Caring for our waterways

A new collaboration between the University and the Canal & River Trust will examine the social, environmental and economic impacts of waterways across the UK.

The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000 miles of waterways, docks and reservoirs in England and Wales. It aims to inspire as many people as possible to connect with canals and rivers, widening the enjoyment of waterways and protecting them for future generations.

In the first three years of the partnership between the Trust and the University's Sustainable Places Research Institute, research will focus on providing evidence for the benefits well-maintained waterways can and do deliver and, in particular, highlighting the potential health benefits of some of the activities undertaken around the waterway system.

Professor Terry Marsden, Director of the Sustainable Places Research Institute said: "Our aim as an Institute is to bring together leading academics and research clusters across a wide-range of disciplines and develop place-based approaches and solutions to some of the key question we now face in society.

"Canals and rivers are national treasures, rich in history and wildlife. We are very excited to work with the Trust through a research framework to help build an evidence base to further demonstrate their importance, and to help sustain them for future generations."

Simon Salem, Director of Marketing at the Canal & River Trust, said: "We are very pleased to be partnering Cardiff University. By working with them, and everyone who uses the canals and rivers, we will be better able to demonstrate how the waterways bring real benefit to people and communities. Since becoming a charity we have set-up a number of partnerships with major organisations, and this agreement with the University will support wider understanding of the potential of our waterways in England and Wales."