The Chesterfield Canal Trust has been awarded more than £15,000 in community funding, providing a significant boost to restoration work, habitat creation and volunteer engagement along the historic canal in Derbyshire.
The trust has received £2,531.21 from its share of the Co-op Local Community Fund. This funding will support the Rewatering Renishaw project, helping to restore the canal and create a welcoming waterside space for the local community. Plans include tree planting, picnic benches, wildflower areas and new aquatic habitats, all delivered through volunteer-led activity.
Trustee Kath Auton said the support has already made a tangible difference:
“We are incredibly grateful to the thousands of people who voted to support our cause. Our volunteer Work Party has already started the Rewatering Renishaw project, and we are hoping to recruit more volunteers from the local community next year.”
In addition, the Chesterfield Canal Trust has been awarded £12,880 from the National Lottery Community Fund through its Awards For All (Environment) programme. This funding focuses on expanding and supporting the trust’s volunteer base, enabling local people to play a direct role in caring for and improving their green spaces.
Volunteers will work along sections of the Chesterfield Canal to manage habitats for nature recovery, both in the water and on surrounding land. The programme aims to improve public spaces that are open and accessible to the community, while supporting biodiversity and environmental resilience.
Over the next two years, the trust plans to expand its volunteer team by recruiting 10 additional existing volunteers and 20 new volunteers from the local area. The funding will also support ecological training, ensuring volunteers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to manage habitats responsibly and effectively.
Trustee Steve Waller highlighted the importance of the grant in overcoming practical barriers:
“Many people ask to help with our work, but proper training and getting the right equipment can be very expensive. This grant will enable us to really expand our operation so people will be able to look after their beautiful canal for the benefit of everyone.”
The combined funding represents a major step forward for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, strengthening community involvement while helping to safeguard one of Derbyshire’s most important historic waterways for future generations.
