The canal restoration project
The Wey & Arun Canal Trust is carrying out projects at several sites along the 23-mile canal route, as it pursues its aim of bringing the entire waterway back to navigation. Major projects including Gennets Bridge Lock and Compasses Bridge have been completed, and other schemes are being planned or are about to start up thanks to the generosity of its supporters and members. These include bridge building plans and towpath improvements, as well as continuing repairs and maintenance.
Why they need our service Since its abandonment as a commercial enterprise in 1871, many lengths of the Wey & Arun Canal have become derelict, or have disappeared on the ground. The closure of the 23-mile canal caused the loss of the inland waterway network's link with the English Channel. Alongside the commercial and boating considerations, the deterioration of the canal as a wildlife habitat has diminished the diversity of flora and fauna along its route through the West Sussex and Surrey countryside.
Plan and expected results The Trust is far from an organisation that benefits only boating enthusiasts. It is creating a 23-mile 'green corridor', enhancing essential features of the natural and manmade landscape, the diversity of habitats and conservation value. The canal benefits walkers, cyclists, joggers, horseriders, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, geocache enthusiasts and anglers. Each year more than 10,000 people a year enjoy a trip in one of our boats.
