Canal network’s ‘ecological footprint’ mapping shows its value for nature

[Alan de Enfield]

 

 

Historic canals provide “vital” corridors of waterways, hedgerows and habitats for wildlife to move through the landscape, the charity which cares for them has said.

The Canal & River Trust, which is responsible for 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, has mapped the “ecological footprint” of its canal network for the first time to show how it can support the UK’s struggling wildlife.

 

But the charity also warns the ageing canal network is at risk from the impacts of climate change such as weather extremes, as well as pollution and invasive species, and investment is needed to make them resilient for the future.

The assessment shows that, alongside the homes for wildlife provided by the waterways themselves, nearly 6,000 hectares (14,600 acres) of habitats are found along the canals, connecting urban settings with woodlands and forests, lakes, grasslands, and smaller areas of heathland and cropland.

 

There are 1,421 kilometres (882 miles) of hedges and hedgerows with trees alongside canals, more than half of which are rich in native species.

A report from the charity on the impact England and Wales’ network of canals and rivers has on people, nature and places also highlights that the waterways include 304 conservation areas and 68 protected areas known as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

 

The Canal & River Trust said the corridors of habitat provided by the waterways provide food and water sources and “nature highways” that allow species to move safely through a fragmented and increasingly pressured landscape.

The centuries-old canals also provide local access to nature and green space for millions of people, with nine million people living within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the network, the charity said.

The impact report highlights work to help nature and communities, including creating the world’s longest community orchard along 50 miles of West Midland canals and creating homes for threatened water voles by adding coir rolls to make soft banks along waterways they can burrow and forage in.

Canals can also provide urban cooling, reducing the temperature in the areas surrounding them in cities by an average of 1C, and in the record heatwaves of 2022 by 2C, research shows.

 

And they can transport water from wetter areas to drier parts of the country, key for coping with a hotter, drier future as the climate changes, the charity said.

Richard Parry, chief executive of Canal & River Trust, said the network had been adapted “almost unconsciously” over the past 250 years from infrastructure built for the movement of goods and trade and as a driver of the industrial revolution to something for nature and local green space.

“It has, sometimes through neglect and sometimes through deliberate repurposing, become this amazing nature network, available for leisure on the doorstep of so many millions of people, very often in some of the most deprived areas, both economically and in terms of health and green space.

 

“Suddenly we find ourselves gifted this remarkable network that is available for people, and creates this environment for nature, where people can be close to it,” he said.

But the network is facing the increasing pressures of extreme weather, which brought 12 storms during 2023/2024 alone causing £10 million of impacts across the country, while droughts put growing pressure on the canals’ water supplies.

 

The Canal & River Trust, which was formed as a charity from a state body in 2012, faces shrinking government grants while needing to spend more on making its waterways fit for the future, putting an increasing focus on public support, charitable partnerships and donations.

Mr Parry said the canals could not be taken for granted, and were “not going to go away”.

“Our choice is either invest enough in them to keep them in a good condition, where they can support nature, they can be a benefit to communities, to keep our access to an attractive environment that enhances wellbeing as well as nature.

 

“Or we can let them deteriorate and they’ll still be there, as far less attractive places that have a negative impact on places they run through and potentially become more of a public safety risk over time,” he warned.

He said it was important to value the canals and invest enough to make them resilient and able to function as part of the solution to the problems facing urban and rural areas in the 21st century.

[Gybe Ho]

Only 882 miles of hedgerow? Counting both bank sides (4000 miles), that is only 22% of the network with a hedge on either side. Those seeking a clear view of the sun during winter for their solar panels claim shade from foliage is the dominant problem.

[frangar]

Shouldn’t this be in the waterway news section together with a reference for the source?? Or do we just cut and paste now to up our post count for some reason? 

[kris88]

Pity they have a contract with butchers to look after it all. I don’t know how they dare claim to be in anyway nature aware or conscious. I’ve seen their contractors murder hedgerows all over the country. Also this new technique I saw last year, of dealing with the weed. Just collect it together and just let it rot on the side of the towpath. Where ever you can pile it up. It smelt disgusting whilst rotting away as is natural. Also their policy of removing bins and elsan points is having a direct impact on the environment. He’s got some brass neck parry. 
This is absolutely the funniest bit. Suddenly we find ourselves gifted this remarkable network that is available for people, and creates this environment for nature, where people can be close to it,” he said. Suddenly??!!

Edited January 6 by kris88

[Alan de Enfield]

27 minutes ago, frangar said:

for the source

The source is C&RT press release picked up by 'dozens' of papers fro the Bury Times to the London standard.

 

Yes - possibly waterways news may have been a better placement (I don't think I need to worry about post count, I never have done in the past)

 

 

58 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

Only 882 miles of hedgerow? Counting both bank sides (4000 miles), that is only 22% of the network with a hedge on either side. Those seeking a clear view of the sun during winter for their solar panels claim shade from foliage is the dominant problem.

 

Where do you get 'both banks' from ?

 

Generally C&RT own only the the towpath side. T'other side belongs to the farmers etc.

Probably a shortage of hedges where it runs thru' tows and cities.

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Alan de Enfield

[Gybe Ho]

4 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Where do you get 'both banks' from ?

 

Generally C&RT own only the the towpath side. T'other side belongs to the farmers etc.

 

 

Butterflies are not capitalists, a canalside hedge is hedge.

[kris88]

7 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

Butterflies are not capitalists, a canalside hedge is hedge.

Pity crt can’t even look after it’s hedges properly. I know of places where crt have installed all night led lighting directly over hedge rows where there used to be huge amounts of nesting birds. When moored there you would here the dawn chorus, now the lights are on all night every night the birds no longer nest in that hedgerow. Birds are struggling(who ever thought sparrows would be rare?)one of the main reasons being loss of habitat? 
come on crt if your going to make these claims to try and open the purse strings of the public and gov. Make it real and back it up with correct action, otherwise it’s all hot air.

Edited January 6 by kris88

[ditchcrawler]

8 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

The source is C&RT press release picked up by 'dozens' of papers fro the Bury Times to the London standard.

 

Yes - possibly waterways news may have been a better placement (I don't think I need to worry about post count, I never have done in the past)

 

 

 

Where do you get 'both banks' from ?

 

Generally C&RT own only the the towpath side. T'other side belongs to the farmers etc.

Probably a shortage of hedges where it runs thru' tows and cities.

 

 

 

O look, shadows where the boats would be moored

[tree monkey]

8 hours ago, kris88 said:

Pity they have a contract with butchers to look after it all. I don’t know how they dare claim to be in anyway nature aware or conscious. I’ve seen their contractors murder hedgerows all over the country. Also this new technique I saw last year, of dealing with the weed. Just collect it together and just let it rot on the side of the towpath. Where ever you can pile it up. It smelt disgusting whilst rotting away as is natural. Also their policy of removing bins and elsan points is having a direct impact on the environment. He’s got some brass neck parry. 
This is absolutely the funniest bit. Suddenly we find ourselves gifted this remarkable network that is available for people, and creates this environment for nature, where people can be close to it,” he said. Suddenly??!!

How do you murder a hedgerow

[Jerra]

9 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

Only 882 miles of hedgerow? Counting both bank sides (4000 miles), that is only 22% of the network with a hedge on either side. Those seeking a clear view of the sun during winter for their solar panels claim shade from foliage is the dominant problem.

I suspect they only included the side they own.

[Jim Riley]

Walked by the Rochdale near Callis Mill, Hebden Bridge, cowslips growing on the verge, then the strimmer team came by... No more cowslips. 

[Jerra]

8 hours ago, kris88 said:

Pity they have a contract with butchers to look after it all. I don’t know how they dare claim to be in anyway nature aware or conscious. I’ve seen their contractors murder hedgerows all over the country. Also this new technique I saw last year, of dealing with the weed. Just collect it together and just let it rot on the side of the towpath. Where ever you can pile it up. It smelt disgusting whilst rotting away as is natural. Also their policy of removing bins and elsan points is having a direct impact on the environment. He’s got some brass neck parry. 
This is absolutely the funniest bit. Suddenly we find ourselves gifted this remarkable network that is available for people, and creates this environment for nature, where people can be close to it,” he said. Suddenly??!!

From a wildlife point of view almost all hedges round fields etc are "murdered".   The art of laying a hedge has virtually disappeared.

19 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

How do you murder a hedgerow

BY trimming them to hard and allowing the bases of the bushes becoming thick and trunk like.  A good wildlife hedge is wide, high and bushy.  Heavily trimmed they soon lose value both for nesting making wildlife homes and as a shelter food source.  A good hedge slows down the wind for around 12 times its height.

[tree monkey]

4 minutes ago, Jerra said:

From a wildlife point of view almost all hedges round fields etc are "murdered".   The art of laying a hedge has virtually disappeared.

BY trimming them to hard and allowing the bases of the bushes becoming thick and trunk like.  A good wildlife hedge is wide, high and bushy.  Heavily trimmed they soon lose value both for nesting making wildlife homes and as a shelter food source.  A good hedge slows down the wind for around 12 times its height.

 

In some way I don't disagree but I suspect the issue on the towpath is maintaining path width, plus of course the landowner on the field side would just flail in the usual way.

 

I can also imagine the complaints of lack of maintenance if they let the hedge growth to a height to facilitate laying, plus of course the lack of funding for the actual laying .

 

I must admit I've never seen an over trimmed hedge, as in flailed to within an inch of its life on CRT towpath, most of the maintenance I've seen is by handheld hedge trimmer because of lack of access for a flail I imagine, I'm sure there is but I've never seen it

 

 

[kris88]

23 minutes ago, Jerra said:

From a wildlife point of view almost all hedges round fields etc are "murdered".   The art of laying a hedge has virtually disappeared.

BY trimming them to hard and allowing the bases of the bushes becoming thick and trunk like.  A good wildlife hedge is wide, high and bushy.  Heavily trimmed they soon lose value both for nesting making wildlife homes and as a shelter food source.  A good hedge slows down the wind for around 12 times its height.

Exactly. 

[Jerra]

16 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

 

In some way I don't disagree but I suspect the issue on the towpath is maintaining path width, plus of course the landowner on the field side would just flail in the usual way.

 

I can also imagine the complaints of lack of maintenance if they let the hedge growth to a height to facilitate laying, plus of course the lack of funding for the actual laying .

 

I must admit I've never seen an over trimmed hedge, as in flailed to within an inch of its life on CRT towpath, most of the maintenance I've seen is by handheld hedge trimmer because of lack of access for a flail I imagine, I'm sure there is but I've never seen it

 

 

I never mentioned flails.  There isn't IMO sufficient bushiness left on hedges which should be easier with hand trimming.

[tree monkey]

1 minute ago, Jerra said:

I never mentioned flails.  There isn't IMO sufficient bushiness left on hedges which should be easier with hand trimming.

Sorry, I always assume 'flail' when people talk about over cutting or maybe 'murdering ' hedges, my mistake. 

 

I do understand and know how to maintain hedges for wildlife and their importance, as do you obviously, I just find terms like 'murdering' a bit excessive, I've seen over flailed farm hedges, sadly really common nowadays but funny thing is I've not seen it along towpaths, where most of the CRT instigated work was small teams cutting minimal growth with hedgecutters.

 

I do think they are caught between a rock and a hard place though, maintain the path width, stop complaints and lack of funding for hedge restoration via laying.

 

23 minutes ago, kris88 said:

Exactly

 

I understand for some reason you consider me not worthy of your time, but funny thing is this is my 'thing' and was curious to understand what you meant, but such is life I'm probably better on you unworthy list for some unknown reason

 

 

[IanD]

2 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

Sorry, I always assume 'flail' when people talk about over cutting or maybe 'murdering ' hedges, my mistake. 

 

I do understand and know how to maintain hedges for wildlife and their importance, as do you obviously, I just find terms like 'murdering' a bit excessive, I've seen over flailed farm hedges, sadly really common nowadays but funny thing is I've not seen it along towpaths, where most of the CRT instigated work was small teams cutting minimal growth with hedgecutters.

 

I do think they are caught between a rock and a hard place though, maintain the path width, stop complaints and lack of funding for hedge restoration via laying.

 

I understand for some reason you consider me not worthy of your time, but funny thing is this is my 'thing' and was curious to understand what you meant, but such is life I'm probably better on you unworthy list for some unknown reason

 

 

The problem with hedge laying is it's a luxury which needs more skill and a lot more time and effort (=money) than using a hedgetrimmer, none of which CART have a surplus of... 😞 

[tree monkey]

10 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

The problem with hedge laying is it's a luxury which needs more skill and a lot more time and effort (=money) than using a hedgetrimmer, none of which CART have a surplus of... 😞 

Yup, I do understand that

[IanD]

6 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

Yup, I do understand that

Given your background I'm sure that you do, but some people berating CART for not doing it don't seem to... 😉 

Edited January 6 by IanD

[Jerra]

16 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

The problem with hedge laying is it's a luxury which needs more skill and a lot more time and effort (=money) than using a hedgetrimmer, none of which CART have a surplus of... 😞 

I was talking in terms of hedges in general not just CRT.  However I have friends who are dry stone wallers who are all over the country walling just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I am sure that if CRT or some other body trained volunteers in laying they would get volunteers working where needed.

[tree monkey]

3 minutes ago, Jerra said:

I was talking in terms of hedges in general not just CRT.  However I have friends who are dry stone wallers who are all over the country walling just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I am sure that if CRT or some other body trained volunteers in laying they would get volunteers working where needed.

 

I've done a bit of both and would choose walling over hedge laying everytime, I've had too many blackthorn sticks and dogrose scratches 

 

[IanD]

6 minutes ago, Jerra said:

I was talking in terms of hedges in general not just CRT.  However I have friends who are dry stone wallers who are all over the country walling just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  I am sure that if CRT or some other body trained volunteers in laying they would get volunteers working where needed.

I'm also sure that allowing/encouraging volunteers to use sharp hedgelaying tools doing work for CART would have nasty insurance/H&S implications, just like volunteer woodchopping or chainsawing would... 😞 

 

The reason hedgelaying is a dying art and flail cutting/hedgetrimming isn't is that it's really slow and labour-intensive in comparison -- it's a lovely relic of times past and for competitions at countryside shows, but simply impractical for maintaining hundreds of miles of hedges.

Edited January 6 by IanD

[kris88]

32 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

The problem with hedge laying is it's a luxury which needs more skill and a lot more time and effort (=money) than using a hedgetrimmer, none of which CART have a surplus of... 😞 

So no one but you can comment about trees or hedges then? I know what I’ve seen crts contractors do to hedges thanks. 
ps there’s no obligation to answers anyones questions, you don’t want to on the internet. 
 

[Gybe Ho]

11 hours ago, Gybe Ho said:

Deleted

 

 

Edited January 6 by Gybe Ho

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Jerra said:

 

 .  A good wildlife hedge is wide, high and bushy.   

Sounds like most of the ones I have seen this week, some of them its like walking through an open sided tunnel if you walk along the towpath

1 hour ago, IanD said:

I'm also sure that allowing/encouraging volunteers to use sharp hedgelaying tools doing work for CART would have nasty insurance/H&S implications, just like volunteer woodchopping or chainsawing would... 😞 

 

They have done some laying on the Middlewich branch but its very slow going. Volunteers use chainsaws and chippers to cut back both towpath and offside growth. At least one is a member here.