Caledonian Canal To Get A Spring Clean

1 March 2007

Waterway users who enjoy the Caledonian Canal are being asked to spare a couple of hours to help spring clean the canal towpath at Corpach near Fort William on Thursday 22 nd March.

The event, which will run from 10am to 1pm , will bring important wildlife benefits as well as improving the appearance of the canal, and is part of a UK wide Towpath Tidy campaign being led by British Waterways and voluntary groups.

In 2006 over 1,000 people took part in Towpath Tidy events and successfully cleared 147 tonnes of rubbish from the UK 's waterways, including a staggering 337 shopping trolleys.

Rubbish and litter left behind by the 300 million visitors each year to British Waterways' canals and rivers can be harmful to a wonderful array of waterway wildlife. During Towpath Tidy, volunteers join forces with British Waterways staff to clear litter, jet wash the removal of unsightly graffiti as well as making minor repairs to bridges, fences and other canal structures.

To ensure that the Towpath Tidy is both fun and safe, volunteers must register with British Waterways in advance. For further details on how to take part, please contact John Stafford, West District Supervisor at British Waterways on 01397 77 22 49.

The important contribution made by volunteers during Towpath Tidy will be on top of more than £100 million that British Waterways spends each year maintaining and improving the nation's waterways. British Waterways' work includes dredging the channel of the canal, repairs to heritage buildings and bridges, lock gate renewals, cutting back trees and maintaining towpaths.

John Stafford comments: "The waterways are a valuable community resource that we must all look after. The support we get from volunteers will provide a real boost for the waterways before the start of the main visitor season at Easter.

"We want to encourage as many people who use the waterways and want to 'give' something back to volunteer to take part in this year's Towpath Tidy . It doesn't matter if you can spare one hour or half a day or if you are aged eight or eighty. Everyone is welcome."

For further information about waterway wildlife and enjoying Britain 's canals and rivers visit www.waterscape.com.

Issued on behalf of British Waterways by Wave PR. For further information contact Chris Bell Tel: 0141 303 8390 Mobile : 07974 692 330

Notes to Editors

British Waterways cares for and maintains the nation's 2,000 mile network of canals and inland waterways, working in partnership with private companies, local authorities, voluntary groups and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.

British Waterways Scotland

Responsibility for inland waterways in Scotland is a devolved matter, with funding for British Waterways' Scottish activities coming from the Scottish Executive. In Scotland the 137 mile (220km) canal network includes the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals.

British Waterways Scotland works in partnerships with local authorities, voluntary groups, private companies and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.

The organisation balances the conservation of the country's heritage and environment with developing commercial opportunities to generate income to reinvest in the waterways for further sustainable regeneration.