Thames21 introduce habitats for Grand Union Canal's fish and wildlife

Over 250 white water-lily plants have been planted to help the canal's fish population flourish near Ladbroke Grove. Volunteers led by Thames21 - London's leading waterways charity - coordinated the project at the Paddington Arm of the canal on 23 April.

The Nymphaea Alba lilies will flower by July 2008 and will be a visually appealing addition to the canal. By providing cover and protection for fish from predators such as cormorants, the work of local angling club Ladbroke Rovers AC will be greatly enhanced.

The initiative, developed by British Waterways and funded by Park Royal Partnership (PRP), also hopes to attract other wildlife to the area including dragonflies and damselflies. The PRP contribution was money given by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under priority 3.1, for use on environmental improvements.

Grant Fear Thames21's Angling Development Coordinator said:

"Recently the fish population in this area has declined due to the high number of cormorants feeding, together with a lack of suitable habitation. Local angling projects have suffered as a result.

"This planting project forms part of our angling development programme. Through this, we aim to instill a commitment to the aquatic environment in young anglers and use angling to promote a better understanding of the problems affecting the environment and wildlife, and what we can do to help.

Grant added, "The young anglers we work with today, are some of the waterway guardians of tomorrow, and we need to do everything we can to encourage that."

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For further information and images, contact James Aldous at Thames21
020 7213 0166 / james.aldous@thames21.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

Thames21 is an environmental charity working with volunteers to clean up London's rivers and canals. In 2006, the charity worked with 4,024 volunteers at over 100 clean ups on the River Thames, its tributaries and the canal network. Thames21 organises free angling events all over London. For anyone interested in taking part, please see the events section for listed activities.

Ladbroke Rovers Angling Club - was founded in 2007. The Ladbroke Rovers Angling Club (LRAC) is a membership club. Annual membership costs are: Full membership £15; Pensioners over 65 £10; Disabled £10; Juniors £5; Day tickets £2. For membership, call Acton Angling Centre (020 8743 3381).

Park Royal Partnership encourages business growth in the dynamic economy of Park Royal, the 750 hectare industrial estate between Heathrow and central London, through a wide range of business support initiatives and improvements to the infrastructure and environment.

Funded by the public and private sector, the Partnership was established in 1993 by the three local authorities and a number of large local firms, and is overseen by a board composed of public, private and not-for-profit sector members. For more information, see www.parkroyal.org

British Waterways cares for and manages 100 miles of canals and rivers and 110 acres of docks in London. As a not-for-dividend public corporation it works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways for the benefit of the millions who visit and care for them. www.britishwaterways.co.uk/london