Wildlife fast facts

The local area is home to lots of different animals. When we build the new road, we’ll work really hard to keep them safe. Here are some cool facts about animals living in your area.

Brown hairstreak butterfly

The brown hairstreak is an elusive butterfly that spends most of its time either high in the tops of large ash trees (called 'master trees'), or among thick hedges. It is found at woodland edges and along hedgerows. If we discover any of their eggs where we are working, we will relocate them to unaffected hedgerows.

Fun fact!
The underwings are a distinctive bright orange, with two white lines streaked across them.

 

Barn owls

We’ve found barn owls nearby. Barn owls like roosting in barns or trees and hunt in grassy fields and woodland. We’re planting trees so they have lots of places to roost. New grassland fields will provide habitats where they can fly at night and find their food.

Fun fact!
Barn owls like to eat small mice or voles for their dinner!

Insects

There are lots of insects that live in the area. They are usually found in grassland and meadows. We’re creating new grassland with wild flowers to provide food for bees and other insects.

Fun fact!
There are around 20,000 different species of bee in the world!

Reptiles

There are snakes, slow worms and lizards living locally. They are usually found in long grass and under rocks. We’ll have to move some of these reptiles out of the way to a new home. We’re creating nice habitats with piles of stones and logs that they can hide in.

Fun fact!
The adder is the only poisonous snake in the country.

Bats

There are lots of different species of bats in the area. Their homes are called roosts and can be found in trees, caves and buildings. We’re planting new hedges and trees to help the bats find their way when they are flying at night. We’re also creating new, safe places for them to live. The bats will also have their very own tunnel under the road so they can cross it safely!

Fun fact!
Bats eat moths, mosquitoes and beetles. One bat can eat up to 3000 insects a night!

Badgers

There are badgers living in this area. They live underground and their homes are called setts. We’re building a tunnel under the road to make sure badgers can safely cross and visit the places where they like to find food.

Fun fact!
Badgers eat mainly earthworms. An adult badger might eat 200 worms a night!