Keeping the dock shipshape

IMAGE: The new boardwalk across the revitalised Canada Dock (Brenden Bell) 

With the new boardwalk across Canada Dock opening imminently, people can get up close to the wetland habitat we’ve been creating.  

The revitalisation project aimed to restore the historic dock as a haven for invertebrates, birds and other wildlife as well as a place for people to meet and relax. Having reached the milestone of the boardwalk opening, the results of our work in partnership with London Wildlife Trust and other conservation specialists are there to be enjoyed by people and wild creatures alike.  

The work doesn’t stop there though. Now the dock has been restored, we need to keep it in good condition.  

On a day-to-day basis, we’ve got a team of cleaners who will be patrolling daily, ensuring litter is spotted and removed as soon as possible, with a full clearing of the dock landscaped areas taking place at least once a month out of bird breeding season. To protect the new wildlife, cleaners will use only ionised water instead of any chemicals, which effectively removes dirt and sanitises surfaces while being non-toxic to plants and animals.   

We will have a detailed wildlife habitat management plan in place, with our landscape team undertaking regular maintenance work on the wetland and boardwalk. This work will be undertaken approximately once a month, but seasonally dependent timings ensure we avoid disturbing birds during nesting season.  

Meanwhile, the floating islands that we installed to serve as nesting platforms for birds during the construction period, will soon be removed. These were always intended to be temporary and will be removed this winter, outside of the nesting season. Now that the wetland habitat has been completed, it will provide a permanent nesting place and habitat for the birds and other wildlife.  

We’ve even considered the paint which will used for the upkeep of the boardwalk to be eco-friendly, meaning any splashes won’t harm the wildlife.  

It’s worth noting that the water levels in the revitalised dock are now at their final height. This has been set at a level which means water won’t usually flow into the Albion Channel, but consideration has been given to ensure the channel is utilised as an overflow during periods of heavy rain.  

For more on the work undertaken on Canada Dock, click here.