In June, our ecologists received a prestigious Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) award for a groundbreaking conservation initiative in the West Midlands.
Canal & River Trust ecologists Laura, Emily & Chloe are presented with a CIEEM award
The initiative claimed CIEEM’s NGO Impact Award in recognition of our outstanding contribution in the field of ecology and environmental management.
The scale of the Unlocking Biodiversity project was huge, encompassing more than 230 miles of canals across the West Midlands. It is helping to transform waterways and reservoirs across the region, restoring reedbeds, hedgerows and grasslands, and knitting together fragmented wildlife habitats.
“We’re honoured to receive the award,” says project manager, Laura Connor. “It’s a testament to the hard work of our teams, partners and volunteers who’ve come together to enhance these vital green and blue spaces for nature and communities alike.”
Our Unlocking Diversity project has been about re-imagining what our navigable waterways can offer as thriving ecological lifelines, preserving and restoring habitats through conservation and restoration works. As with our wider network, West Midlands’ waterways are home to a plethora of wildlife, offering safe havens for an array of mammals, birds, fish and insects. With their unique linear structure, our canals provide natural corridors that connect towns, villages and countryside, allowing animals to forage, shelter and move freely through the landscape.
Sadly, with global warming and changes in land usage, these crucial thoroughfares are shrinking, putting some species at risk.
The initiative improved 85 hectares of reedbeds, 134 hectares of grassland, 33 hectares of water margins, 66 hectares of heathland and 54 hectares of hedgerow across the region.
Reedbeds act as natural filters, trapping sediments and boosting overall water quality. However, since 1945, over 40% of these vital habitats have been lost, we’re aiming to redress the balance.
Reedbeds are at the heart of unlocking biodiversity in the West Midlands
With the help of local volunteer groups, we’ve been planting seedlings in prime spots on the canals, as well as installing coir rolls (cylindrical rolls made from natural, sustainable material) along hard concrete banks, where plants are unable to grow.
We’ve also enhanced hedgerows and grasslands along the canal bank to increase numbers of butterflies and expanded existing heathland habitats to protect a range of reptiles, mammals and pollinators.
We made 373km of enhancements to canals and reservoirs throughout the West Midlands, exceeding our target by over 10%, improving water quality and wildlife habitats and supporting vulnerable species, such as the water vole, Britain’s fastest declining mammal.
None of this would have been possible without the incredible support by Seven Trent as part of the Big Green Nature Boost programme. Together, with the skills and expertise of our resident ecologists, we can achieve real, tangible results and make a positive, lasting impression on our environment.
“The biodiversity gains we’re seeing, from increased sightings of animals and insects along our canals, is already really encouraging,” Laura states.
The project in the West Midlands is one of many conservation efforts taking place across our network. Despite being manmade, our canals and rivers play a critical role in supporting our ecosystem. At a time when biodiversity is under real threat here in the UK, our waterways provide important habitats for a diverse number of plant and animal species, from wildflowers and reedbeds to water voles and bats.
But it’s a constant battle. Climate change, pollution and human encroachment are all taking a heavy toll on our 250-year-old network. With your help and support by donating to our recent appeal we can continue to deliver projects like this to help nature recover, and protect the rare and wonderful plants and animals that call them home, along our canals all across the country.
