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British Waterways’ role in biodiversity


Britain’s beautiful canals and rivers are a crucial part of UK biodiversity, so it’s essential their natural heritage is conserved for future generations to enjoy.

British Waterways (BW) cares for and maintains a 2,200 mile network of canals and navigable rivers, as well as 92 reservoirs, 73 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and over 1,000 wildlife conservation sites in England, Scotland and Wales. These range from the highland canals and reservoirs in Scotland to the lowland valleys of Wales and southern England.

“The extraordinary and beautiful natural environment of our waterways is without doubt a key element in making them very special places to visit and enjoy” Robin Evans, chief executive of British Waterways

Follow the links below to find out how BW supports biodiversity in the UK.

Just Add Water
British Waterways supports the Just Add Water campaign run by Froglife. Just Add Water is a national campaign to encourage the public to dig wildlife ponds in urban areas.

Go Wild: British Waterways’ top ten places to spot wildlife
Explore the very best places to spot wildlife on our waterways with this guide to British Waterways’ top ten wildlife sites. From the lowlands of Scotland to an urban wildlife oasis in London, the guide offers a snapshot of BW’s 2,200 miles of canals and rivers.

The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland
BW has a sponsored kingfisher page in The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland, which is currently being produced by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Japanese Knotweed Alliance
Japanese knotweed is one of the most high profile and damaging invasive weeds in Europe and North America. British Waterways is working in collaboration with other organizations such as the Defra, Environment Agency and Network Rail to investigate the viability of natural methods of control.

Help protect our waterway birds
The Waterways Trust is working with British Waterways and other organisations to help some of the most threatened waterway birds, but they need your support. To donate to the Waterway Birds Appeal please visit their website or call 0845 0700 710 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).

Crayfish conservation in the British Isles
On 25 March 2009 British Waterways hosted a national crayfish conference, entitled 'Crayfish Conservation in the British Isles'. The one day conference, held in our Leeds offices, was attended by 59 delegates from all over Britain, as well as France and Ireland. The conference was organised by Peak Ecology, and supported by the International Association of Astacology and British Waterways. The proceedings of the conference are now available to download.

Non-native Species Stakeholder Forum
British Waterways work together with the GB non-native species secretariat to help raise awareness of invasive species, such as American mink and Japanese knotweed, and protect our native British wildlife. British Waterways are a member of the Non-native Species Stakeholder Forum and have worked closely with the secretariat to provide information and case studies for the non-native species information portal, as well as working together on the Be Plant Wise campaign to raise awareness of the problems that aquatic plants can cause.

Making a Bee-line for Canal-Side Hives
British Waterways is piloting community canal-side beekeeping in Liverpool. Over 20 local residents from Liverpool and Sefton trained as beekeepers as part of the project with the Arts for Places scheme. Now ten residents have joined Southport & Formby Beekeepers to maintain hives on land adjoining the canal. The British Beekeepers Association encourages people to become beekeepers and urges communities to find safe spaces for their bee colonies. Britain’s waterways are rich in wild flowers for foraging bees, offer ideal space for beehives and the opportunity for local communities to get involved in beekeeping.

British Dragonfly Society
The British Dragonfly Society promotes and encourages the study and conservation of dragonflies and their natural habitats, especially in the United Kingdom. British Waterway has supported the society for over 10 years and is a Corresponding Members of the Conservation Officer Steering Group.

Last updated: 12/05/2011