Sponsored walk raised £8,000

Published: Friday, 14 June 2019

THE people at the Wey & Arun Trust certainly know how to raise funds for its restoration work

Its recent sponsored walk raised a staggering £8,000 with more than 120 walkers taking part in the event, dubbed the 'Poddle', which is proving to be one of the Trust’s most important fundraisers of the year.

Sponsored2019Surrey Hills scenery

Walkers were treated to views of the stunning Surrey Hills scenery for the Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s 47th annual sponsored walk with part of the route taking participants through the Trust’s newly-acquired section at Birtley, where they were shown the headway already being made in creating a one and a half mile scenic circular walk, and the site of a new lifting bridge.

Construction of the bridge has received planning permission and is due to be built by volunteers by the end of the year.

The 12 miles route of the walk began and ended in Bramley, with lunch and afternoon tea provided by Trust volunteers. Photographs by Julian Morgan and Julian Nowell.

Spnsored3Proceeds towards lock repairs

Proceeds from the walk, expected to be in the region of £8,000, will go towards funding repairs to Drungewick Lock, with Wey & Arun Canal Trust Chairman Sally Schupke paying tribute to 'Poddle' organiser Margaret Darvill for her hard work:

“I’d like to thank Margaret, along with all the helpers both on the day and those involved in preparing for the walk, for their time and effort in putting the event together. Those who took part said how much they enjoyed the event and the beauty of the area.

“It was fantastic to be able to show off the transformation being made to the stretch at Birtley and give a glimpse of the benefits that can be achieved through the canal’s restoration.”