Take to Britain's waterways like a duck to...

According to National Waterway Wildlife Survey, our British waterways are showing signs of recovery. This confirmation has come as great news to the water sports and boating industries and for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike.

Those involved in the survey made 4,000 sightings of various species and the figures have now been compiled.

The wildlife sightings included over 300 kingfishers. These birds are considered a good sign of a healthy water system.

Mark Robinson, British Waterways national ecology manager, said: 'Kingfishers are an important indicator of the general health of the waterway ecosystem as, like the big cats on the African plains, they are at the top of the waterway food chain.�

It is a far cry from a few decades back, when many waterways, were polluted and neglected. On canals and rivers that a generation ago were blocked up with grime and rubbish, a huge clean-up operation has taken place.

The presence of wildlife, in turn, proves that a waterway is healthy. In turn, having a canal nearby can add up to 25 to the value of a house and gives many more opportunities for a range of activities from fishing to boating. It seems that there are few who don’t benefit from investment in our canals, rivers and lakes.

24/01/2008 10:20:15