Wildlife along the Rochdale Canal

Feeding ducks at Potato Wharf

The Rochdale Canal has exceptional wildlife value. Much of its western section is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and it may even earn the European title of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

The main reason for this is the extensive colonies of Luronium natans - otherwise known as floating water-plantain. The canal has possibly the best population of this legally-protected plant in Britain, estimated to be in excess of 20,000 individual plants.

There are also nine different species of pondweed in the canal, a balanced community which reflects the quality of water. The canal also contains the nationally scarce fringed water-lily Nymphoides peltata and water soldier Stratiotes aloides; an extensive population of the introduced national rarity American pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus; and significant stands of water violet Hottonia palustris in Greater Manchester.

The towpath, cuttings and embankments are home for many mammal species. Some, like wood mice and bank voles live in the hedgerow. Water voles live in the waterside margin. Larger animals, like badgers and foxes, burrow into the embankment slopes. Canalside buildings, bridges and tunnels provide roosting sites for bats. Amphibians and reptiles can also be found - these include grass-snakes as well as frogs, toads and newts. Beneath the water the dominant animals are the fish. Large numbers of small roach, bream and gudgeon dominate, though there are many other species, including the predatory pike. Crayfish are also present in some of our canals, including the nationally important white-clawed crayfish.

The variety of canal habitats means that many different birds live along canals. In the hedgerow and along the towpath there will be sparrows, finches, wrens, thrushes and warblers. At the water's edge there may be herons or kingfishers stalking fish, whilst in the open channel there will be waterbirds such as mute swans, moorhens and coots. They can often be seen with their young.

Scores of different invertebrates live amongst the towpath grasses and flowers. Many are hidden in the undergrowth but some such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies are easy to spot. Butterfles include the distinctive gatekeeper, so-called because it patrols up and down the hedgerow.

Insects that spend their larval stages underwater often spend their adult life flying amongst the flowers of the towpath. These include the mayflies, caddisflies and alderflies as well as the larger and more familiar damselflies and dragonflies. In the water itself there is a different world of aquatic larvae, beetles and bugs. The waterbugs are particularly fond of common species include the water boatmen, water scorpions and pond skaters.

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