ECOLOGICAL enthusiasts at Bury College have completed a unique project with the Canal and River Trust charity.

Animal Care students at the college have been conducting aquatic and plant species surveys at sites of special scientific interest.

They have been working on three sites on the Rochdale Canal including Castleton, Slattocks and Rochdale town centre.

The data they have will feed into Natural England, the Canal & River Trust studies for longer term wildlife management.

Lisa Clarke, a freshwater/marine zoologist and animal management lecturer at Bury College said: “This is a very rare opportunity for students. To be permitted to undertake training and work on a site of special scientific interest is unheard of as this is only offered to qualified ecologists who have undergone necessary training.

"It has been a fantastic experience for students to work alongside the Canal and River Trust and gain skills not normally offered to undergraduate students. The students have worked hard to establish an initial database from which a new cohort of students will build on. This data is significant UK-wide."

As a thank you to the students for all their hard work, the Canal and River Trust provided an end of year narrowboat trip with lunch.

"We look forward to continued work with a great organisation,” said Ms Clarke.

James Wynn, volunteer team leader at the Canal & River Trust, added: "The results from the surveys will help us to plan future work to keep the canal a special place for all.”