THE future of the Itchen Navigation has been secured thanks to a major award from the National Lottery.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £1.6m towards the rejuvenation of a ten-mile stretch of waterway from Winchester to Southampton.

The money will pay for work to prevent more erosion to the banks, boost the canal's ecological value and increase public access.

The lock gates, ignored since the canal ceased being used commercially in 1868, will also be protected and interpretation boards will highlight its history.

The five-year project will also see the potentially controversial felling of trees, the main eroder of the banks and enemy of biodiversity through the shading of the watercourse.

The River Itchen - of which the navigation is considered a part - is home to a number rare species and plant life. It was officially recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1997.

It was also awarded Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status primarily due to its southern damselfly and bullhead populations but also the white-clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, Atlantic salmon and otters that reside in the water or along its banks.

The project is a collaboration between Hampshire Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, English Nature and several local authorities. The trust has provided a project manager, Leah Mathias.

Rod Murchie, water resources manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We have been awarded £1.6m, which is £100,000 less than we wanted. But it is great news. There was tough competition for this money."

The Itchen Navigation Project is currently in the design and planning stage but work on the navigation is due to start in 2007 and last until 2012.

Mr Murchie said the felling of trees could be controversial, adding: "But in some places those trees are about to fall into the river and when they do they will take half the bank with it.

"They drop leaves, shade the light and the roots cause a problem for walkers. We want disabled people to have better access. If you look at the old Victorian photographs of the Itchen valley you hardly see a tree."

There will also be some limited restoration of the valley's water meadows to encourage the return of wading birds.

The successful bid follows public consultation with more than 20 groups including disabled, wildlife, cycling, canoeing, horse riding, fishing and ramblers.

The project is placing great emphasis on community involvement and volunteers for many of the projects especially at Mansbridge Lock, near Southamp-ton, where there is a scheme to clear polluted water.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the various projects next year should register with the trust on 01489 774400.