Another section of the Lichfield Canal is now in water, thanks to combined funding of £437.5K.
A 500+ metre section of the canal has been built and lined as part of the Darnford Moors Ecology Park project. The project is all thanks to funding from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with match funding from HS2’s Community and Environment Fund (CEF), and separate funding from the Biffa Award and the Wesleyan Foundation.
The canal is part of the ecology park, providing an aquatic habitat, along with a wetlands area, hedgerow corridors and trees, and a nature trail with native planting. The water stored in the canal will also contribute to flood attenuation and will help to capture carbon, preventing further carbon releases from land that would be flooded downstream.
Work has been carried out by a combined workforce of LHCRT volunteers, visiting corporate volunteers and Waterway Recovery Groups, and the contractor Onsite Central Ltd installing the lining.
In addition, to the work to build the canal, ducting has been installed for electric cables to provide power for electric boats, moored there in the future.
Darnford Moors Ecology Park is very close to the Huddlesford arm of the Lichfield Canal, separated by an area that is due to be redeveloped by HS2. HS2 crosses the canal route at Cappers Lane, so a new Cappers Lane bridge will need to be built and the canal diverted around the HS2 viaduct arches. This work is due to be completed by 2027 by Balfour Beatty Vinci at the expense of HS2, extending the Huddlesford arm.
Carole Mills, Chair of LHCRT, said:
“This is a milestone moment for the Trust and our volunteers! We are so grateful to the funders for the grants we’ve received. We now have another 500+ metres of canal in water and, once the HS2 section is complete, it will be relatively easy to connect through to Huddlesford. Not only is Darnford Moors Ecology creating a vital space for wildlife and community enjoyment of the blue-green corridor, it’s another step towards making the Lichfield Canal available for navigation.
“Huge credit to all our wonderful volunteers for making it happen and to our fabulous members without whose support we couldn’t make the progress we do. And now, on we go to the next phase of the restoration.”
Trust members were given the first opportunity to see the canal in water at a guided walk, led by operations trustee Peter Buck. Over 80 members joined the walk, which took them along the route of the towpath, across the lift bridge and along the nature trail to see old lock 29.
Comments received after the walk included:
Penny said:
Thank you for the walk showing the great progress which has been made on this section.
Sheila said:
Thanks for showing everyone all the work that’s being done it’s looking great.
Richard said:
Nice to see it in water and the wildlife already taking a hold. A brilliant informative walk!
Darnford Moors Ecology Park will open to the public early next year, once the towpaths have been completed, and there will be a formal opening in the spring.
You can see more photos on our Facebook page:
