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Working with the Woodland Trust


British Waterways has recently joined forces with a variety of conservation organisations to create 'partnerships for biodiversity', which help us to manage our canals and rivers more effectively, create a richer and more diverse visitor experience, and promote BW and the waterway environment we support.

One such partnership is with the Woodland Trust (WT) where we are working together to map all of the ancient trees alongside or adjacent to our waterways. This project is part of the WT’s Ancient Tree Hunt (ATH), which it has run since 2004. The ATH aims to preserve our natural heritage and boasts a comprehensive database of over 25,000 ancient trees across the UK at www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk

We often talk about our 200-year-old historic network of canals, but how many of us spare a thought for the ancient trees that are just as much a part of our heritage, sometimes predating the canal by several hundred years? For example, the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in Wales is home to some huge majestic oaks trees, which are some of the oldest on our network.

Over the last few months BW’s environment team have compiled a list of all of our largest and oldest trees, which has been added to the ATH database. In exchange, the WT has provided information on all of the ancient trees on, or within 50m, of our network, as well as the locations of all adjacent publicly accessible woodlands.

We have now put this information onto waterscape, allowing visitors to experience our role in the UK’s green infrastructure as well as a unique sense of history.

Other current partnerships for biodiversity include the Bat Conservation Trust, who helped us publicise this year’s Wildlife Survey, and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC).

Wildlife Survey

Every year, our Wildlife Survey collects valuable information on the wildlife living on our network. The information we gather not only helps BW, but also benefits other conservation organisations. All of our amphibian and reptile records have been added to the National Amphibian and Reptile Recordings Scheme (NARRS) run by ARC. In exchange NARRS database records have been given to us. This type of information, highlighting protected and invasive species, is invaluable to BW when planning general and major works.

Last updated: 20/09/2010