Montgomery Canal

Creating a new future

In 2008, together with the Montgomery Canal Partnership (MCP), we put together a fundraising strategy to see the restoration of the Montgomery Canal through to completion.

As a first step in the strategy, Alex Ball, Development Manager, is working with the MCP to extend the network of nature reserves along the canal.

Alex is fundraising to create a new nature reserve around a Special Site of Scientific Interest at Aston Locks. Several nature reserves have already been created on the canal, this new reserve will focus on developing a site for aquatic plants.

Working with specialists from British Waterways, Alex is developing plans for conserving floating water plantain, a protected species. In the near future, she will be working with the Waterway Recovery Group to assess different techniques to construct nature reserves and restore the waterway channel.

Volunteers will soon be needed to help prioritise restoration work on bridges and locks and to create artist impressions of the restored waterway to help with funding bids.

Contact Alex to find out more about this project.

The Montgomery Canal

A 34 mile long narrow canal running south from a junction with the Llangollen Canal at Frankton, crossing the Welsh border at Llanymynech and terminating at Newtown.

The canal was constructed in stages from 1790 to 1819, initially to transport lime for agricultural purposes.

After lying derelict for many years, it is being reborn as a cruiseway through the picturesque Welsh Marches.

Almost entirely rural, the canal is a true haven for wildlife and has many Sites of Special Scientific Interest along its route. More than half of the waterway is once again in water.

Find out more about the restoration of the Montgomery Canal