This is the St.Helens canal, one of the oldest in the country, at Spike Island, Widnes.
The swans are serenely sailing towards the locks, which empty out into the River Mersey.
I think, to prevent people trying to sail through the construction site, they placed a barrier across the canal about half a mile up stream from here.
This was in place for the five years of construction of the Mersey Gateway, and a further three years since it has opened, on tidying up the mess they made. They have put in new paths, landscaping and tree planting, which I am sure could have been done within 12 months if they had shaped themselves !
But I digress.
The barrier severely reduced the water flow in the higher section, and the Canadian pondweed bred like crazy in the stagnant waters. Now the barrier has been removed, it has drifted down here, almost looking like a plush lawn.
They often have the slice gates open on the locks, trying to clear it, and it leaves big, long green ribbons on the River Mersey on calm days.
