If the water channel becomes choked with vegetation, the habitat quality quickly deteriorates, which isn’t good for the wildlife that lives along the canal or local people who like to stroll along the towpath. "Keeping the channel clear and allowing light to penetrate helps native and rare plants to flourish creating healthy habitats for fish, insects and small mammals.
Research shows that being by water is good for you, so having the canal teeming with life will help to make us all feel happier and healthier."
The Government recognise the very considerable benefits our canal network brings in myriad ways, such as providing greater access to the outdoors, enhancing wellbeing, bringing us closer to water, engaging with nature—those water plantains—increasing leisure and recreation, increasing regeneration and bringing value to the economy."
