Historic Canal Reconnected to UK Waterways After 70 Years

In a significant development, the historic Stroudwater Navigation canal in Gloucestershire has received £6.4 million in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to reconnect it to the UK's national waterways network. This project, led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust, aims to reinstate the "missing mile" of the canal that was previously filled in, creating a new channel beneath the M5 motorway.

The restoration work, which has been ongoing since 2006, has seen an impressive community effort, with more than 750 volunteers contributing a combined 93,600 hours to construction, biodiversity improvements, and community engagement. The revived canal is expected to boost local tourism, biodiversity, and the regional economy, and is set to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2029.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has played a key role in the project, leading environmental improvements along the route, including the creation of new wetland habitats, hedgerow planting, and the restoration of a traditional orchard. The council and the Cotswold Canals Trust have also worked to make the towpath accessible, with the goal of creating a "wildlife corridor" linking habitats across the area.

This latest grant brings the total National Lottery investment into the Cotswold Canals Connected project to more than £16 million, a testament to the significance of this historic restoration effort.