As part of our current work at Tamworth Road Narrows, we’ve been excavating large volumes of sand and spoil to dig out the canal channel. But rather than let this material go to waste, we’ve found a way to give it a second life—by supporting nature recovery.
Around ten tonnes of sand were collected from the site and donated to the Purple Horizons Nature Recovery Project at Pelsall North Common, where it will be used to create a vital nesting habitat for solitary bees. This includes the Tormentil Mining Bee, a rare and declining species recently discovered at Pelsall, and the Catsear Mining Bee.
The sand will be distributed on site to form new ‘bee beaches’ – open, sandy scrapes where these important pollinators can burrow and thrive.
Purple Horizons is an award-winning, national flagship nature recovery project run by Lichfield District Council and Walsall Council, and funded by Natural England. It aims to restore and reconnect habitats across the Walsall and Staffordshire countryside.
Derek Lord, Planning and Technical Trustee at LHCRT, said,
“We’re proud to support the Purple Horizons project by repurposing excess sand excavated from the Lichfield Canal channel for such an important conservation initiative.
“Creating sustainable habitats and enhancing biodiversity is one of our core aims. While our focus is obviously along the blue-green corridor of the Lichfield Canal, it’s a real bonus to be able to extend that impact to another location.”
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said:
“This is what good partnership work looks like. To make use of a biproduct of canal restoration work in such a positive way should be celebrated, and I thank Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust for the donation. This project continues to go from strength to strength and Walsall is proud to be playing its part in preserving and restoring these habitats.“
