THE Canal & River Trust, hosted a celebratory boat flotilla along the Lancaster Canal on Tuesday to mark the waterway’s bicentenary – exactly 200 years to the day of its official opening in 1819.
Andrea Barrett, partnerships & external relationships manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s amazing to think that Lancaster Canal is 200 years old and still as important today as it was when it first opened – just in a different way. Now, instead of being a route for transporting goods, it’s a haven for wildlife and a beautiful place for people to use for walking, cycling, canoeing and of course boating.
As part of the bicentenary the Trust is planning a legacy project to replace 24 missing mile markers along the canal from Preston to Kendal and has launched a photo competition for everyone to capture what the Lancaster Canal means to people.
Upcoming events:
- Wildlife and bat walks between until September – learn how to identify species of trees, birds, bugs, pondlife, bats and more!
- Library and museum exhibitions – a range of venues hosting displays about the history of the Lancaster Canal, including the Lancaster Maritime Museum exhibit entitled ‘Barging Past’ – which will run from 11 May to 31 August.
- Garstang Scarecrow Festival – Part of the July festival will celebrate the canal’s bicentenary.
- Kendal Torchlight procession – Friday 27 September – a specially-commissioned piece of art inspired by the history of the Lancaster Canal will be part of the celebrations.
Photo competition details:
- Entry is free and submissions must be made online at www.Canalrivertrust.org.uk/lanc200 or share it on Instagram or Twitter with #Lanc200. The closing date for entries is 31 October
- Prizes will include goody bags for the runners-up and the winning entry will be printed onto canvas.
- Full terms and conditions are available on the entry page.
More information about photo competition, bicentenary events and festivals can be found on the Canal & River Trust website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/lanc200