What’s going on here?
The UK’s canals may look like the relic of a bygone industrial age, now mainly used by leisure boaters. But they can also help to protect wildlife and keep cities cool on hot summer days. The Canal & River Trust has published a report which maps the ecological footprint of its 2,000 miles of waterways for the first time.
What does this mean?
Canals and rivers can help prevent nature loss. They form the UK’s longest continuous network of fresh water, providing habitats and a vital corridor for wildlife to travel between lakes and rivers. These ‘nature highways’ connect 304 conservation areas and a wide variety of habitats.
They may also play a role in cooling urban areas during heatwaves. The Canal & River Trust’s data shows that during the 2022 heatwaves, canals reduced the air temperature around them by an average of 2°C across three different cities.
Why should we care?
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, where one in six species is at risk of being lost for good. Birds are particularly vulnerable, according to the landmark State of Nature report in 2023. Protecting canals could help to reverse this biodiversity loss by linking up other protected areas of important habitats.
People need canals too. Access to nature can improve mental wellbeing, but access to nature is not equal. Nine million people live within 15 minutes’ walk from their nearest canal, making them vital respites for urban areas that might not have much green space. Visiting canals and rivers can improve mental wellbeing by even more than visiting green spaces.
But the canals are themselves at risk, with storm damage taking its toll on an ageing network of bridges, locks and tunnels. Just last week, flood waters damaged an elevated section of a canal in Cheshire and caused it to collapse. The network is over 200 years old in places, and needs constant investment and maintenance.
Be curious
🛶 Find out how to volunteer with Canal & River Trust to help protect the canals
🦢 Check out the wildlife you might encounter along the waterways
🌍 From the Curious archives: read more about unequal access to nature
