More Green Flag awards

THE Canal & River Trust is celebrating after several of its Cheshire canals have been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy.

Highest standards

These awards, now in their third decade, are given to outdoor spaces that boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.

All the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire now flies a Green Flag after 22 miles from the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port to Barbridge was added to the existing Green Flag length between Middlewich and Audlem.

A new 17 miles section of the Trent & Mersey Canal between Middlewich and Red Bull at Kidsgrove has also been recognised for its high standards, along with a repeat designation for the Weaver Navigation from Runcorn to Winsford, which was first recognised last year.

Another new award

Another new award for seven miles of the Lower Peak Forest Canal means the entire 15 miles Peak Forest Canal is now Green Flag status, including a special heritage award for Marple’s famous 16 locks flight. The Macclesfield Canal, which was the first canal in the country to gain a Green Flag in 2015, also retains the accolade across its 26 miles, along with Sutton Reservoir, which supplies it with water.

This year the trust has seen an extra 40 miles added to the 400 miles already designated with the quality mark, with Daniel Greenhalgh, Canal & River Trust North West Director stating:

“Our efforts to win Green Flags are founded on the principle of local community action. Canals offer amazing green and blue spaces on our doorsteps teeming with nature and wildlife, but we do need the community to act now to help look after these 200 years old special places."

Extra 40 miles

This year the trust has seen an extra 40 miles added to the 400 miles already designated with the environmental quality mark.