A series of planted coir rolls have been installed on the Nottingham & Beeston Canal as part of a drive to encourage more wildlife into the city centre.
The project is designed to soften the edges of the canal walls and attract more birds, bugs and watery wildlife. The ecosystems are made largely of coir rolls and before being put into the water, they were planted up with a variety of plants popular with pollinators and other species. Once the plants are established, they will give the waterway a more natural feel and bring life and colour into the city.
The Canal & River Trust carried out the installation in places along the canal near Canal Street and London Road, maintaining space for passing boats. In recent years the trust and its volunteers have installed about 200m2 of floating ecosystems elsewhere on the canal, helping to make it more attractive to people and wildlife and support the city’s carbon neutral ambitions.
Environment manager Hannah Booth said: “The Nottingham & Beeston Canal was built more than 200 years ago for navigation, but today it also provides a unique corridor for nature, bringing a whole host of species right into the heart of the city.
“A key part of our work caring for the nation’s historic waterways is helping nature to recover and thrive, and these new ecosystems will provide valuable habitats for plants, insects and young fish, right in the heart of the city.”
It has been funded by the Government’s Species Survival Fund through Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and was delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
