In 2014, the Waterway Recovery Group held a camp at the canal, and restored much of the towpath between Giles and Sandhill locks. Around of the non-navigable section was dredged in 2017, as it was becoming choked with reeds. Some 8,000 tonnes of silt were removed by an amphibious dredger, and the nutrient-rich material was re-used on a local farm. The creation of areas of open water was expected to improve the bio-diversity of the canal corridor, for the benefit of rare aquatic plants and the 15 species of dragonfly and damsel for which the canal provides habitat. In late July 2018 the section of canal between the Melbourne Arm and the Bielby Arm was re-opened to navigation, exactly 200 years after the original opening of the canal. Restoration of the swing bridge below Walbut lock was funded by a donation from the Pocklington Canal Boat Club in 2014, and the refurbishment of Walbut and Thornton locks was aided by a grant of £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £106,400 from the Inland Waterways Association. Dredging of the channel and cutting back the reeds was undertaken by the Canal and River Trust.