Hill and Smith Infrastructure is helping lead a long-term biodiversity and wellbeing initiative, backed by major National Highways contractors.
Biodiversity and our Roads: Do we thrive where we drive? is an online project set up on the National Geographic iNaturalist app, to discover the impact that roads have on nature.
Hill and Smith Infrastructure, which consists of Hardstaff Barriers, Varley and Gulliver, Asset VRS and Hill and Smith Barriers, set up the project six months ago for road sector employees, road construction partners and members of the public.
Since the launch, more than 1,500 individual observations and more than 550 different species have been logged as part of the project.
The scheme also has the backing of National Highways' smart motorway programme alliance (SMP Alliance) contractors. The Alliance has pledged to prevent the net loss of biodiversity through its activities.
Molly Guirdham, biodiversity lead at SMP Alliance: 'The iNaturalist app is allowing even more of our site colleagues to contribute by monitoring and recording biodiversity on a national level across our schemes. In turn, that is making a measurable contribution to our Enhanced Environments outcome and ultimately the SMP Alliance vision of making the road network safer, greener and evermore efficient.'
Kathryn Cooper, head of ESG at Hill and Smith Infrastructure, said: 'The feedback that we have received about the project has been really positive. People have really enjoyed the sense of purpose during their time outdoors.
'Consciously looking out for biodiversity has got people out of their heads and into the present moment, taking in the sights, sounds and smells around them, which is proven to contribute to mental wellbeing. It’s been great to lead improvements in mental health and wellbeing for our industry.'
From plants and fungi to animals and even microorganisms, striking images have been captured on garden cameras through the scheme, including sightings of rare insects.
As well as building up a clearer picture of the biodiversity in the UK, the initiative has also helped to boost mental and physical wellbeing by encouraging participants to go out into nature.
