Ridgacre Canal

Went for a walk along the ridgacre canal recently. This is a short arm that leads off the Walsall Canal at Ryder's Green Junction. The first part, sometimes referred to as Wednesbury Old Canal is navigable up to the Black Country New Road, where the bridge is too low and narrow  to allow boats to pass.

The disused section beyond the road is still in water and is used as a linear park and for fishing.

Black Lane bridge on the disused section. Beyond the bridge is a section, about 300 yards long, which is used by the Ridgacre Angling Club.

Start of the disused section showing the narrow and low bridge below the Black Country New Road bridge.

Other side of the road at the end of the navigable section showing the low and narrow bridge hole.

Winding hole just before the terminus of the canal.

 The first part of the walk, along the disused canal was interesting and I was able to capture a picture of a tram on the metro crossing the canal.

The second part, along the navigable section, was also interesting, but for more worrying reasons. After walking past the winding hole (pictured above) and thinking that when we cruise along the Walsall canal a short diversion along the Ridgacre Branch would be manageable with such a good winding place I discovered the canal blocked in two places.

The first was just by Swan Bridge, pictured below. The bridge hole is blocked by two fallen Silver Birch trees. It did look as though they had been there for sometime.

Swan Bridge (Ridgacre Canal)

 The second blockage just 50 or so yards further on was an overgrowth of reeds and weeds. Such that the whole width of the canal was blocked for about 100 yards.

These three pictures show the state of the overgrowth. This has not happened overnight and if not dealt with soon could lead to this section of the canal becoming disused.

I have written to the West Midlands region of C&RT with the details of these blockages and will wait to see what action they take to remove them.

Junction at Ryder's Green