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Coconut Husk Rolls Revive Polluted Canal, Attract Wildlife
20 Oct
Summary
- Volunteers use coir rolls to line canal basin, creating habitats
- Kingfishers, dragonflies, and frogs now spotted in the area
- Small interventions can make a big difference to local biodiversity
In October 2025, volunteers from the Canal & River Trust have taken on the task of reviving a once heavily polluted stretch of the old Bradford Canal in Shipley. They have used coir rolls, derived from coconut husks, to line the sides of the canal basin, with the aim of attracting more birds, insects, and aquatic creatures.
The biodegradable rolls, filled with coir fiber and planted with a variety of pollinator-supporting species, have already started to pay dividends. Rachel Clapham, the trust's lead volunteer, reports that a kingfisher, dragonflies, and frogs have been spotted enjoying the new bog-like habitat.
"It's great to see how even small interventions like this can make a big difference to local biodiversity," Clapham says. The charity's volunteer leader, Alice Quinn, welcomes the chance "to make the canal basin a more attractive place for the local community to visit and enjoy."
The project was made possible thanks to funding from Shipley Town Council's Green Grant. The Canal & River Trust is always on the lookout for more volunteers to help with similar initiatives that can breathe new life into neglected waterways and provide valuable habitats for wildlife.
