The Growth of Green Bridges, Mile End and Beyond

Originally designed to help wildlife safely cross highways and railways, Green Bridges have evolved to address not just biodiversity loss, but also to reconnect people and nature in urban settings.

Green bridges emerged as a response to the environmental damage caused by roads and railways slicing through natural habitats. Carving up landscapes can lead to accidents involving wildlife and isolate populations, threatening biodiversity. To counter this, rewilders and ecologists began developing bridges covered in greenery, designed specifically to allow animals to cross safely.

Mile End Park Green Bridge, overlooking Canary Wharf.

Early examples can be found in the Netherlands and Germany, where "ecoducts" became a model for other countries in the 1980's and 1990's. These structures feature soil, plants, and sometimes trees, creating a natural habitat on top of roads. The goal was to help wildlife, from small mammals to deer, navigate urban or highway barriers. Soon, this idea spread throughout Europe and North America, evolving into a broader tool for imagining an urban design beyond concrete.

In the UK, green bridges have become an integral part of the country’s strategy for sustainable development. National policies, like the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, highlight the need for green infrastructure to preserve ecosystems. Over the last few decades, green bridges have been built over major motorways to reconnect fragmented habitats.

For instance, the A21 green bridge at Scotney Castle, and similar projects tied to long-term transport links like HS2, the high-speed rail project. These bridges are part of a larger push to harmonise infrastructure with the environment. But one of the UK’s most striking examples of a green bridge isn’t nestled in the countryside—it’s in the heart of one of London’s busiest neighbourhoods: the Green Bridge in Mile End Park.

A green bridge over a highway with young trees growing

Another project has just begun in Kent to develop "Bison bridges". After the first wild Bison were released in a project in a nature reserve in Thornden Woods, leaders have aimed to create a network of 4 bridges specifically for this new herd. It will increase the roaming space for the bison from 50 hectares to over 200. All the while retaining important footpaths for public, allowing them to see the bison in their new homes.