GU Canal, Wistow Rd to Saddington Tunnel
Selected Wild Place / Other Wild Places / Public Rights of Way / VC55 boundary
This stretch can be accessed from Wistow Road in the north. To the south, the nearest access point before the canal enters Saddington Tunnel is a public footpath from Kibworth Road which runs through Mill Field Wood, adjacent to the canal.
- Canal
- Grand Union Canal Conservation Area
Site species count:
The main route of the Grand Union Canal, built between 1793 and 1814, is from London to Birmingham but it has several 'arms' including that which runs to Leicester and beyond into Nottinghamshire. This is a navigable route and has a public footpath (towpath) along the full length. As with most canals, the shallow water (typically around 1.2m) and shallower edges provides good habitat for emergent aquatic vegetation, which in turn supports a wide range of invertebrates.
Mill Field Wood lies adjacent to the canal - a Woodland Trust site with good access.
The bordering grassland and hedges next to the towpath include a number of interesting plants, such as Field Madder, and are also excellent for a range of invertebrates. A good diversity of dragonfly species can be found along the canal, including the White-legged Damselfly.
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