England’s canals are a vital part of our heritage. Designed to ferry goods usually to London (before cars), today they tell stories of our past, boost local economies and support wildlife. But our waterways face many threats from litter to urbanisation.
Keep dogs on leads near canals (especially near ducks) and likewise children, as banks can be steep. Don’t swim in canals, as rivers can carry disease.
There are over 2000 miles of canals across England and Wales, and nearly everyone lives within a few miles of one. And even if you don’t see them, in the quiet canals come alive with the flapping of bat and barn owl wings, the honk of Canada geese, the buzz of bees and flutter of butterfly wings. Canals are also home to endangered water voles.
Most canals were built during the Industrial Revolution, which is why you’ll find lots in the Midlands. But in fact, most people live within a few miles of a canal, reflecting how our communities once lived and worked.
More than just historic relics, today many form holiday and even living outlets via barges and narrowboats. But also the riverbanks and water support many species of plants, birds, fish and insects. From dragonflies to kingfishers, countless species now rely on these areas to survive, as other natural habitats have disappeared. Protecting our canals not only ensures ecosystems remain balanced, but helps preserve local biodiversity.
Threats to Historic Canals
Pollution is the main enemy of canals. With a hugely grown population, today waste is dumped into canals from oil to industrial runoff and from plastic bottles to cigarette butts. Without clean water, canals can’t support the plants and animals that call them home.
Left unmaintained, many canals have fallen into disrepair. Crumbling walls, blocked waterways and damaged locks can make them unusable. Maintenance is expensive. So when funding is cut, these historical gems often fall by the wayside.
As cities grow, canals sometimes pay the price. New housing projects and roads encrouch on their space, and in some cases canals are filled in (or diverted) to make way for construction. This not only erases history, but harms the planet.
Protecting Our Canals
Keeping our canals safe, starts with people who care. Communities can organise clean-up events, repair damage and advocate to protect our canals. Schools can include lessons about local waterways, to help children learn their value. When people connect with canals, they are more likely to protect them.
The main issue (like everywhere) for canals is litter. Around 14 million items of plastic waste are found each year by clean-up groups. You can volunteer to clean up local canals. Also report (by phone or email) canal litter, discarded needles and fly-tipping to Canal River Trust.
If you boat on a canal, choose unscented biodegradable cleaning/beauty/laundry brands and wash synthetic fibres in a microplastic catcher (you can buy ones to fit over a sink, for hand-washing). Ensure fenders are secured (except bow and sterm fenders), to avoid them ending up at the bottom of locks. Read tips to be a more sustainable sailor!
Local and national government can include canal protection in planning decisions. Stronger laws to prevent pollution and protect waterways from development would help. And funding is essential for repairs and regular maintenance. Decision-makers need public support, to make this a reality.
Successful restoration projects show what’s possible. Kennet and Avon Canal was once derelict, but has now been brought back to life. It’s now a bustling waterway loved by boaters and walkers. These projects show that even neglected canals can thrive again, with good effort.
Want to help? Many organisations work to protect canals, and welcome volunteers for everything from rubbish collection to repair work. Local wildlife groups often also focus on maintaining canalside habitats.
Also speak up for canals in your community. Attend town meetings and voice your concerns about projects that might harm waterways. Write to your councillor and MP, urging them to support better protection policies. Small actions add up, when more people get involved
Books that Meander Along Our Canals
- Water Ways: One Thousand Miles Along Britain’s Canals is by slow adventurer Jasper, who spent a whole year exploring these amazing feats of engineering by foot and bike and kayak, or living on a narrowboat. Today there are more boats on our canals than in their Victorian heyday, alongside a world of wildlife corridors, boating communities and remote towpaths.
- The Bookshop That Floated Away is the funny story of Sarah, who asked her bank manager for a £30K loan, to buy a narrowboat and a small hoard of books, to open a floating bookshop. The manager said no. But The Book Barge opened six months later, and soon had local happy readers, eccentric requests and the odd moorhen. Along the way she bartered books for food and cake, suffered a flooded engine, went out to sea, got banned from Bristol and (on several occasions) floated away altogether!
- The Narrowboat Guide a revised edition of the classic book for anyone who is thinking of owning and maintaining a narrowboat. From those who live aboard to fair-weather cruisers, the book is packed with case studies and advice from experienced barge boaters. Includes information on heating, lighting, hot water, solar power, mooring, the ‘boating highway code’, maintenance and legal stuff.
- Discovering London’s Canals is for city dwellers to discover their capital in a new world, away from the hustle-bustle of busy streets and towering skyscrapers. The waterways offer a tranquil paradise that’s full of wildlife, coloured narrowboats, lush greenery and an environment steeped in history. Find canal walks that take an hour or two, or go for a longer stroll.
Can We Learn Anything from Venice?
Of course, when we think of canals, Venice often comes to mind. And we know that the city does a fantastic tourist trade (gondolas are highly-trained and earn a good living). But we also hear of things like dead rats floating down the river. Which is true?
The city of Venice has 150 canals all linked by bridges, built by man around the 5th century. The water used to be clean (too salty to drink) but now is plagued by pollution and litter. But the city does spend a lot of money cleaning it, in order to bring in tourist income.
During the pandemic, the murky green water became crystal clear enough to see fish, which shows how pollution was causing issues. They city also asks tourists to use its many fountains, to dissuade tourists from buying (and ) dropping) plastic water bottles. Rubbish bins are emptied six days a week, so you won’t find them overflowing with litter.
