In an increasingly urban environment, nature and wildlife can’t move as freely across the landscape, which is now punctuated by agriculture, cities, towns, roads and railways. These larger habitats have been broken down, meaning there is a lack of interaction between various sub-species.
The introduction of ‘nature corridors’ and ‘wildlife corridors’ is part of rewilding efforts around the UK to improve this. Here, we’ll explain what they are – and why they matter.
What is a nature corridor?
Also known as green highways, nature corridors are introduced as a means of encouraging biodiversity and offering nature the chance to re-establish in the increasingly urbanised ecosystem we live in. Nature corridors are often created by planting trees and hedges, which help create natural habitats and pathways for wildlife. The growth of green spaces is vital for species to move freely, without their path being blocked by fences, roads and buildings.
Nature corridors can be on both land and in water, helping wildlife travel between habitats. Trees and hedgerows are the most common ‘green highway’.
What is a wildlife corridor?
A wildlife corridor is a designated area that connects wildlife populations, which have previously existed but may have been separated by human activity, man-made structures or roads. It is ostensibly the same as a nature corridor, but the term is often used when the focus of the effort is to restore connections between different wildlife species.
Wildlife corridors help mitigate some of the impacts of habitat fragmentation, which is a problem facing many species today.
What is the difference between a nature corridor and a wildlife corridor?
Nature corridors and wildlife corridors are essentially the same thing – strips of habitat that connect larger, more isolated areas of land, to allow wildlife to move between them. By creating pathways between these larger areas of land, nature can thrive and make connections across broader swathes of the landscape.
Wildlife corridors tend to specifically highlight the need for animal movement across the landscape, while nature corridors have a broader focus, looking at the biodiverse ecosystems created by the introduction of these green highways.
Why are nature corridors important?
- Connections in populations and movement between habitats help maintain genetic diversity in populations. Without this, habitats continue to be siloed and the subspecies are only able to breed with others in their relatively small community – which can lead to local extinctions.
- Wildlife corridors allow animals to travel along safer routes to find nesting sites, food and water. We’ve all seen what happens when animals try to cross a fast A road.
How to create nature corridors
Even on a small scale, your garden can become a wildlife or nature corridor – particularly as winter approaches and animals are looking for food and shelter.
- Make a hedgehog highway. If your neighbours are ok with it, cut a hole in the fence that will allow hedgehogs to pass through easily. Hedgehogs eat slugs, so they’ll keep your plants in check too.
- Grow climbing plants on your fences, offering shelter and food for wildlife. Ivy and honeysuckle are great climbers, and they provide routes for birds and insects to follow. They’re a good option if you’re tight on space in your garden.
- No Mow May has become a popular feature of many gardening calendars – and for good reason. Let your lawn go wild (or even just a small patch if you prefer a tidier garden), and you’ll welcome in much more wildlife. Long grasses are ideal habitats for smaller species.
- Plant shrubs and hedges in your garden. Nature corridors don’t have to be perfectly straight lines – they are just stepping stones for wildlife to pass through. Trees and shrubs offer habitat for small mammals and food sources for birds and larger mammals. Hedges are the most wildlife-friendly garden boundaries, so why not replace your fence with a hedge instead?
