With around 110 miles of canals, all dating back more than 200 years, the Black Country boasts one of the UK’s most historic waterway networks. Originally built to transport coal, iron and manufactured goods during the Industrial Revolution, the canals helped power the region’s rise as a global industrial powerhouse. Today, they serve a very different purpose, supporting leisure, wellbeing and wildlife, and providing green routes that connect people with nature and local heritage.
The works
Local volunteers and our colleagues have been maintaining the locks and their sluices, vital for the passage of boats, ensuring each is operating smoothly, including all 21 locks along the popular Wolverhampton Lock flight, and the locks on the Walsall Lock flight – a key route for boaters visiting the town centre.
At Sneyd Wharf and Birchills Junction on the Wyrley & Essington Canal, volunteer teams have filled potholes along the towpath, while access points from local roads onto the Walsall Canal have been improved, helping more people reach and enjoy their local canal.
On the Daw End Canal, around two kilometres of vegetation have been cut back to widen the towpath, which has also been resurfaced with gravel to improve access for walkers, cyclists, anglers and boaters.
Keeping our canals maintained
Henriette Breukelaar, our director for West Midlands said: “This work is all about keeping our local canals well maintained, including ensuring they are ready for the busy summer months ahead.
“By carrying out essential maintenance on locks and improving towpaths and access points, we’re helping boaters move more easily through the network while also making the canals welcoming for walkers, cyclists and local communities.
“None of this would be possible without the dedication of our teams and local volunteers, whose hard work keeps these historic waterways alive across the Black Country. We’re always looking for people who want to support their local canal, and everyone is welcome. Whatever your skills or experience, there are plenty of meaningful ways to get involved.”
