In March 2024, the Shropshire Union Canal Society received the good news that it had topped the poll in the Ellesmere Tesco Stronger Starts Scheme for its ‘Enhancing Ellesmere’s Canal’ project for which it received £1,500.
This money was used to both buy tools and other equipment for the work, and to train three volunteers who went on to achieve the Royal Yachting Association Helmsman certificate, the latter being done with the help of the Lyneal Trust, another Ellesmere-based charity.
David Carter, who organises the project said, “Over the year, the group has planted nearly 400 trees, cleared towpaths, cared for canal-side furniture and cleared offside channel vegetation using a loaned Canal & River Trust workboat steered by our newly trained volunteers”.
“Appropriately, the Tesco Ellesmere store is located by the end of the Ellesmere Arm of the canal and to mark the end of the year-long support we were joined on the towpath by store manager Ella Hammond and team leader Chris Harris”.
“The work has made such a difference to the whole area”, said Ms Hammond, “It now looks very loved – so thanks to all the volunteers for their hard work over the past year”.
The group’s work will continue in future with towpath surface improvement work planned for the summer months so if you want to help, go to www.shropshireunion.org.uk
L-R David Carter (SUCS), Ella Hammond (Tesco) Chris Harris, (Tesco) and Richard Kemp, John Bannister, Chris Hesketh (SUCS).
Picture credit: Shropshire Union Canal Society.
