A nature lesson.........
Posted: November 27th, 2008, 5:11 pm
I’m often asked why our canal, well it's 'Harrisons' canal really, the Cannock Extension, is a designated SSSI which ultimately has a ‘close season’ imposed on it.
My ‘usual’ response is along the lines ‘because it contains rare types of weed and foliage’
The following, cut and pasted from the link
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citati ... 006558.pdf
gives a little more of an informative insight into the canal and its natural surroundings and reasoning behind the SSSI designation
COUNTY: STAFFORDSHIRE, SITE NAME: CANNOCK
WEST MIDLANDS EXTENSION CANAL
DISTRICT: Cannock Chase Walsall SITE REF: 15W2L
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified (Under Section 28 of the Wildlife
and Countryside Act) 1981 as amended.
Local Planning Authority: STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, Cannock Chase
District Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
National Grid Reference: SK 019044, SK 020069 Area: 5.47 (ha.) 13.5 (ac.)
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 139 1:10,000: SK 00 NW, SK 00 SW
Description and Reasons for Notification:
The Cannock Extension is a terminal side branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal
extending northwards for 2.5 km towards Norton Canes. It is part of the extensive inland
waterway system running throughout Birmingham and the Black Country. The high water
quality, uneven canal bottom and the low volume of boat traffic have allowed a diverse
aquatic flora to develop without any extensive reedswamp incursion.
A total of thirty four aquatic plants have been recorded from the canal, making it the richest
known waterway of its type in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, and placing it high
within the national canal network series.
Of major importance is a large population of the nationally scarce floating water-plantain
Luronium natans, the best known colony in both Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
This plant, recognised as endangered in Europe, is found throughout the length of the
Cannock Extension. Good populations also exist of flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus,
arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia, shining pondweed Potamogeton lucens, perfoliate
pondweed P. perfoliatus and spiked water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum, all of which are
rare or uncommon in Staffordshire. Other uncommon species present include curled
pondweed P. crispus and narrow-leaved water-plantain Alisma lanceolatum.
The eastern canal bank is brick-edged with several species including hemlock waterdropwort
Oenanthe crocata, skullcap Scutellaria galericulata, fairy flax Linum catharticum
and water dock Rumex hydrolapathum, growing out of the brickwork. The towpath itself
supports such species as common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and greater bird’sfoot-
trefoil Lotus uliginosus. The western bank is much more natural with reed sweet-grass
Glyceria maxima and branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum forming extensive marginal
stands. Yellow iris Iris pseudacorus and yellow loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris add to the
diversity of this community.
At least nine species of dragonfly have been recorded in association with the canal,
including the red-eyed damselfly Erythromma najas and emperor dragonfly Anax
imperator, the latter species being at the northern edge of its range in Britain.
My ‘usual’ response is along the lines ‘because it contains rare types of weed and foliage’
The following, cut and pasted from the link
http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citati ... 006558.pdf
gives a little more of an informative insight into the canal and its natural surroundings and reasoning behind the SSSI designation
COUNTY: STAFFORDSHIRE, SITE NAME: CANNOCK
WEST MIDLANDS EXTENSION CANAL
DISTRICT: Cannock Chase Walsall SITE REF: 15W2L
Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified (Under Section 28 of the Wildlife
and Countryside Act) 1981 as amended.
Local Planning Authority: STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, Cannock Chase
District Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
National Grid Reference: SK 019044, SK 020069 Area: 5.47 (ha.) 13.5 (ac.)
Ordnance Survey Sheet 1:50,000: 139 1:10,000: SK 00 NW, SK 00 SW
Description and Reasons for Notification:
The Cannock Extension is a terminal side branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal
extending northwards for 2.5 km towards Norton Canes. It is part of the extensive inland
waterway system running throughout Birmingham and the Black Country. The high water
quality, uneven canal bottom and the low volume of boat traffic have allowed a diverse
aquatic flora to develop without any extensive reedswamp incursion.
A total of thirty four aquatic plants have been recorded from the canal, making it the richest
known waterway of its type in Staffordshire and the West Midlands, and placing it high
within the national canal network series.
Of major importance is a large population of the nationally scarce floating water-plantain
Luronium natans, the best known colony in both Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
This plant, recognised as endangered in Europe, is found throughout the length of the
Cannock Extension. Good populations also exist of flowering-rush Butomus umbellatus,
arrowhead Sagittaria sagittifolia, shining pondweed Potamogeton lucens, perfoliate
pondweed P. perfoliatus and spiked water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum, all of which are
rare or uncommon in Staffordshire. Other uncommon species present include curled
pondweed P. crispus and narrow-leaved water-plantain Alisma lanceolatum.
The eastern canal bank is brick-edged with several species including hemlock waterdropwort
Oenanthe crocata, skullcap Scutellaria galericulata, fairy flax Linum catharticum
and water dock Rumex hydrolapathum, growing out of the brickwork. The towpath itself
supports such species as common spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and greater bird’sfoot-
trefoil Lotus uliginosus. The western bank is much more natural with reed sweet-grass
Glyceria maxima and branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum forming extensive marginal
stands. Yellow iris Iris pseudacorus and yellow loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris add to the
diversity of this community.
At least nine species of dragonfly have been recorded in association with the canal,
including the red-eyed damselfly Erythromma najas and emperor dragonfly Anax
imperator, the latter species being at the northern edge of its range in Britain.
