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Dry stone towpath walls to be restored thanks to Tesco donation

We've received a welcome boost following the news that Tesco is to fund a £2,500 fundraising appeal launched earlier this year to help restore a 100-metre section of dry stone wall along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

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Dry stone walling is a dying trade and it’s one that we’re determined to protect as they’re such a strong feature of the canal environment.
Matt Taylor

We have been asking for support to help repair a damaged section of historic boundary wall between the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and neighbouring grazing land at a section between Cut Lane and Norden Bridge near Rishton.

Now, following Tesco's support, a small team of locally trained volunteers will be going out on the towpath to begin reinstating the 100 metre section with 10,000kg of stone funded by Tesco to help improve the appearance of the canal environment and protect an important heritage feature of the canal landscape.

Canal heritage

Local firm, Terra Firma Environmental LTD from Haslingden have helped provide the training to the group of volunteers.

Matt Taylor, volunteer coordinator for the Canal & River Trust, explains: “It's fantastic that Tesco have offered us their support. Dry stone walling is a dying trade and it's one that we're determined to protect as they're such a strong feature of the canal environment. They're a vital piece of the canal's heritage which have also started providing safe habitats for local wildlife such as voles and toads which have been hiding in the walls over the past year.

“This project will also help train our growing team of volunteers who are an integral part of our future. If we can help them learn these skills we can continue to develop more projects like this which will help maintain the waterways in addition to the year round maintenance we do.”

Last Edited: 14 November 2012

photo of a location on the canals
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