GNOSALL TOWPATH RESTORATION GROUP – CANAL FESTIVAL JULY 2022
We’ve been invited to share with the readers of The Shroppie Fly a little bit about the work we have been doing. ‘We’ are Gnosall Towpath Restoration group [GTR]. About 25+ volunteers doing what we can when we can. Numbers fluctuate according to volunteers’ personal circumstances and availability and currently include three young men doing their Duke of Edinburgh award. As readers will know, in many areas local communities have adopted relevant sections of canal agreeing to do minor maintenance, tidying up and reporting problems to CRT. Gnosall Parish Council, adopted “our” length of canal on behalf of the village in spring 2016. This runs from Cowley Tunnel south of the village [“bridge” 33] to bridge 36 which is beyond the old railway bridge [35a]. During 2021 we input about 500 hours of labour. We now have ten planter beds, including a much admired herb garden, five fruit trees coming on nicely, cycle parking, a cycle ramp and a much improved towpath between The Boat and The Navigation. The three bridges within the village boundary are now largely free from ivy and the banks around them have been planted with bulbs and primrose producing a beautiful display this month. We have two welcome signs planted with flowers at the north and south approaches to the village and the mile-markers, water points and other signs have been painted and refurbished.
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