10,000 volunteers for canoe trail

A CANOE 'trail' is to be completed from the West to the East coast using the inland waterways stretching 150 miles, we are told as an effort to reduce obesity in young people.

This is another scheme by Canal & River Trust that will use the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation to create England's first coast to coast canoe trail, Alan Tilbury tells us.

10,000 volunteers

The Trust believes it can secure 10,000 volunteers to help develop the trail. They will be recruited from the many towns, particularly along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, that are considered the country's most deprived areas.

It is hoped to recruit 15 to 24 year old people over the next five years to complete the canoe trail in 'action squads' who will be physically involved in clearing areas of the route, as well as organising canoe taster sessions.

Tackle obesity

This will also include creating habitats for wildlife along the trail and planting gardens, and it is hoped this will all open up the sport of canoeing on the canals to help tackle the obesity crisis among young people and boost their physical activity levels.

The canoe trail will be known as the Desmond Family Canoe Trail after the newspaper owner, Richard Desmond, who donated £1.3m towards its creation.