Waterways fun day set to return

MAIDENHEAD: A popular fun day is set to return to the town centre this month as it seeks to become one of Maidenhead’s annual traditions.

The Waterways Fun Day, organised by the Rotary Club of Maidenhead Bridge and the Friends of Maidenhead Waterways group, will return on Saturday, September 17 after a successful edition last year.

Despite rotten wood disrupting initial plans to host the entertainment at the amphitheatre outside Maidenhead Library, the festivities are set to continue following an agreement with Shanly Homes.

A number of events are planned for the fun day, which begins at 10am, including canoe races, paddleboarding, live music, wild walks, treasure hunts and market stalls for traders.

“This is another event after the inaugural fun day last September when the channel had only just been opened up to Town Moor,” said Richard Davenport of the organising committee. “As that was very popular, and in particular as more and more businesses have opened up along the side of the waterway, we felt we would like to make it an annual event.

“It’s a celebration of the waterway, and the regeneration of that part of Maidenhead – if you ever go there of an evening, it’s actually beginning to get quite a good buzz, and the water outlook is part of that.”

Chapel Arches is set to be closed off to traffic, allowing for safer access to attendees, whilst local community groups, emergency services and schools will also be in attendance.

There’s also an opportunity for young sters, accompanied by a responsible adult, to learn about the aquatic wildlife in the new waterways.

“This is for primary school children to get an understanding of what lies beneath the surface,” said

Richard.

“There’s actually quite a bit of wildlife beneath the surface that you can’t see; we’ve got fish, bugs, beasties, dragonflies and all sorts of stuff.”

The Waterways Fun Day is free to attend, and begins at 10am until 3pm on Saturday, September 17.

For information, visit: maidenhead bridgerotary.org.uk/ waterwaysfunday

For those interested in the Bugs and Beasties session, email bugsand beasties@maiden headwaterways.org