Coombe Hill Canal

Coombe Hill Canal lies in the Vale of Gloucester, south west England, north of Leigh and runs west 2.75 miles (4.43 km) from Coombe Hill Basin to the River Severn near Wainlode Hill. It opened in 1796 and closed 80 years later in 1876, after the only lock was damaged by flooding. Adjacent to the canal is a large area of wet meadowland situated midway between Gloucester and Tewkesbury to the west of the A38. This land and the canal itself often flood in winter, which attracts hundreds of wildfowl. The canal is the home of a number of rare and uncommon beetle species, and of two species of fly that have not been found anywhere else in the UK. It is a 2016-hectare (49.8-acre) overall site (standing water, fen, marsh, lowland, swamp and lowland) Flourishing species include rare-wort-drop-drop, fine-drop water-drop and fine-leaved-drop.