Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union Canal

The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal connects Aylesbury town centre to Marsworth Junction. It is an important green corridor for wildlife, allowing animals to move between suitable habitats.

The hedgerows that have been allowed to grow alongside the towpath contain many trees including willows and Black Poplar, which is rare in Britain, and provide a home to lots of birds.

The towpath and canal margins contain a wide variety of wild flowers, including Reedmace, Flowering Rush, Water Dock and Yellow Iris, and provide an ideal habitat for nesting water birds such as ducks and moorhens. Here and there, a heron can be seen surveying its territory and if you are lucky, and very quiet, you may see voles and shrews that nest in the banks of the canal.

Remember, canals have steep banks and are very deep so always be very careful when near the water.

Some of the species that are found on the canal are:

• Reedmace
• Black poplar
• Willows
• Yellow Iris
• Coot
• Mallard
• Grey Heron
• Kingfisher
• Smooth Newt 
• Voles and shrews
• Common Frog

For more information call 01296 696012 or email erc@buckscc.gov.uk

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