Towpath Tidy again

IT'S A little early for a Spring Clean, but British Waterways has announced its Towpath Tidy fortnight for next year.

This will take place from the 1st to the 14th of March next year, when organisations and volunteers are urged to join British Waterways' staff in the clean up, and get involved in a series of activity days that will take place across the countries waterways.

British Waterways is calling for a mammoth effort in 2010 to beat the excellent results achieved in 2009, which saw the most successful Towpath Tidy event ever. More than 1,700 volunteers joined 635 members of British Waterways' staff in clearing 149 tonnes of litter, painting bridges, locks, fences and graffiti covered walls, and cutting back vegetation. Events took place in 110 locations across the UK and volunteers helped on 216 miles of towpath.

In 2009, Towpath Tidy was supported by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) as part of its Stop the Drop campaign. Bill Bryson, best-selling author and President of the CPRE, said at the time:

"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."

In addition, Towpath Tidy 2009 was supported by Keep Britain Tidy's The Big Tidy Up campaign and a number of canal societies and trusts.