The Gloucester & Sharpness Canal corridor is home to a range of wildlife sites of international, national and local importance.

Alney Island to the west of Gloucester Lock, owned predominantly by the City council, has a number of footpaths that meander through the woods, pasture and water meadows. As a result of periodic flooding the meadows provide an interesting variety of plants and animals and it is hoped to enhance this area as a wetland habitat and to attract wading birds such as snipe and lapwing.

As well as wet grassland the site supports a mosaic of other habitats providing an interesting diverse habitat right on the city's doorstep. Much of the site is designated a Local Nature Reserve. The River Severn and the links to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and smaller rivers and ditches are key recolonisation routes for otters. There have also been sightings recently of otters on Almey Island and at Gloucester Dock.

Immediately to the south of Gloucester Docks the main areas of wildlife value occur amongst the industrial buildings and scrubland at Monk Meadow and Hempstead Bridge. Parts of the towpath verge represent some of the most diverse calcareous grassland on the canal and the hedgerows form an important habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.