Bill Bryson backs campaign to clean up canals
6 March 2009
Bill Bryson, best-selling author and President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is urging the 11 million people who use the nation’s canals and rivers to tackle the problems of litter on their local waterway. Volunteers are needed to put on their boots and take part in British Waterways’ Towpath Tidy 2009 – locally coordinated activity days which will take place along targeted stretches of more than 2,000 miles of canals and rivers between Thursday 26th and Sunday 29th March 2009.
The volunteer effort, ahead of the main summer visitor and boating season, will bring wildlife and environmental benefits as well as providing a welcome boost to the year-round work carried out by British Waterways. Everyone is welcome, with activities ranging from litter picking, painting and graffiti removal, to cutting back towpath vegetation.
As part of its Stop the Drop campaign, CPRE is supporting Towpath Tidy by involving its local branches and other litter picking groups registered on Litteraction. Bill Bryson comments: “Britain’s waterways are of vital importance, providing everyone with the opportunity to experience their cities, towns and countryside from a unique and tranquil perspective. It’s a disgrace that some people choose to treat their waterways as an open litter bin or as a place to dump their discarded waste. I urge everyone who wants to get this country clean to join in and tidy a towpath.”
Robin Evans, British Waterways chief executive, adds: “Canals are enjoying a long overdue renaissance, they are now used and enjoyed more than at any other time in their 200-year history. Volunteers have become essential to the waterways ongoing success and Towpath Tidy is an enjoyable and rewarding occasion when we join forces with individuals and organisations to support wildlife and improve the appearance of the network for everyone.”
In addition to CPRE, Towpath Tidy 2009 is supported by Encams’ The Big Tidy Up campaign, the leading inland waterways charity the Inland Waterways Association as well as a number of canal societies and trusts. For more information, including details of all the Towpath Tidy 2009 events, visit www.waterscape.com/towpathtidy or call 0845 671 5530.
Notes to editors:
Towpath Tidy is an annual event run by British Waterways. During Towpath Tidy in March 2008, during one day alone, over 70 tonnes of rubbish were collected by volunteers and staff on 100 miles of the waterways network. Water-bound debris ranged from the ubiquitous shopping trolly to skips, scaffolding, gas cylinders, plastic bags, bicycles, a motorbike and a pink microwave.
British Waterways cares for 2,200 miles of the nation's canals and rivers. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and teeming with activity, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. Half the population lives within five miles of one of our waterways and an incredible 11 million people use them every year as part of their everyday life – as a short-cut to work, for walking the dog or simply for taking time-out and watching the boats. British Waterways' job is to ensure the waterways attract enough investment to be well maintained and remain appealing to society and the local communities through which they pass.
www.britishwaterways.co.uk
Waterscape.com provides information on all of Britain’s waterways, and guides visitors through the complete waterside experience in an easy to use, fully comprehensive online resource. The site includes a full range of services including:
- How to hire a canal boat or waterside holiday cottage.
- Recommendations on walking, cycling, jogging and angling beside the water.
- Best waterside bars, pubs and restaurants.
- Waterway guides with information on attractions, local history and wildlife.
- News and events listings.
CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit. IWA’s members interests include restoration, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, boating, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways. IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation in the inland waterways. The Association also supplies voluntary labour through its Waterway Recovery Group. www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk