The canal may one day reach the centre of Derby

The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Society has been given a lottery grant of nearly �30,000 to carry out the clean up work at Swarkestone.

It is hoped the restoration, which includes a 200-year-old hedgerow, will turn the area into a wildlife haven.

Although the area will not be open to boats, the group hopes it will be a place of relaxation for the public.

'Peaceful and calm'

Judy Flack, from the society, said: "A lot of people already use the towpath for walking but it's a bit dead there at the moment.

"But I can see it being peaceful and calm, it's not going to be disturbed by boats or fishermen.

"It going to be very quiet, somewhere where people can come and watch the wildlife."

The society said they hoped to build a new lock to go round the A50 and beyond that would be a section which could be used by narrowboats.