Heritage Grants
Led by Stroud District Council and the Cotswold Canals Trust, the project will restore key sections of Stroudwater Canal. At the heart of the project, the ‘missing mile’ beneath the M5 motorway will be reinstated, reconnecting Stroud’s canal with the national inland waterways.
The restoration will create a fully accessible towpath linking Stroud to Gloucester and Sharpness, while forming a wildlife corridor across the region. The project also includes new canal-side community spaces and a programme of activities to engage new audiences and improve access.
Young people will be actively involved through volunteering, classroom engagement and decision-making roles. The Stroudwater Navigation Archive – believed to be the world’s oldest canal archive – will be used to share the canal’s rich history in innovative ways.
Our investment will boost tourism, support local economies and enhance biodiversity. Since the project started, over 750 volunteers have contributed nearly 94,000 hours to restoration and conservation efforts. An Environment Programme led by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has already delivered new wetlands, hedgerows and orchard restoration.
The project will reconnect communities with nature, transforming one of England’s historic industrial landscapes. Discover more projects in London and South.
