Sharpness Docks

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Many thanks to The Canal and River Trust for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. Sharpness Port is one of the access points to England’s historic network of inland waterways. The dock at Sharpness was opened in 1874 and is one of the most inland ports in Britain, and the eighth largest in the South West. It serves as the gateway from the River Severn to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The Canal & River Trust is the Port Authority for the impounded dock, while the quayside activities are run by Sharpness Dock Limited. Gloucester Harbour Trustees maintains a rescue station in the Port, supporting vessels on the River Severn, which famously has the second largest tidal range in the world. The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was once the broadest and deepest in the world. Even today, it stands out from other navigations because of its sheer scale and impressive engineering. Its immense swing-bridges and ornate bridge-keepers’ houses add to its unique identity. It connects Gloucester to Sharpness, allowing boats to bypass a treacherous stretch of the River Severn. From the canal, there are spectacular views of the Severn Estuary, the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds. The tidal parts of the Severn are alive with wildlife, especially coastal birds. At Slimbridge, the headquarters of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, vast flocks of thousands of migrant birds visit each winter.