Celebrating the dedication and passion of those who give their time freely to protect and enhance the region’s waterways, the Canal & River Trust has honoured its most outstanding volunteers in the West Midlands.
From young nature enthusiasts to long-serving community champions and hardworking teams, the winners highlight the impact volunteers have in keeping canals vibrant, welcoming and full of life.
As briefly reported in August’s issue, they were recognised for a wide range of contributions, including lock keeping, towpath improvements, wildlife conservation, heritage restoration, community outreach and supporting boaters.
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The trust said the winners do a huge amount to make hundreds of miles of waterways safe, welcoming and full of life for the thousands of people who live and work nearby.
“Young Volunteer of the Year Charlie Hannaford brings a fresh perspective to the volunteer team, quickly becoming a valued member despite being much younger than most of his peers,” the trust said.
“His enthusiasm for bugs and wildlife, paired with an impressive knowledge of the natural world, has earned the admiration of the whole group and helped create a more welcoming environment for other young volunteers.
“Alongside his regular towpath taskforce work – from major litter picks on the Wyrley & Essington Canal to maintaining locks on the Wolverhampton 21 – Charlie has contributed over 100 hours since last summer.
“He has also made a significant impact through his mathematics background, taking on data analysis for the West Midlands’ newly acquired Waste Shark project.
“Lead Volunteer of the Year Phil Garner plays an essential role in the success of volunteering in the Hatton and Warwick area, providing vital support to both the volunteer team leader and the wider operations team.
“He leads taskforce days, manages volunteer admin, oversees the Hatton operational support team, organises rotas and training – all while supporting the area operations manager with key administrative duties.
“With more than 12,000 volunteer hours completed, including 1600-plus last year alone, Phil regularly gives four days a week to the CRT, demonstrating exceptional dedication and commitment.
“Volunteer of the Year Janet Brown is one of the Stewponey team’s most reliable and hardworking volunteers, consistently turning up twice a week and taking on some of the toughest roles within the customer service and maintenance team.
“During her seven years of volunteering, she has averaged 750-800 hours a year, contributing to offside vegetation work, towpath relaying, lock gate painting, step rebuilding, and anything else the team needs.
“She is known for her sharp eye, reporting issues even when she’s out walking her dog, and for her willingness to help on other patches and care for the Stewponey memorial garden.
“The Volunteer Team of the Year, the Wild in Brum group, is the public face of volunteering on Birmingham’s canal network, responsible for every garden and green space from Farmers Bridge Locks to St Vincent Street Bridge.
“Its 23 themed gardens support biodiversity, pollinators and environmental engagement, reflecting the trust’s commitment to city communities and the environment.”
The awards were delivered in partnership with the Marsh Charitable Trust.
