Cheshire canals celebrate Green Flag Award status

SEVERAL of the Canal & River Trust’s Cheshire canals have been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy.

The prestigious awards, now in their third decade, are given to outdoor spaces that boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.

North West regional director Daniel Greenhalgh said: “Our efforts to win Green Flags are founded on the principle of local community action. Canals offer amazing green and blue spaces on our doorsteps teeming with nature and wildlife, but we do need the community to act now to help look after these 200-yearold special places.”

All the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire now proudly flies a Green Flag after 22 miles from the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port to Barbridge was added to the existing Green Flag length between Middlewich and Audlem.

A new 17-mile section of the Trent & Mersey Canal between Middlewich and Red Bull at Kidsgrove has also been recognised for its high standards, along with a repeat designation for the River Weaver Navigation from Runcorn to Winsford, which was first recognised last year.

Another new award for seven miles of the Lower Peak Forest Canal means the entire 15-mile Peak Forest Canal, which connects Dukinfield in East Manchester with Whaley Bridge, now has Green Flag status, including a special heritage award for Marple’s famous 16-lock flight.

The Macclesfield Canal, which was the first canal in the country to gain a Green Flag in 2015, also retains the accolade across its 26 miles, along with Sutton Reservoir, which supplies it with water.

This year the trust has seen an extra 40 miles added to the 400 miles already designated with the top environmental quality mark.

Daniel congratulated everyone who works or volunteers with the trust, including those in the community who do their bit to help look after their local canal. He added: “We welcome everyone who wants to come along and make positive changes in their local community.”

PHOTOS: CRT Right: Flying the flag at Sutton Reservoir, near Macclesfield are trust operative Lionel Williams with volunteers from East Cheshire Care 4CE.

Above: Celebrating the award for the Shropshire Union Canal at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port with staff and volunteers are, front of flag, local volunteer co-ordinator Angela Barnett and area operations manager Kate Simons.

With the Trent & Mersey Canal’s Green Flag are, from left: CRT staff Mark Barkley, George Hammond, Alan Wrench and area operations manager Paul Reynolds.