Wildlife
Wildlife of the Cotswold Canals
The Cotswold Canals, comprising the remnant and partially restored Thames & Severn Canal from Lechlade to the Sapperton Tunnel and through the Golden Valley, and the Stroudwater Navigation from Stroud to the River Severn, form a blue-green corridor that supports a wide variety of plants and animals. This corridor offers an ideal environment for species that thrive in or near water. The condition of this natural environment varies, influenced by the level of restoration work, the degree of dereliction, and the extent to which sections of the canal are connected to active water.
This varied habitat includes open water, reedbeds, bankside vegetation, spring and summer wildflowers, and woodlands, alongside shrubs and hedgerows. These habitats are vital for a diverse range of species, contributing to the overall biological diversity of the area. The canals also serve an important role as corridors for wildlife migration and breeding.
The Trust’s Role in Enhancing Biodiversity and the Cotswold Canals Biodiversity Policy
The Cotswold Canals Trust is dedicated to balancing canal restoration with biodiversity conservation. Through its Biodiversity Policy, the Trust aims to create a thriving wildlife corridor along the canals, enhancing habitats like meadows, reedbeds, and hedgerows. This corridor will support a wide range of species by improving access to essential breeding and nesting sites, while removing barriers to wildlife movement.
The Trust also encourages collaboration with landowners to achieve shared biodiversity goals. By focusing on both navigation and conservation, the Trust ensures the canal restoration provides ecological, recreational, and historical benefits for the community.
Key objectives of the policy include:
Complying with wildlife protection laws and best practices in wildlife management.
Managing the towpath to balance public access with ecological needs.
Minimising disturbance to wildlife and creating new habitats to offset canal restoration impacts.
Enhancing the canal environment with features that support wildlife, including pollinators and aquatic species.
The Cotswold Canals Connected Project
The Cotswold Canals Connected project goes beyond restoring the canals for navigation. It aims to reconnect wildlife from the Cotswold Escarpment to the Severn Vale floodplain. Fragmentation of habitats due to barriers like roads, railways, and weirs has been detrimental to species in the area. By removing these obstacles, the project will improve access to crucial spawning, breeding, and nesting sites, which are essential for the survival and health of wildlife populations.
The objective is to recreate a mosaic of habitats that were once abundant in the Severn Vale, including lowland meadows, ponds, reedbeds, hedgerows, and orchards.
Towpath Management and Conservation Efforts
Managing the towpath is a critical aspect of this policy. The goal is to maintain the towpath as an accessible route for recreation, while ensuring that the biodiversity of the canal corridor is not compromised. This involves managing marginal vegetation to protect wildlife habitats while maintaining clear access for canal users.
The biodiversity policy ensures that both wildlife protection and public access are prioritised in restoration work. With guidance for volunteers and workgroups, the management plan will help achieve these dual goals—restoring the canals while enhancing the surrounding natural environment.
Did you know?
We have a volunteering team dedicated to wildlife monitoring and environment conservation. Find out more on our volunteering page.