Habitat Action Plans

Canals are inland waterways constructed to meet the transport needs of the Industrial Revolution in the 18 and 19 centuries. At the time when canals were built, they were of a similar importance and influence to our modern day motorways. Today, many aspects of canals such as water filled channels, cuttings, embankments and bridges have an important role to play in the conservation of both biodiversity and landscapes. Many canals differ from natural watercourses because of their range of habitats, as well as their controlled levels and slow flows, although not all canals are now in use for boat traffic. The canal corridor forms a linear mosaic of habitats including woodland and scrub offsides, hedgerows, flower rich towpath verges and diverse emergent ‘reed’ fringes. The corridor helps link habitats fragmented by urbanisation and uniquely forms a wetland corridor between river catchments.