Voting is open for the public to choose the best civil engineering scheme in the South West, and the canalside development at Wichelstowe is one of the nominees. "Besides the economic and social benefits to the local community, the restored section of the canal has enhanced a key foraging and movement corridor for wildlife. With the opposite bank being naturalised with a marginal shelf, aquatic planting and an ecology zone providing native planting."

We want to recruit 2020 new members in 2020. We chose the number because it's easy to remember and ambitious. We need to build our base of committed members to drive forward the biggest canal restoration project in England.

The Trust has set as one of its top priority targets the completion of the canal from Swindon to Royal Wootton Bassett, where there are already significant lengths in water and more planned and consented. The big barrier, of course, has always been the M4 motorway, which cuts the original line of the canal near Junction 16. A new crossing point has been identified, where the road is high enough to get the canal underneath. This image shows the planned location.