector post.

The cross with four 'mirrors' then dangles and turns in the wind (either natural or from the bypassing traffic). The mirrors are maybe 10-15 cm apart and when lit in the dark (to me) often convey the idea of "animal eyes" - not extremely shiny or hindering in any way, and constantly "on the move". I figure it's this "cat/fox/wolf" association that may also keep wild animals at a distance??

Will try to get another picture ...
Cheers, Arp

Pudding4brains · #10 (**permalink**) 25-03-2008, 01:19 AM

Well .... I'll have to correct myself. The previous images I took were from a driving car and very unfocused and/or my hazy memory is playing weird tricks on me....

Stopped today to take a closer look and it seems it's not some wires and stainless steel reflecting surfaces after all, but mostly plastics

Oh well, here are our Dutch "Wildspiegels" - made in Germany

On the original subject: Wikipedia actually has fairly good articles about those: Ecoduct (NL), Wildlife crossing (EN) (and other languages - often including lists of places where these are constructed).