‘Adoption’ scheme set to give waterway new lease of life

A not-for-profit organisation called Canal Connections has ‘adopted’ the mile-long section of the River Aire and the Aire & Calder Navigation between Skelton Road Bridge and Knostrop Lock.

It will remain under the 
ownership of the Canal & River Trust but Canal Connections 
will now embark on a programme of environmental and access 
improvements. Trust bosses 
announced last year that they were giving communities 
across England and Wales the chance to adopt sections of canal or river.

The Skelton Road Bridge-Knostrop Lock stretch – which takes in Thwaites Mill Museum – has signed up to the scheme. Canal & River Trust volunteer co-ordinator Claire McDonald said: “The canals have had an incredible history over the last 200 years and this growing support is invaluable to us as a new charity and we hope that this will encourage others to get involved.

“Our time and money is spent on major priority repairs and keeping the waterways in good condition, but the work of our volunteer groups brings those added benefits which we’re not able to do.”

Canal Connections aims to use the work opportunities offered by the local waterway system to help people of all ages realise their own potential. For details, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer or ring 0303 040 4040.