Southall Grand Union Canal Wellbeing Way

Canalside Improvements and Wellbeing

The Southall Wellbeing Way project is nearing the end of its funded programme, although wellbeing activities will continue and you will see some improvements being completed this summer.

Canal & River Trust, Ealing Council, Peabody, and Ealing Council's Sport England National Lottery funded Let's Go Southall project are working together to transform the canal towpaths and surrounding green spaces in Southall. The improvements will provide opportunities for Southall's community and visitors to lead more active lives and boost their wellbeing, while enhancing the biodiversity and climate resilience of the area.

We launched the project in July 2022 at Havelock Road Canalside Park: watch our introductory video to see what the project is all about.

The project will integrate the canal with a chain of nearby green spaces and carry out a series of enrichments, including waterside place-making, creating new habitats for wildlife, works to the towpath to improve the surface and allow better access to the canal, play and interpretation, flood resilience, and gardening and looking after the environment to allow nature and people to thrive.

If you'd like to receive more information on how to get involved and the programme of wellbeing activities when available, please send an email with the title Southall Wellbeing Way to [email protected]

The five areas for improvements are:

• Spikes Bridge Park
• Bankside
• Southall Recreation Ground
• Havelock Road Canalside Park
• Glade Lane Canalside Park and Norwood Top Lock

We are delighted to have been allocated a grant of £700,000 from the Mayor's Green and Resilient Spaces Fund to support the delivery of the project between 2022 and 2024.

Improvements update:

Improvement work is being carried out by Canal & River Trust and Ealing Council at the various locations through 2023 and 24:

• Trimming of vegetation along the towpath and at Glade Lane lock-keeper's cottage – completed February 2023
• Towpath surface and access improvements between Norwood Road and Norwood Top Lock (Glade Lane) - complete June 2023.
• Bankside towpath tree removal, hedge and wildflower planting: tree removal and hedge planting completed; shrub and wildflower planting from September 2024.
• Southall Recreation Ground tree trimming, tree and wildflower bulb planting - complete April 2024
• Williams Road hedge and trees - planted April 2024
• Floating habitat at Burket Close - installed December 2023
• Havelock Canalside Park - complete May 2024
• Norwood Top Lock - underway 2024
• Glade Lane Wetland habitat creation and community canalside garden – underway 2023
• Spikes Bridge Park – underway 2023

For more detail, please see our Achievements and progress page. Improvements will be completed during 2024. Check back here for updates.

Get involved

The project has been co-designed by members of the Southall community through a series of workshops, shaping the plans for the Wellbeing Way.

Find out how to get involved in the project, participate in active volunteering in the creation and nurturing of these special spaces and take part in a programme of wellbeing activities.

We are recruiting for a Lead Volunteer!

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Trust’s team supporting our community volunteers and delivering community events in Southall to look after the Southall Wellbeing Way Project.

We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate individuals to help facilitate the activities at the new Lockkeeper’s Cottage Community Garden next to Norwood Bottom Lock (Glade Lane Canalside Park), and look after project installations, planting and habitats. Learn new skills, deliver safe and impactful volunteer days, bring a fun and positive attitude, and enjoy the satisfaction of seeing these activities come to life.

If you are interested in this hands-on outdoor opportunity and would like to learn more about what it means to be a Lead Volunteer, there is more information on our opportunities page.

Yes - I would like to be kept up to date/I have a question

If you would like to get involved, would like to be kept up to date with progress, or have any questions, please send an email with the title Southall Wellbeing Way to [email protected]

This is where it started

Thank you to everyone who completed the feasibility study survey online and attended sessions in early 2021 to give us your views and suggestions on how we can improve the canal-side in Southall.

How can we create more special canal places in Southall?

We are developing opportunities and innovative ways to:

• Create attractive and inviting spaces on and around the canal
• Link the canal from nearby areas, parks and green spaces
• Improve the environment for wildlife and people
• Provide opportunities to enjoy the canal and connect with the water and nature
• Provide opportunities to connect with others and enjoy family time outdoors
• Provide nice places to wander, dwell, exercise
• Link community culture and the canal

What happens next?

Together with the Southall community we are delivering the proposed enhancements and wellbeing activity programme. Improvements will happen between 2022 and 2024 to make better canal-side places for everyone in Southall:

• 2021 – online survey and community sessions undertaken and feasibility summary report produced
• March 2022 – project funding secured
• Autumn 2022 to Spring 2023 - community design workshops and online survey with local residents and stakeholders to develop the ideas into designs
• 2022 to 2024 - improvements to the parks and green spaces along the Wellbeing Way, improvements to the towpath between Norwood Top Lock and Norwood Road
• 2022 to 2024 and beyond – programme of wellbeing activities along the Wellbeing Way.

If you would like to get involved in helping to make the project happen or simply to find out more, get in touch via the links above and do check back regularly for updates to this webpage.