GRANTHAM CANAL

This is a major feature running across the Borough. It was abandoned a long time ago and has been sliced up by road improvements. In effect it is now a long chain of shallow ponds running from Grantham to West Bridgford. The whole length is still owned by British Waterways and the Grantham Canal Preservation Society has done a certain amount of repair work on features along the canal. Indeed for some inexplicable reason an isolated stretch (about a mile long) from Hickling has been dredged and made navigable (but appears to be rarely used). The Preservation society are trying to make the stretch from Nottingham to Cotgrave navigable. As that part of the canal going into Bridgford is irretrievable for navigation, this would involve a new section joining the Trent at Holme Pierrpont. The return of navigation to the canal would incur a major change in the site as a wildlife habitat and would see the decline of many species of flora and fauna who prefer shallow undisturbed water.

BW have also been taking extensive footpath improvements or scars in the countryside depending on your view point. The canal can be accessed at a whole series of points were roads intersect the canal and several of them have been provided with car parks (but it is possible to park at most points). The canal is useful jumping off point for walks and there are a number of circular walks marked.

The canal has an extensive wildlife interest. Clearly there are a range of waterfowl (including stroppy swans that nest on the footpath !), wildflowers and insects (particularly water borne), bats make good use of the bridges and feeding opportunities. The Rushcliffe Barn Owl Group also regard the canal as a good focus for their efforts. Crucial features of interest are the reed beds that have developed in places, as reedbeds of any size are unusual in Nottinghamshire. Water Voles have been recorded on the canal although they seem to have declined and it is hoped that otters will use the canal as a route into the county from Lincolnshire.

The crowning glory of the canal is it`s dragonfly population, best seen on warm days in July and August. The canal supports 15 out of the 21 species of dragonfly found in the county, although curiously non of the rarities have been found along the canal. With the majority of the identified species breeding it is a Grade B dragonfly site. One more breeding species or a rarity located along the canal would upgrade it to an A Site.

Species Records from the Canal

Birds - Mute Swans, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Common Kestrel, Fieldfare, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Brambling, Yellow Hammer, Reed Bunting, Kingfisher

Sky Lark, Blackbird, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, Barn Owls

Dragonflies - Emperor, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter Broad Bodied Chaser, Four Spotted Chaser, Black Tailed Skimmer

Damselflies - Common Blue, Blue Tailed, Large Red, Banded Demoselle, Emerald, Azure.

Butterflies - Wall Brown, Small White, Brimstone, Large White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Small Heath, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Comma, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Common Blue

Plants - Cut Leaved Cranesbill, Herb Robert, Bulbous Buttercup, Ground Ivy, Common Vetch, Creeping Buttercup, Hedge Woundwort, Cow Parsley, Birds Foot Trefoil, White Bryony, Ladies Bedstraw, Tufted Vetch, Hogweed, Common Poppy, White Clover, White Dead Nettle, Bittersweet, Meadow Sweet, Common Sorrel, Scentless Mayweed, Field Bindweed, Prickley Sow Thistle, Wild Strawberry, Creeping Cinquefoil, Cowslip, Water Forgetmeknot, Water Figwort, Water Cress, Marsh Woundwort

Aquatic - Grass Wrack Pondweed and Hairlike Pondweed (both rated as scare in the county)

These lists principally cover the most obvious species and there is much more particularly in terms of insects and other aquatic life (and would assume amphibians).