The work was carried out by our staff and over 30 public services students as part of continued work to improve the area for visitors.
Saul Junction dates back to 1827 and is the point the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal meets the rural Stroudwater Navigation. The marina, canal heritage and tea rooms make it a much visited site, particularly during the summer months.
We're very grateful
Caroline Kendall, volunteer development coordinator at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We're very grateful to the team from Gloucestershire College for all their hard work. Saul Junction is a very popular site, especially with boaters, walkers and nature lovers, so it's good to give it a bit of TLC.
"Local people do an awful lot to keep the canals ship-shape. We're always on the lookout for more people join our Towpath Task force of volunteers and help keep this site of important industrial heritage in the condition it deserves. We're also keen to recruit more volunteers at our Welcome Station, so if you enjoy meeting people and chatting to them about the canal, or carrying out odd maintenance jobs we'd love to hear from you.”
Benefits
Richard Coughlin, from Gloucestershire College, said: “The Uniformed Public Services students are completing a Volunteering unit as part of their BTEC course. Being involved in a work related activity has given them first-hand experience of the benefits that come from getting involved and helping the local community.
“The students were up for the challenge of maintaining the surface of the car park following their recent 1.5 mile litter pick along the canal from Gloucester to Hempsted. They got involved with great enthusiasm, and even refused a break, such was their determination and commitment to getting the job done.”