Royal Canal Amenity Group
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Wildlife on the Royal Canal

Canals are man-made waterways, built some 200 years ago. in the forty five  years since commercial trading ceased on the Royal Canal, a series of semi-  natural wildlife habitats developed along it. In many areas the towpath and  the channel both became overgrown and covered with scrub. The scrub was  of two distinct types: on the dry towpath Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn,  Guelder-rose, Hazel and Spindle grew; while in the channel were species such  as Willow and Alder, which prefer wetter conditions. With the restoration of  the Royal Canal to a navigable waterway much of this scrub has been lost.  However other canal habitats, which had been choked out by the scrub, have  been re-established.

Deep Waterway  Milfoils and Pondweeds grow in the deep water at the centre ofthe channel.  large numbers of tiny invertebrates, including snails and insect larvae, live in  and on these plants. These invertebrates are the food supply for many of the  coarse fish found in the canal. Swans and ducks feed on the Yellow Waterlily and the tiny Duckweeds which float on the surface of the water.

Reed Fringe  The reed fringe grows in the shallower water at the edge oft he canal. lt provides food and shelter for water birds, fish and a range of aquatic invertebrates. Darnselflies and dragonflies are often seen patrolling above the reed  fringe. Their larvae spend the early part of their lives underwater before  climbing up the emergent reeds to shed their skin and fly off as adults. The  reed fringe also has an important engineering function: it helps disperse the  wave energy caused by wind and boats, and so prevents bank erosion.

Bank  The canal bank between the channel and the towpath is a transitional zone  between land and water. Yellow Iris, Marsh Orchids and Cuckooflower are  typical bankside plants. The caterpillars of the aptly-named Orange-tip  Butterfly feed on the Cuckooflower early in the year.

Grassland  Grassland requires maintenance if it is to be retained as a habitat. In the  past, grazing was the most common form of grassland maintenance, but  today the canal banks are cut on a regular basis. Cutting once a year allows  annual wild flowers to grow and set seed before they are cut, while keeping  perennial plants and invading scrub under control. Meadows are valuable  habitats, and plants once common in the countryside are still found in the  canal grassiands, supporting a range of insects, birds and small mammals.

Boundary Hedgerows  Along most of the length of the canal a hedgerow dominated by Hawthorn  grows between the towpath and the surrounding countryside. Hedgerows  are valuable wildlife habitats, supporting many birds and small mammals.  These depend on the plentiful supply of food: pollen and nectar in spring;  fruit and berries in autumn; and the insects living on and in the hedge itself.  Spring is the best time to see the flowers of the hedgerow. The white flowers of the Blackthorn appear first, followed by those of Hawthorn and Elder.  The ground layer plants including Primroses and Celandines also flower in  Spring, before the leaves on the taller trees and shrubs block out the light to  the ground.

Stonework  In the past the stone bridges had become overgrown with Ivy and Sycamore,  which choked out typical wall plants. With restoration plants such as mosses,  ferns and small wild flowers can now be seen again.

Conservation  The Waterways Services is committed to maximising the amenity potential of  the canal, catering for the needs of anglers, walkers and wiidlife enthusiasts  as well as boaters. To this end, the restoration of the Royal Canal is being  carried out carefully, taking account of the canal's importance as an environ-  mental resource as well as the engineering requirements of restoration and  the demands of modern recreational activities.