Monday, November 7. Wendover Canal Trust (WCT) has staged its biggest ever community engagement event. More than 100 guests from 85 different organisations, joined the 25th Year Anniversary Event of work starting on restoration of the Wendover Canal.
The occasion also enabled the Trust to provide an update on its activities. It was also a dialogue with representatives from local organisations and thanked its current supporters.
The event was held in “Your Café in the Park” in Aston Clinton. WCT Chairman Clive Johnson said the canal was almost impenetrable when the decision was taken to restore it. The first task was to clear the hawthorn scrub.
He said that volunteer construction started in 1997. “Our wonderful volunteers have been doing heavy construction work for 25 years – and we are all unpaid.”
Ros Daniels, CRT Director, London & SE
He added: “Our plan is that by the end of 2025 we will complete our lining of section which has always leaked near Tring. Then we will restore the water level all the way to Wendover for boats to Buckland, and eventually Wendover. None of this would have been possible without the funders of the restoration and the towpath upgrade.” The canal and its towpath were becoming a green corridor, he said, “accessible to us all to boost our well-being, with increased biodiversity.”
Ros Daniels (Canal & River Trust Director for London and South East) proposed a celebratory toast. Other distinguished guests included Commodore Tim Hennessey, RN DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire; Wing Commander Anna Toothill, Deputy Station Commander, RAF Halton and Councillor Christopher Townsend, Mayor of Tring.
More than 30 WCT volunteers liaised with the guests and the event, held on November 1, was sponsored by FCC Environment, Fairhive Homes, Independent Hire and Village Environmental Services.
For further information contact Richard Peel
Email: rppr@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 0780 508 3595