Construction efforts intensify at Peak Forest Canal as Land & Water enters the final stage of project execution.
In the heart of Manchester, Land & Water, a leading wet civil engineering specialist, is concluding the final phase of dredging works at the Peak Forest Canal. This project, spanning over 15 miles, is a testament to the company's commitment towards the UK's natural capital.
The dredging works, carried out on behalf of the Canal & River Trust, aim to improve the efficiency of the canal for boaters. One of the key tools in this endeavour is Sedge, a purpose-built dredger specifically designed for restricted areas. Sedge's unique design allows it to access locations that may otherwise be inaccessible, making it a crucial asset in Land & Water's efforts to preserve and improve the UK's waterways.
The amount of material dredged so far is equivalent to 3,111 Indian elephants, totaling 14,000 tonnes. This dredged material is being disposed of via Augean's Waste Facility at various off-load locations along the canal.
The Peak Forest Canal is steeped in British history, boasting two Scheduled Ancient Monuments: the historic three-arch Marple Aqueduct and Bugsworth Basin. Land & Water's work with the Canal & River Trust includes dredging, vegetation clearance, and other wet civil engineering projects aimed at maintaining and sustaining the UK's natural capital.
Lucy Lee, Contracts Manager at Land & Water, expressed her enjoyment in being part of the project to preserve the canal's British history. "It's an honour to work on such a historically significant waterway," she said. "We're committed to delivering, maintaining, and sustaining the country's waterways, and this project is a perfect example of that commitment."
Land & Water's partnership with the Canal & River Trust is not new. Over the past 20 years, they have collaborated on various environmental projects across the UK. This long-standing partnership is focused on preserving and improving the country's natural capital.
The dredging works at the Peak Forest Canal started in September 2020 and are scheduled to finish this month. The new dredger specially developed for restricted areas used during excavation work at the canal is named "EnviroDredger." The use of Sedge and the EnviroDredger demonstrates Land & Water's investment in advanced, specialized machinery for environmental solutions.
This project in Manchester is part of a broader initiative by Land & Water to deliver, maintain, and sustain the UK's natural capital. As the company continues its work, it remains dedicated to preserving and improving the UK's waterways, one dredge at a time.
