English: Shropshire Union Canal south-east of Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire. The canal was engineered by Thomas Telford and opened in 1835 as the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal. Telford's policy was to create the shortest canal possible with his technology, building many cuttings (such as here) and embankments to avoid the alternatives of increasing the distance by meandering along the contours (Brindley's 18th century style) and building locks, both of which would have slowed traffic considerably. Railways were, at that time, taking an increasing amount of the canal companies' business. Mature trees line many of these structures, the roots still being vital in the prevention of embankment collapse, or the sides of cuttings slipping into the water. Many of the cuttings are deep and heavily shaded, and can be very gloomy. This cutting is pictured in full sunshine here: 1351146