Tales of the canal bank

The news that the waterways network, including locally the Oxford Canal and the Wilts and Berks Canal, has become a happy hunting ground for the kingfisher is a reminder that these canalside habitats are of much benefit to wildlife.

Walkers, boaters, cyclists on the towpath, and anglers benefit too. The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust places such importance on wildlife that it now has a volunteer wildlife and environment team director, Jenny Stratton.

Jenny took up her voluntary role a couple of years ago. The canal trust has a number of volunteer groups throughout its length, from Semington in Wiltshire, near Melksham, to its junction with the River Thames at Abingdon. Although not all the sections connect, their present state means that they can provide a collection of habitats.

"I am aiming to co-ordinate the support for wildlife with representatives from each of these groups," said Jenny. "We have long recognised that one of the advantages canals present is their wildlife. It is one of the things that many people enjoy and we want to try to take a more co-ordinated role in this respect."

The canal is no longer a throughwater. There are a number of sections where its disuse over the century or more has led to it disappearing, but the trust has the aim of a complete re-opening so that it can play what could be an important part in the economic and leisure life of this century.

This is an objective supported by the councils through which its route passes. The Vale of the White Horse District Council made a grant towards work being carried out by volunteers at Shrivenham on re-building of the Steppingstone Bridge over their section of the canal.

The year of 2006 marked an encouraging step forward for supporters when a short section of the canal feeding into the River Thames at Abingdon was opened. Jenny describes this as important in encouraging the prospect of a full re-opening.

The new 150m long channel provides sufficient space for a turning circle, and Jenny was pleased to see the number of boats that were present for the opening at Culham Reach.

Another benefit was a reawakening of local interest and the relaunch of the Abingdon group of volunteers. Other local branches are the East Vale, which has carried out much work on the section that runs through Grove, from East and West Challow, and Childrey, and the West Vale, whose work through Longcot and Shrivenham to the Oxfordshire-Wiltshire boundary has included the re-building of Steppingstone Bridge.

Jenny lives at Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, but she has opportunities to observe the wildlife all along the canal, and often on the West Vale section.

Although not actually seen on this section, in the canal further west there are water voles. Indications, such as discarded fish bones, suggest that there may be otters and there are definitely great-crested newts. Jenny also hopes to be able to come across native species of crayfish.

She frequently encounters herons. "I have walked along the towpath and they have them taken off in front of me," she said.

The canal is an ideal site for the great-crested newts. "Soggy ditches are a favourite habitat for them," said Jenny.

If any work is needed to be carried out on the canal, experts are called in to move the newts, a protected species, to a nearby habitat.

Legislation increasingly plays a part in the volunteers' work.

"Whereas in the past we would have needed a survey at the beginning of any work, now with more legislation, we have to continue to carry out monitoring as the work progresses," said Jenny.

As well as protecting existing habitats, the trust seeks to create new ones. This includes the maintenance of backwaters and more sheltered spots. Most of the banks are natural, with just a few sections of concrete edging. In others they have been strengthened with netting of coconut fibre coir to prevent erosion and to enable plantlife to become established.

"It is good to leave these areas which provide places in which to burrow, for natural cover, and food among the water weed for the water voles," said Jenny.

"The ultimate need is for the fully flowing water that a restored canal would bring - wildlife needs a supply of clear, moving water. Meanwhile, I want to increase awareness of wildlife and their young - to give animals and other species a chance."

As a district councillor in Wiltshire for more than ten years, Jenny comes to this more recent role with an understanding of the means that are available to support her in undertaking her new challenge.

Wildlife is also important for the ecologists and environmental officers in each region of 2,200 miles of British Waterways - the Wilts and Berks Canal is part of the South West region, based in Gloucester, and the Oxford Canal of the South East region, which has its offices at Milton Keynes.

Penny Foster is an ecologist for the South-East region.

"Part of my job is to ensure that any work does not disturb the biodiversity, to make sure that protected species are not affected," said Penny.

"I keep a watching brief. All work or plans for work on the canal network have to go through the environmental and heritage teams and advisers."

Any changes are aimed at making as little loss of habitat as possible and that natural materials are not wasted.

"For example, we leave piles of logs for wildlife to inhabit if there are places where trees have had to be cut down," said Penny.

For the past few summers, British Waterways has invited the public to take part in a wildlife survey and it is from their reported sightings that the good news about the kingfisher has come to light.

"We have a good response to the surveys and children get involved as well, spotting the wildlife," added Penny.

The most observed species has been the mallard. There were also dragonflies, damselflies, grass snakes and water rats - seen by boaters in remote stretches.

"There are some things that we don't really like finding - like the terrapin," adds Penny. This is a reminder of the one time fashion for keeping the species as pets. Many were abandoned.

"Fortunately, they don't seem to be breeding," reports Penny.

As well on the waterways, work is regularly needed at locks, bridges and other structures. Here, too, wildlife could be living - and any homes there will be receive equal protection as they are another of the advantages that waterways provide. bridges can provide cosy roosts for bats.