Canal gets funding boost

Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales, has been awarded a substantial £250,000 grant to maintain a restored section of the Montgomery Canal, bringing positive implications for Newtown and its surrounding areas.

The grant aims to support the preservation of rare plant and animal species by addressing issues such as the removal of silt and dense vegetation along the canal channel, enhancing water quality, and ensuring smooth sailing for navigation.

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David Morgan, the development manager for Glandŵr Cymru, mentioned, “The funding will deliver improvements that will mean this section of restored canal continues to be navigable for boats and brings benefits for local people and biodiversity.”

Additionally, the grant will have a positive ripple effect on the Heulwen Trust, a charity offering free trips on their adapted boat along the canal for individuals with disabilities. By fostering a conducive environment for rare plant species through propagation and restoration efforts, the project aims to benefit both wildlife and the local community.

The funding, part of the Nature Networks Programme, is being channeled through the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government to support these crucial conservation efforts.

"The canal is well-known for its rare plant species. By removing invasive species, this will reduce plant competition and we will also be pruning overhanging trees to reduce shadowing and improve species diversity," David Morgan continued.

John Dodwell, chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, expressed satisfaction, stating, “We at the Montgomery Canal Partnership are very pleased that Glandŵr Cymru have been successful in getting this funding. The 13 miles of the Canal which have already been restored around Welshpool need maintaining and this money will help to remove silt and invasive weeds."

He added, "Coupled with other exciting plans, we look forward to the day when Welshpool is again connected to Llanymynech by a fully restored canal."