Tunnel of love? Cautious adders get a helping hand in Berkshire

Britain’s first adder tunnels have been built to help the venomous reptiles cross the road, in a bid to boost their numbers after a decline in recent years.

The two trenches have a cattle grid-like grate on the top and are designed to allow sunlight in, as adders can’t generate their own body heat.

A wildlife trust in Berkshire noticed the road - which runs through Greenham and Crookham Commons, external - was stopping two different populations of the species from mating.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, external is hoping other small mammals and reptiles will make use of the new crossing too.