A woman holds two children close as they stand on the front of a canal boat, smiling.

Our impact: transforming places, enriching lives

Our impact report highlights the work we’ve done in 2023-24 to protect and enhance the canal network for the benefit of current and future generations.

We're bringing to life stories that show how people enjoy our canals and rivers. It showcases how we use our network to bring communities together and provide blue and green spaces.

What is our impact?

Our canals and rivers have the power to make a difference.

million

regularly use our network annually

6.1

billion

social value

2000

miles

of blue-green space

Read the full report

Find out about the impact of the work we’re doing to protect and enhance the canal network

Place & prosperity

Our canals are living, working heritage like no other, connecting us to our past and inspiring our future. Just as our canal network helped to spur innovation and growth over 200 years ago, it can be part of the solution today.

We're building sustainable communities, making environmental improvements, and insuring accessible and inclusive canals. Our network provides tourism, spaces for sustainable urban waterside living and businesses, and host telecommunications and utilities across the country.

A man on his bike smiles as he cycles past two children sitting by the canal. A boat leaves the lock in the background.

Supporting sustainable growth, boating and living

Find out about how we're providing opportunities for waterside development and regeneration, while supporting tourism

Nature & biodiversity

Our canals provide vital habitats and corridors for nature to thrive, connecting green and blue spaces, from cities and towns to the open countryside. Our unique interconnected network of hedgerows, waterways and canal banks provides a home for nature like no other.

From fighting plastic pollution and creating homes for water voles to ensuring our canals are open to provide everyone with access to blue-green spaces, find out our impact on nature and biodiversity.

A heron stands tall in long grass on the canal bank.

Providing vital habitats and corridors for nature

Find out how we're securing our future and protecting UK wildlife

Health & wellbeing

Ten million people walk, cycle, paddle, boat along and enjoy our green and blue spaces. We’re improving health outcomes and tackling health inequalities.

Our work helps people to discover the benefits of their local canal or river with projects like Swim Sista Swim helping build confidence near water and programmes to encourage connection with nature.

Two runners smile as they job along the towpath, with the Birmingham cityscape behind them.

Impacting health & wellbeing

Find out more about people who are using our network of canals and river navigations have improved physical health

Resilience & security

Whether it’s ensuring a sustainable supply of drinking water in water-shortage areas or housing hundreds of miles of cables connecting homes and businesses, our canals and towpaths are a critical and interconnected part of the nation’s infrastructure.

Our ageing canal network is increasingly under immense strain due to the impact of severe weather events. But we're working hard to protect these historic assets and precious wildlife habitats. We're also looking to the future, identifying opportunities to help solve the problems our nation faces, like flood defence, water security and urban cooling.