Volunteers need help in the New Year (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Volunteers need help in the New Year

11:05am Tuesday 1st January 2008

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DEDICATED volunteers at Wilts and Berks Canal Trust have had their most productive year yet but are urging people to join up in the New Year.

Supporters of the Calne, Chippenham and Melksham branch have given more than 3,000 hours of free labour to rebuild a stretch in Lacock, near Chippenham saving the trust £35,000.

The group, who aim to restore a navigable waterway linking the Kennet and Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames and Severn Canal near Cricklade, has cleared undergrowth, rebuilt a bridge and repaired culverts.

Work party organiser for Calne, Chippenham and Melksham Doug Harris said: "We are all volunteers who give up regular weekends and even some weekdays in order to play our own small part in restoring this waterway to its former glory.

"Every year people promise to make more of an effort to keep fit and to put something back into society.

"Volunteering with our work parties is a great way for them to get out and about, be more active and improve their environment.

"Working together we can transform this former waterway and bring it back to life."

"Our team includes engineers, builders, decorators, accountants, a farmer and even a music teacher.

"We all share the vision of bringing the former canal back to life for the benefit of residents and tourists."

Annual membership of the 2000 member group is £10 and the trust now has 2,000 members.

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