2025 Canal Corridor Tree Surveys for the Canal & River Trust

Client:

Canal & River Trust
Delivered on behalf of Ground Control Ltd

Project Overview:

Urban Tree Management was commissioned by Ground Control Ltd to deliver a programme of arboricultural condition and tree risk surveys for the Canal & River Trust (CRT) as part of their 2025 national inspection phase.

The project required specialist expertise in canal corridor tree surveys, towpath risk assessment, and GIS‑based arboricultural data capture across some of the most heavily used waterways in the North West and Yorkshire.

Across the programme, Urban Tree Management surveyed 145.7 km of canal network, identifying 14 priority hotspots and providing CRT with a robust, defensible dataset to support safe navigation, public access, and long‑term asset management.

Our Role

Surveyed Waterways

Leeds & Liverpool Canal Network

Leeds & Liverpool Canal — 64 km, 2 hotspots
Springs Branch — 0.6 km, 0 hotspots
Leigh Branch — multiple chainages
Rufford Branch — multiple chainages

Calder & Hebble Navigation

Main Line — 35 km, 5 hotspots
Halifax Branch — 0.5 km, 1 hotspot
Dewsbury Arm — 1.3 km, 0 hotspots

Rochdale Canal

Main Line — 20 km, 3 hotspots
Littleborough Section — multiple inspections

Huddersfield Canals

Huddersfield Broad Canal — 6.3 km, 1 hotspot
Huddersfield Narrow Canal — 18 km, 2 hotspots

Additional North West Waterways

Ashton Canal (Manchester)
Llangollen Canal (Nantwich)
Lancaster Canal (multiple chainages)
Macclesfield Canal
Peak Forest Canal
Shropshire Union Canal (Audlem)
Trent & Mersey Canal (Northwich and wider NW)
Weaver Navigation (Frodsham)

Project Outcome

Urban Tree Management delivered:

A complete, defensible dataset for CRT’s 2025 inspection phase
Clear, risk‑based recommendations aligned with CRT’s asset management strategy
Improved visibility of high‑risk zones across multiple waterways
Support for Ground Control Ltd in delivering a consistent national programme
Enhanced public safety and operational resilience along heavily used towpaths

This project demonstrates Urban Tree Management’s capability to deliver large‑scale, multi‑site arboricultural surveys with precision, consistency, and operational awareness.