Wales’ largest lowland fen earns engineering award for canal work 2026

Key Points

• The Crymlyn Bog restoration project, located in proximity to Swansea, won the ICE Chair’s Award for Civil Engineering Projects in Wales.
• The restoration project cleared out the two-kilometer-long Glan y Wern Canal, which made the flow of water easier in the largest lowland fen in Wales.
• This project is part of the LIFEquake project implemented by the Natural Resources Wales organization. It is being carried out using the funding provided by the European Union and Welsh government.
• The amphibious equipment was utilized because the canal goes through unstable and wet quaking bog.
• This job had never been done before because of the challenging nature of the soil.
• Proper water management is going to help develop mosses and other wetlands vegetation.
• The LIFEquake project manager Gareth Thomas and NRW CEO Ceri Davies congratulated the contractors on their performance.
• The project started in January 2022 and will go on until December 2026.

Wales (Wales Times) October 17, 2026 — A major restoration project at Wales’ largest lowland fen has won a prestigious engineering award after specialist teams cleared a historic canal to improve water movement across the fragile peatland.

As reported by Nation.Cymru staff, the Glan y Wern Canal clearance at Crymlyn Bog received the Chair’s Award at an Institution of Civil Engineers awards ceremony. The work was carried out through Natural Resources Wales’ LIFEquake project and used amphibious machinery to reopen the two-kilometre hand-cut waterway.

Natural Resources Wales said the award recognised the successful completion of an intervention designed to improve water levels across the site. The organisation stated that the canal, which runs through the centre of Crymlyn Bog, had been particularly difficult to clear because heavy machinery had to operate on unstable quaking bog habitat.

Why was the Glan y Wern Canal restoration difficult?

The Glan y Wern Canal is a historic, hand-cut channel that crosses the middle of Crymlyn Bog. Its clearance required work on deep layers of waterlogged peat, which move underfoot and create unstable conditions for conventional plant and machinery.

According to Nation.Cymru, Natural Resources Wales said the site’s conditions had previously made successful clearance seem unlikely. The completed work now allows water to move more freely through the wetland, enabling water levels to be managed more effectively.

The project used specialist amphibious machinery rather than standard construction equipment. Natural Resources Wales said this approach was central to the award recognition, which highlighted an innovative engineering response to restoring an important peatland habitat.

What does the award recognise?

The Chair’s Award was presented at a recent Institution of Civil Engineers awards ceremony. Natural Resources Wales said it recognised the innovative engineering approach used to restore the habitat, as well as the collaboration involved in delivering the project.

As reported by Nation.Cymru, Gareth Thomas, LIFEquake project manager, said: “This award is also a significant achievement for nature conservation. Engineering awards often recognise large-scale construction projects, but in this case specialist amphibious machinery has been used to restore a valuable natural habitat and give nature the best possible chance to recover.”

Mr Thomas also thanked the contractors involved.

“We’re thankful for the effective working relationship we have with our contractors and we are absolutely delighted to have co-delivered such a significant outcome for Crymlyn Bog,” he said, according to Nation.Cymru.

He added:

“It means a great deal that this work has been recognised as an example of best practice by leaders within the engineering profession.”

Natural Resources Wales Chief Executive Ceri Davies also welcomed the recognition. As reported by Natural Resources Wales, she said: ‘

“We pride ourselves on appointing the best contractors to support our work and help us deliver such meaningful outcomes for nature.”

Ms Davies added that NRW was proud to host projects such as LIFEquake, which could dedicate the time and resources needed to overcome “enormous challenges” such as those at Crymlyn Bog.

How will the restoration help Crymlyn Bog?

The canal clearance is intended to improve hydrological conditions across Crymlyn Bog. Better water management can create more favourable conditions for peat-forming mosses and other key wetland plants, according to Natural Resources Wales.

Peatlands store carbon, help regulate water levels and provide habitats for wildlife. Natural Resources Wales said keeping peat wet is essential if these landscapes are to continue providing those benefits.

The restoration forms part of the wider LIFEquake project, which focuses on restoring rare “quaking” bog habitats. These habitats are named for the way their deep, waterlogged peat moves underfoot.

What is the LIFEquake project?

LIFEquake is a five-year project led by Natural Resources Wales to restore peatland, quaking bogs and their wider supporting wetland landscapes to favourable conservation status. It is funded by the EU LIFE programme and supported by the Welsh Government.

The project began in January 2022 and is due to run until December 2026. It is delivered in partnership between Natural Resources Wales, Snowdonia National Park Authority, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and the National Trust.

Crymlyn Bog is one of seven LIFEquake project sites. Others include the North West Pembrokeshire Commons, according to Natural Resources Wales’ project information.

A Welsh Government biodiversity report describes LIFE Quaking Bogs as an NRW-led £5 million EU and Welsh Government project covering seven Special Areas of Conservation, including Crymlyn Bog, uk/local/wrexham/rhos/">Rhos Goch and Preseli’s. Its measures include addressing drainage and hydrology, reducing nutrient enrichment and biomass, reintroducing grazing and controlling invasive species.

Why is Crymlyn Bog important?

Crymlyn Bog is a National Nature Reserve near Swansea and is described by Natural Resources Wales as Wales’ largest lowland fen. The site contains fen, transition mire and quaking bog habitats.

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme says the Crymlyn Nature Reserve is approximately 300 hectares in size and is home to the rare fen raft spider. It also identifies Crymlyn as a central focus of the LIFEquake restoration project.

The site was featured during the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s 2026 conference, Peatlands Under Pressure, where restoration at Crymlyn Bog was presented among local success stories alongside wider challenges facing peatlands, including climate change.

Background of the development

Crymlyn Bog lies near Swansea and forms part of a nationally important wetland landscape. The Glan y Wern Canal is a historic hand-cut channel running through the centre of the bog, and its condition has affected the movement and management of water across the site.

The LIFEquake project was established to restore quaking bog habitats and their supporting wetland landscapes. Its work includes hydrological measures designed to address drainage and maintain wetter peatland conditions, which are important for carbon storage, water regulation and wildlife habitats.

The recent award follows recognition of the canal clearance as an engineering achievement. Natural Resources Wales published news of the Chair’s Award on October 15, 2026, while Nation.Cymru reported the story on October 17, 2026.

Prediction: what could this mean for local communities and conservation audiences?

For local communities around Swansea, the restoration may support the long-term condition of a nearby nationally important wetland. Improved water management at Crymlyn Bog could help sustain the peatland’s natural functions, including water regulation and habitat provision, although the reported project information does not specify immediate changes to local flood risk or public access.

For conservation organisations and land managers, the project may provide a practical example of restoring peatland in difficult conditions. The use of amphibious machinery and the successful canal clearance could inform future work on similar quaking bog sites, particularly where unstable ground has previously limited intervention.

For Wales’ wider environmental sector, the award may reinforce the value of partnership-led restoration projects. With LIFEquake running until December 2026, further work across its seven project sites may continue to focus on improving peatland condition and supporting species associated with wetland habitats.