|Canal bank is restored for wildlife (From This Is Wiltshire)

Wildlife enthusiasts are being urged to support a project to restore banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal to protect the habitat of water voles.

The creatures, once frowned upon by riverbank owners because of the damage their tunnels caused, are now virtually an endangered species.

The Canal and River Trust, which has replaced British Waterways, is hoping to raise £2,500 in donations to rebuild banks and towpaths, and plant new reed beds along the eroded bank of the canal from Pains Bridge in Pewsey to Milkhouse Water.

As well as providing a better path to walk along for the thousands of boaters, walkers, runners and cyclists who use it each year, the new reed fringes will drastically improve the biodiversity of the canal, helping water voles, nesting birds, dragonflies and other wildlife to flourish.

The trust has already completed 500 metres of new habitats and plans to raise the additional funding to add another kilometre in the new year.

The trust’s environment manager, Oda Dijksterhuis, said: “Having local support to help this project happen would be fantastic as it’s important we do all we can to protect and improve the canal for the range of wildlife which use the canal for nesting, feeding and breeding.

“The Kennet & Avon Canal celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2010 and today the canal is home to a wide range of wildlife which we want to protect and nurture as best we can.”