More than 3,000 tonnes of silt and reeds will be removed to “give nature a helping hand”
The Canal & River Trust is set to begin dredging on a stretch of the disused Pocklington in the hopes of protecting important habitats and encourage aquatic plants to grow.
This is good news for the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society, which is currently running an appeal to raise £250,000 as part of restoring the entire waterway and, eventually, reopening it to boats.
The works, between Coates Bridge and Bielby Arm, are scheduled for the end of January and will last around three weeks, ensuring they are completed before birds settle down to nest.
Anyone wishing to use the towpath is advised to read the safety signage carefully.
Most of the canal is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it offers ideal conditions for a variety of plants. By removing silt and reeds, open water will be created, allowing the rarer species to germinate and thrive.
“It’s important to remember that the canal is a man-made environment and so sometimes it’s necessary to step in and give nature a helping hand,” said project officer Lizzie Dealey.
“By tackling some of the dominant reeds in the middle of the canal then we’ll be able to improve conditions for rarer plant species but also dragonflies and other wildlife.”
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