THE TRUST'S VOLUNTEERS working on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Canal were finding their tools had past their 'sell by' date.
And so were not really enabling the volunteers to complete the tasks efficiently, Janet Friend reports.
Weekly sessions
The volunteers undertake such as weekly Tuesday morning ‘Towpath Taskforce’ sessions to assist with clearing overhanging vegetation to keep the canal navigable, litter removal and general upkeep to keep the waterway cleaner, safer and more attractive waterside environment for local people and wildlife.
Seeing that the volunteers' tools were in bad shape Marr Wind Farm Community Fund have made a grant of £1,315 to enable the worn out tools to be replaced with new ones.
And Canal & River Trust has been able to upgrade the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment that it can provide to make the volunteers’ work easier and more efficient, with Paul Tonge, volunteer leader with the Canal & River Trust, explaining:
Well-used route
“This is a really well-used route and our volunteers put in an awful lot of effort to keep it in peak condition, so that everyone gets to enjoy the best possible environment when they’re walking, running, cycling or sailing by.
“Most of our volunteers are retired waterway enthusiasts, and this project also gives them the chance to enjoy some time in the company of like-minded people, which can be just as important as the environmental side of things.
“Completing the different jobs that we take on can involve a lot of hard work, especially in the winter months, but the new equipment we’ve been able to bring in through this grant will speed things up and will make it much easier for our volunteers to keep on top of everything.