IN winter weather it obviously makes sense not to take risks and walking is best done on the flat. Whatever the time of year I never tire of strolling along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Over the years I have walked every inch of this 126 mile cut.

As you follow the cut there is a wonderful mix of natural history and industrial archaeology. One of the most photographed sites along the canal is the Five Rise Locks at Bingley in West Yorkshire. Just before the snow came I walked along this stretch and there was lots of bird life including akingfisher but the trees were full of birds on the hunt for seeds. The birds do tell us when cold weather is on the way and they are reliable weather forecasters. I have often written in this column that we should feed the birds and they will help us to anticipate cold spells and high winds.

My other canalside walks at this time included the weavers triangle at Burnley and the Daisyfield Mill in Blackburn which i last visited in the summer. The name is interesting because before the Industrial Revolution that is just what this area was - a daisy field.

The question is often asked how did the canal function when a hard frost developed? All canals had specially built boats called Ice Breaker. These were crewed by specially trained men who rocked the boat and the metal plates filled to the vessel cracked the ice and kept the canal open.

another historic area is Botany Bay on the route between Blackburn and Chorley.

Plankton, a fish's favourite

WHILST watching the snow and ice from my window, it set me thinking about life in running water. It is funny that nobody is mentioning global warming lately!

Freshwater Plankton At one time it was only professional biologists who had the money to buy equipment to see the plankton. This consists of millions of microscopic animals and plants. These provide food for fish and other animals. The plankton makes up what is known as a food chain. This chain is part of every river, ponds and canal in East Lancashire and everywhere in Britain.

A Food Chain in a Canal Plankton — Small animals such as Water Fleas — Fish. The beginning and end of the food chain I have not so far mentioned. Firstly the sun shines down on the water and provides energy and planktonic plants made food by photosynthesis. Time will tell us how the food chain have been disrupted by the cold. I will continue to peep into my microscope.

Fast-moving water keeps birds alive

PEOPLE often wonder why when water starts to freeze birds like the grey wagtail and the dipper actually move upstream where the temperature is even lower.

The reason makes sense because still water freezes but fast moving water does not usually freeze. This means that there is always food available in areas close to waterfalls. The summer of 2012 was without doubt the best year for waterfalls and I make good use of all of them this time.

We are lucky here in East Lancashire that we have so many fast moving streams especially in the Pennine areas. Obviously care needs to be taken if walking in upland areas in winter. I cannot stress it enough that in winter we all need to wrap up warm and to wear stout and reliable footwear.