Around 460 young anglers lined more than 30 miles of the Shropshire Union Canal for the National Celebration of Young People & Fishing. Organised by the Canal & River Trust, the event celebrated fishing, friendship and the benefits of spending time outdoors.
Hundreds of young anglers took part in National Celebration of Young People & Fishing on the Shropshire Union Canal.
THE Canal & River Trust hosted the country’s largest angling event, the National Celebration of Young People & Fishing, which saw about 460 budding young anglers line the towpath for more than 30 miles between the village of Little Onn and Market Drayton, Staffordshire.
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It forms part of the trust’s country-wide Let’s Fish! programme, which introduces thousands of people to the joys of fishing each year, as reported.
Made possible through funding from Postcode Lottery players, the programme encourages more children and young people to take up the sport and enjoy the wellbeing benefits of spending time outdoors.
In its biggest year yet, the National Celebration saw participants aged between six and 20 showcase their developing angling skills in a friendly, inclusive competition designed to inspire the next generation of anglers.
The occasion was not just about who caught the biggest weight of fish. Instead, the focus was on fun, learning and teamwork, with every participant receiving a medal, fishing book, certificate, gudgeon mug, goody bag and an item of fishing tackle donated by members of the public to mark their achievement.
Families, friends and local communities came together to cheer on the young anglers, creating a festival atmosphere along the canal.
John Ellis, the CRT’s national fisheries and angling manager, said: “Fishing on our canals is about so much more than catching fish – it’s about building confidence, creating lifelong memories and making new friends.
“To see 460 young people, including more than 100 representing schools, come together for this year’s National Celebration was truly inspiring. Events like this prove how powerful initiatives such as Let’s Fish! can be in connecting young people with the outdoors and with each other.”
For more information about Let’s Fish!, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/lets-fish
