The Calder Valley Greenway
At the Canal & River Trust we’re always looking at ways of improving our waterways and towpaths to benefit local communities and The Calder Valley Greenway project is a great example of how we can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Greenways are shared use routes where pedestrians have priority and vehicles are generally excluded. Greenways link communities together and provide a clean and traffic free way of connecting city and town centres to the countryside. They often link up with networks such as the national cycling network and other national trails.
Community involvement
The Calder Vally Greenway, which runs alongside the Calder & Hebble Navigation was created by the Canal and River Trust in partnership with Calderdale District Council’s Local Transport Plan. The council invested around £500,000 to upgrade around five kilometres of towpath.
Local communities were directly involved in the project through participation in local events on the waterway. Schemes including a wildflower and vegetable planting project were delivered as part of the overall improvements. These community projects have enhanced the local biodiversity and wildlife habitats along the waterway corridor.
Currently connecting communities around Halifax in West Yorkshire, the greenway will eventually link with the highly regarded Spen Valley Greenway to form a wider network of off-road routes in Calderdale and Kirklees Districts.
Towpath use increased by 300%
The creation of this greenway has improved local green space and provided opportunities for local people to take ownership and benefit from all their local canal has to offer. Use of the waterways in the area has increased by 300% among joggers, walkers and cyclists following the improvements.
As well as delivering a sustainable transport route along the valley, the Greenway has created an improved recreational resource for local people. It has created an opportunity for people to become more physically active and provides a place where people can relax, meet and enjoy the natural environment.
