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| Canals have vital role to play in UK’s climate resilience, says charity | Canals have vital role to play in UK’s climate resilience, says charity |
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| Waterways can protect biodiversity, help with water security and keep cities cooler, says Canal & River Trust | Waterways can protect biodiversity, help with water security and keep cities cooler, says Canal & River Trust |
| Protecting the UK’s canals is crucial for improving the nation’s resilience to climate change, campaigners have said. | Protecting the UK’s canals is crucial for improving the nation’s resilience to climate change, campaigners have said. |
| A report by the Canal & River Trust charity found canals could play a “critical role” in biodiversity, decarbonisation and climate adaptation. | A report by the Canal & River Trust charity found canals could play a “critical role” in biodiversity, decarbonisation and climate adaptation. |
| The trust’s canal network provides the longest corridor of freshwater habitats in the UK, which are a vital home within cities for a variety of wildlife, including kingfishers, herons and the endangered water vole. Acting as a “nature highway”, canals allow species to thrive and move safely between cities and the countryside. | The trust’s canal network provides the longest corridor of freshwater habitats in the UK, which are a vital home within cities for a variety of wildlife, including kingfishers, herons and the endangered water vole. Acting as a “nature highway”, canals allow species to thrive and move safely between cities and the countryside. |
| Richard Parry, the chief executive of the trust, said canals could also help reduce the impacts of extreme weather on urban communities. During periods of heavy rainfall, for example, canals can act as drainage routes and protect nearby buildings from flooding. | Richard Parry, the chief executive of the trust, said canals could also help reduce the impacts of extreme weather on urban communities. During periods of heavy rainfall, for example, canals can act as drainage routes and protect nearby buildings from flooding. |
| “They’re such an integral part of so many of our towns and cities, having been built more than 200 years ago, their whole purpose changing so dramatically over time,” Parry said. “They are now this very highly valued local space for people to get close to nature, as well as water security and flood mitigation.” | “They’re such an integral part of so many of our towns and cities, having been built more than 200 years ago, their whole purpose changing so dramatically over time,” Parry said. “They are now this very highly valued local space for people to get close to nature, as well as water security and flood mitigation.” |
| As the UK faces an increased risk of summer droughts, canals could provide water security to densely populated areas. The trust’s canal network currently supplies drinking water to more than 5 million people each year, transferring water to parts of Cheshire via the Llangollen canal, and to Bristol through the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. | As the UK faces an increased risk of summer droughts, canals could provide water security to densely populated areas. The trust’s canal network currently supplies drinking water to more than 5 million people each year, transferring water to parts of Cheshire via the Llangollen canal, and to Bristol through the Gloucester and Sharpness canal. |
| Waterways could also help keep Britain’s cities cool, the report said. During the 2022 heatwaves, the trust found urban canals reduced surrounding temperatures by an average of 2C in Manchester, Birmingham and London. | |
| Once used to transport coal, canals are quickly becoming their own renewable energy source. A district heating network in the East Midlands is due to open in early 2025, using water from the Leeds and Liverpool canal to supply heat to more than 9,000 homes and 4m sq ft of commercial spaces. | Once used to transport coal, canals are quickly becoming their own renewable energy source. A district heating network in the East Midlands is due to open in early 2025, using water from the Leeds and Liverpool canal to supply heat to more than 9,000 homes and 4m sq ft of commercial spaces. |
| Climate breakdown brings its own challenges for the future of canals, many of which are more than 200 years old. Last week, heavy rainfall led to a breach of the 18th-century Bridgewater canal in Cheshire. In 2023, eight storms battered the canal network, causing £9m in damages. | Climate breakdown brings its own challenges for the future of canals, many of which are more than 200 years old. Last week, heavy rainfall led to a breach of the 18th-century Bridgewater canal in Cheshire. In 2023, eight storms battered the canal network, causing £9m in damages. |
| “They’re miracles of their day, the engineering skill with which they were built,” said Parry. However, the original materials used – clay, stoneware and concrete – are prone to rapid erosion during extreme weather events and frequently need maintenance. “We’ve got to make them more resilient,” Parry said. | “They’re miracles of their day, the engineering skill with which they were built,” said Parry. However, the original materials used – clay, stoneware and concrete – are prone to rapid erosion during extreme weather events and frequently need maintenance. “We’ve got to make them more resilient,” Parry said. |
| “Having got through the last 250 years, canals are adding benefit to our lives in ways that we would never have anticipated before. It’s so vital that we are able to sustain that for future generations.” | “Having got through the last 250 years, canals are adding benefit to our lives in ways that we would never have anticipated before. It’s so vital that we are able to sustain that for future generations.” |