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Care for your canal in 2012
British Waterways is calling on local communities in London to volunteer and help care for their local canal.
Rebecca Williams, British Waterways’ volunteer team leader in London said: “We know that local people are really passionate about their canals and rivers. They are great places in the city, offering a linear wildlife habitat and a place to escape the busy streets, and they showcase an area's heritage.
“Last year we set up some ‘towpath tidy’ groups. They have proved really popular, and mean that people can come along for a few hours a month, get out in the open air, meet others and make a difference to a local stretch of canal.”
Extra sessions
The monthly sessions happen every third Saturday of the month at central London locations, near a tube station so they are easy to reach. New for 2012, additional volunteering sessions will be happening every Tuesday across Greater London.
Rebecca continues: “There will be a full range of activities happening on the Tuesday and Saturday sessions. With 100-miles of canal and river to care for across London there’s a lot to do. Volunteers will be helping with everything from painting to vegetation clearance and planting.
Discover a new side of London
"By offering mid-week and weekend volunteering sessions we hope that people will be able to get involved at a time that suits them, and discover a side of London they haven’t found before now.”
The first sessions will involve preparing and painting a workboat called Hanwell, which British Waterways is making into a dedicated volunteering boat so there’s always somewhere to warm up and get a cup of tea, supporting the volunteer sessions out on the canal.
Last updated: 23/01/2012
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