In this modern world, technology has become the new norm. But back in the 18th century, canals were the way of life for many people. The success of the British canal system was highly encouraged by the many industries that used the canal as a major way of transporting their goods, boosting profits, and contributing to Britain's economy. But how have the canals changed and in what ways can we ensure the future use of the canals are protected? In the closing years of the 19th century, canals became much more widely used for transporting goods across the 2000 miles of canals in England and Wales and connecting areas that were previously inaccessible. However, this was short lived, as soon after, canals lost their popularity as rail became the preferred mode of transport. Despite the previous generations shift away from using the canals, future generations were not influenced by this retreat and the usage of the canals continues to this day with many making it their way of life. Now, the modern era of the 21st century sees canals being used for leisure, recreational purposes, and trade. One important topic closely related to the canals is the environmental impact of surrounding wildlife as many people are unaware of the species that inhabit the area. As we are educated about how to reduce our waste and become more environmentally friendly, the increased waste left on the canals can not only cause an eyesore to passers-by but create danger to the wildlife. This is not a centralised issue, and many stretches of canals across England and Wales encourage by passers to dispose of their waste appropriately, preventing the risk of harming wildlife. In future, the canals may revert to the 19th century ways and become the transport for many businesses across the UK, as the usage of road vehicles is widely contributing to other environmental issues or can be used for industrial purposes as the most sustainable water source. More importantly, future generations will be more environmentally aware of their contribution and impact on the environment around them and be able to keep the canals a fun and enjoyable environment to spend time in. Around our local area there are many canals that you can go and visit, an example being Bumble Hole nature reserve in Dudley, which gives visitors an opportunity to see the canals and discover their history within the Black Country. Situated at the nature reserve, the Netherton Tunnel, which spans 2,768 metres underneath ground, and connecting the Birmingham Main Line and Dudley together. The canals around our local area not only show today's generation about the past but educate them on the future that they have with the ever-evolving world and ways that canals can be enjoyed for many years to come.