Strange
squatters
From bats under bridges to weird plants splattered on stonework, the old
buildings along the canal have been overrun with wildlife…
Going batty at dusk
In
spring and summer, bats feed at dusk, snapping up insects over the canal. We
get Pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats here, living in old buildings, bridges, trees
and ivy.
Ivy hide‑out
The
ivy that clings to the stone walls is a safe nesting place for birds, and its
berries are an important winter food source. Its flowers provide nectar for
bees and other insects.
Nature’s graffiti artists
The
patterns on walls, like splatters of paint, are lichens. These strange organisms
are a mixture of algae and fungus. Lichens can live for 100s of years, so some
will be as old as the canal itself.
The
walls are also festooned with mosses, liverworts and ferns, able to survive
even when the stone is completely dried out.
Underwater world
Below
the surface, the stonework is home to creatures like the white-clawed crayfish,
a relative of the lobster, and freshwater sponges.
Don’t disturb
The
stonework is so important for wildlife that Trust staff are careful to minimise
disruption when carrying out repairs.
Listen
The
best way to hear bats is to use a bat detector. The detector translates their
echolocation calls into an audible sound ‑ this is what a Pipistrelle sounds
like [link or play button].
Directions
Continue
along the towpath to the lock. Cross the bridge, and you’ll find the next stop
on the other side of the canal beside the lock gates.
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