The canals and river navigations of South West waterways have a wide diversity of heritage and wildlife and pass through a number of distinct landscapes. These combine to provide a rich environmental resource and create distinctive local character zones along the waterways.

There are nearly 250 structures such as bridges, locks and aqueducts which have statutory protection, including seven Scheduled Ancient Monuments. In addition, the waterways pass through 35 separate Conservation Areas, and the Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath is included in the World Heritage site. There are many other heritage features which are not formally protected but which add to the value and character of the waterways.

Four Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and about 160 County Wildlife Sites occur on or near to the waterways, and a survey of the Kennet & Avon Canal in 1997 identified about 550 different types of plants.