wildlife features
Top ten places to see wildlife
From the dabble of ducklings or the splash of an otter to the electric-blue flash of the kingfisher, Britain’s waterways teem with wildlife just waiting to be discovered.
read more »Forth and Clyde Canal
Straddling Scotland from Grangemouth in the east to Bowling in the west, the Forth & Clyde Canal provides a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of Scotland’s lowland towns and cities.
read more »Glasson Branch, Lancaster Canal
Alongside an impressive variety of birdlife in the winter the Glasson Branch of the Lancaster Canal affords lovely views across Morecambe Bay to the high fells of the Lake District.
read more »Fenns, Wixall and Bettisfield Mosses
A bewitching combination of meres and mosses. Watch out for basking adders and listen for the plop of a water vole.
read more »Stoke Lock and Woods
Stoke Lock and Woods is a beautiful place to wander around and provides something different to see whatever the time of year.
read more »Galton Valley
If you’re into flowers, butterflies and dragonflies, and want a great day out, Galton Valley is well worth a visit.
read more »Fradley Pool Nature Reserve
Fradley Pool Nature Reserve lies on the junction of the Trent & Mersey and the Coventry canals. With an area of open water and two canals, Fradley Pool offers a superb day out in the countryside.
read more »Caen Hill Lock Flight
This flight of 16 successive locks is one of the most impressive on the UK’s waterways and forms part of the Devizes flight of 29 locks. Combining a diverse mosaic of habitats, it offers the perfect place to relax and enjoy the passage of boats surrounded by the tranquillity of nature.
read more »Tring Reservoirs
A patchwork of four man-made lakes – Tring Reservoirs is a fantastic place to spot wildlife, search for canal heritage, watch narrowboats or simply enjoy a stroll in lovely countryside.
read more »Wildlife
You'll find all sorts of wildlife on Britain's waterways - from common sights such as mallards and moorhens, to otters and water vole. See our wildlife guide.
read more »Badger
The Eurasian Badger, or Brock, is one of Britain's largest and best-loved wild animals.
read more »Terrapin
Originally native to the UK some 8,000 years ago, the terrapin has made a fateful return to our waterways in the aftermath of 1980s 'turtle mania'.
read more »Kingfisher
The 'King of Fishers' is usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue.
read more »Pearl mussels
The luminous pearls which attracted Julius Ceaser to Britain are now dangerously rare.
read more »Frog
Britain's most familiar amphibian will make its home almost anywhere, as long as a suitable breeding site is nearby.
read more »Mink
The American mink is now an established (though not universally celebrated) feature of Britain's waterways.
read more »Cormorant
These prehistoric-looking fisherman have become an increasingly common sight along inland lakes and waterways in the UK.
read more »Coot
Coots can be found in large numbers, along numerous waterways up and down the country.
read more »Bat
Bram Stoker has a lot to answer for! Bats have suffered a lot of bad press thanks to their fictitious association with vampires and witchcraft.
read more »Moorhen
The misleading term 'Moorhen' derives from the more appropriate 'Mirehen' or 'Marshhen' which give a more accurate picture of this bird's true habitat.
read more »Water vole
Best known as 'Ratty' from Wind in the Willows, the furry water vole is an endearing waterways character.
read more »Swan
From the grace of Swan Lake to the charm of The Ugly Duckling, the swan is a popular figure in British and European culture.
read more »Heron
Nature's most accomplished fisherman, the grey heron is known for its motionless stance at the water's edge.
read more »Mallard
Without a doubt the most abundant duck in the world, the wild mallard is as common to our local parks as the children's swings and summer ice-cream van.
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