Canal routes to become 'nature havens'

"Neglected" areas of the West Midlands canal network are being transformed into urban nature sites to boost wildlife and make the canals more attractive for local people.

More than seven miles of canals running out of Birmingham and into the Black Country and Wolverhampton are being enhanced as part of the Canal and River Trust's Wild Waterways project.

The work is funded by £100,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

It will enable new tree, shrub, wildflower and wildlife habitat areas to be planted and existing ones "significantly improved".

Locations for the improvement work include:

• A one-and-a-half mile stretch of James Brindley's 21 locks through Wolverhampton, built in 1771 to connect the Birmingham Canal with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
• The 200-year-old Walsall Lock Flight on the Walsall Canal, between Walsall basin and the Birchills Junction
• Four miles of Brindley's Birmingham Old Canal Mainline out of the city centre, up to the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital

Regular litter picking patrols will also be introduced in these areas.

The initial work will be carried out by local volunteers but community groups are also being urged to get involved to help maintain the historical routes in the years to come.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: "This funding will see key sections of our historic canals transformed into safe, nature-rich spaces for our communities and tourists to enjoy.

"They were originally built to bring trade and prosperity to the West Midlands but 300 years later we are repurposing them for our 21st Century lifestyles.

"By working with the trust we are providing new opportunities for people to get outdoors and enjoy nature, boosting personal health and wellbeing."

Julianne Joyce, community coordinator for the Canal and River Trust, said: "These are wonderful green and blue spaces – not what you'd expect from one of the most urbanised areas of the country.

"We want to encourage people to come here and get away from the traffic to enjoy the wildlife, get active and improve their wellbeing."

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