Digging around for clean canals

Paul Fox, project manager said: “We used a floating dredger carrying a three-tonne excavator to dig up and remove the silt which had built-up. The silt can either be placed on the canal bankside or transported to agricultural fields and spread thinly on the land as it does have nutritional qualities but we prefer to store silt on the bankside to avoid transport journeys where possible.”

The trust manages over 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers including the

Stratford-upon-Avon Canal – to give it its full title – which was built between 1793 and 1816 and was first used in 1800. Like many other canal routes it became less well used as a form of transportation with the advent of the railways. It eventually closed in 1939 before being restored in 1964 and now boasts 54 locks.

The recent project at Wilmcote will help wildlife and flora and fauna thrive as it makes canals cleaner and safer but the dredging operation has to be handled carefully.

“We use the same team of dredger operators. They are very skilful and can feel through their fingers on the controls if they’ve hit something on the bed of the canal. The canal bed is clay lined so the business of dredging has to be done with care to avoid causing a leak. We didn’t find anything sordid or interesting this time just some large coping stones which you might find on bridge parapets and would cost thousands of pounds,” Paul said.

Paul has worked at the trust for over 20 years and during that time has encountered some unusual finds in England’s canals including a safe full of forged notes, firearms and ammunition. These more curious items turn up closer to large urban areas like Birmingham and London and the most common item found is shopping trolleys.

Canals and rivers are unfortunately subject to fly-tipping as happens on land and roadside areas. It costs money to clear up and means valuable resources are being drained to deal with an anti-social and illegal activity when those resources could be used to help maintain Britain’s waterways.

A statement from Canal and River Trust reads:

“Sadly, our canals and towpaths are not immune to the problem of fly-tipping and plastic waste.

Each year, an estimated 14 million pieces of plastic rubbish end up in and around our canals and rivers, with around 500,000 pieces flowing out into our oceans. We spend around £1million a year keeping our canals and rivers litter and plastic free.

Litter can be dangerous for both people and animals, so we urgently need to keep up the fight against plastic and rubbish. These precious habitats, home to many species of wonderful wildlife, are at risk of permanent harm from litter pollution.

All kinds of litter is sadly fly-tipped along canals. We’ve found everything from household waste, clothes, mattresses, a canal lock full of safes, cars, and motorcycles. It’s sad to see that some people think this is acceptable behaviour and use our canals as their personal bin.

Thankfully, we work with volunteers and local businesses to keep our canals looking clean and tidy for the thousands of people who visit each year.”

Paul said: “While the Wilmcote dredging is now complete for the time being, the Canal and River Trust always welcomes more volunteers. The work is very rewarding and it’s outdoors. You get to be in countryside and you also meet lots of nice people on the tow path.”

For more information about the Canal and River Trust and volunteering opportunities,

visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk