PRESS RELEASE
11 April 2014
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP CLEAN UP LOCAL
CANAL
The charity, Canal & River Trust, is inviting local people living in and around Gailey in
Cannock to help give the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal a much-needed spring
clean.
The next clean-up is planned for Thursday 24 April from 10am – 3pm and people of all
ages and abilities are invited to lend a hand to spruce up their local waterway. All
equipment will be provided and volunteers should wear old clothes that they don’t mind
getting a bit muddy.
The work is part of the Trust’s Towpath Taskforce volunteering project, which encourages
people to come out, get their hands dirty and help protect some of Staffordshire’s most
important wildlife habitats and public open space. The Taskforce provides regular
volunteering opportunities for local communities which, as well as benefitting our canals
and rivers also create memorable and rewarding experiences for everyone who takes
part.
The teams meet regularly and are aimed at encouraging more community ownership of
and pride in local waterways. Projects include painting lock gates, improving access to the
towpath, clearing overgrown vegetation, cleaning up litter and graffiti and helping wildlife
by building nest and bat boxes and planting reed beds.
Peter Mathews CMG, chair of the West Midlands waterways partnership for the Canal &
River Trust, said: “Staffordshire’s waterways are a real hive of activity with a whole variety
plants and animals living along them. There are some areas though that need a little work,
from cutting back natural vegetation to clearing away some of the rubbish that gets left
behind. The more that people living near the canal can spare a few hours and help us tidy
it up the better it will be for the whole community.”
Meeting point is at the Trust’s car park next to the Roundhouse, Croft Lane, just off the A5,
Gailey, Staffordshire, ST19 5PR.
Canal & River Trust Waterside House, Waterside Drive , Wigan ,WN3 5NZ
T 0203 204 4429 E press.office@canalrivertrust.org.uk www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Canal & River Trust, a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
with company number 7807276 and registered charity number 1146792, registered office address First Floor North, Station House, 500
Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
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For more information please call visit canalrivertrust.org.uk or call on 03030 404040
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Sarah Rudy on 01908 302584 / 07788 691 219 or
email sarah.rudy@canalrivertrust.org.uk
The Canal & River Trust is the guardian of 2,000 miles of historic waterways across
England and Wales. We are among the largest charities in the UK, maintaining the
nation’s third largest collection of Listed structures, as well as museums, archives,
navigations and hundreds of important wildlife sites.
We believe that our canals and rivers are a national treasure and a local haven for people
and wildlife. It is our job to care for this wonderful legacy – holding it in trust for the nation
in perpetuity and giving people a greater role in the running of their local waterways.
www.canalrivertrust.org.uk