VOLUNTEERS from the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) are inching the Crickheath section of the Montgomery Canal closer to Schoolhouse Bridge.
During a recent work party, volunteers laid 3500 blocks to line the canal, completing 135 metres towards the bridge.
Their work was approved by Jason Leach, head of external programme delivery at Canal & River Trust, who performed a health and safety audit, declared the performance as “impressive” and commented favourably on volunteer engagement and site tidiness.
SUCS restoration project manager Tom Fulda said: “This next section, the final part of Phase 1B, takes us a further 135 metres towards the Schoolhouse Bridge. Once complete, the remainder of the works will be undertaken from the Schoolhouse Bridge end of the site, and we shall relocate to a compound by the bridge later in the year.
“More than 3500 blocks were used, each laid by hand. Blocks finish just below water level and admittedly the banks above water level still require completion, but nevertheless this is a work party record length, certainly for the current project and possibly the greatest of all time.”
Elsewhere, and after a long wait for suitable weather conditions, the haul road alongside the re-watered section completed last year was removed and the site restored to its original condition. Although still bare, these re-watered sections no longer look like a building site and will green up rapidly over summer. The banks will be reseeded in the next few weeks with a blend of local native grasses and wildflowers.
The society’s current restoration programme, which began in 2023, aims to complete the Crickheath South section and bring a linking-up of the canal from the Llangollen Canal to Welshpool.
The SUCS is always looking for new volunteers and members. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should see shropshireunion.org.uk/work-party-schedule for details of dates and contacts.
