A RESTORED stretch of the Montgomery Canal, near Welshpool, will be maintained thanks to a £250,000 grant from the Nature Networks Fund.
It will help Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales, to protect rare plant and animal species by removing areas of silt and dense vegetation growing over the channel, improving water quality and keeping navigation clear to also benefit the Heulwen Trust, a charity which offers free trips along the canal on their adapted trip boat for those who are less abled. It will also help boost populations of rare plants by collecting samples and propagating them for reintroduction back to the canal corridor.
CRT development manager David Morgan said: “We are going to be dredging to remove silt and improve the navigation for the Heulwen Trust’s boats. The canal is well-known for its rare plant species – by removing invasive species, this will reduce plant competition, and we will also be pruning overhanging trees to reduce shadowing and so improve species diversity.
“The funding will also enable us to install dams, known as leaky dams, a type of natural flood management, which will help prevent silt entering the canal from nearby streams while also erecting some fencing to protect the banks of the canal.
“We will also improve access to nature at Newtown and the Wern Claypits nature reserve, where new interpretation boards are being installed and bridge repairs will be taking place on the boardwalk.”
John Dodwell, chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, said: “The 13 miles of the canal which have already been restored around Welshpool need maintaining and this money will help to remove silt and invasive weeds. Coupled with other exciting plans, we look forward to the day when Welshpool is again connected to Llanymynech by a fully restored canal.”
Gareth Thomas, of the Heulwen Trust, added: “Our trip boats will continue to provide access for individuals who may face challenges in enjoying the outdoors, allowing them to experience the joys of boating and the natural beauty of the canal. We are excited to know that many more passengers will have the opportunity to explore the blue-green corridor of the Monty up close for many years to come.”
