‘HEDGEHOG highways’ and ‘bee hotels’ are being designed into a new housing estate in Cannington.

They are among several initiatives to increase biodiversity on the 73-home Grange Meadows development, which is being built by Crest Nicholson.

Other measures include bird and bat boxes, hedgerow and tree planting, and the use of lighting designed to minimise disturbance to bats and other wildlife.

The ‘highways’ allow hedgehogs and other wildlife to roam freely at night, keeping them safe by avoiding roads, while the insect hotels provide a haven for bees to rest and lay their eggs.

Crest Nicholson regional sales director Clare Brimble said: “We pride ourselves in building communities at Crest Nicholson, and that includes looking after the wildlife in and around our developments.

“Bee hotels, hedgehog highways, and other features such as bat boxes all play a part in providing a refuge and safe corridors for animals, helping us make a positive impact on the environments in which our residents live.

“We hope the initiatives give residents the chance to grow an even greater appreciation for the wildlife on their doorstep.”

Paul Lynch, managing director of Elmtree Garden Contractors, Bristol, which designed the bee hotels, said: “We are delighted to support Crest Nicholson in the creation of the bee hotels at Grange Meadows.

“With hedgehog and bee populations in rapid national decline, measures like this will aid their recovery.

“The bee hotels, fixed to the top of a post, attract solitary bees which fly past with their pollen. The hotels provide them with a space they can make a nest and lay their eggs.

“Not only are the bees happier as a result, but they benefit our biodiversity and ecosystems through the pollination of plants.

“We also plant high-pollen plants such as lavender, which provide bees with the nutrients they need to feed themselves and their young and a resting place.

“This in turn helps make the garden more attractive to our little friends.”