Bill Bryson backs campaign to clean up the Grand Union Canal

Bill Bryson, best-selling author and President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is urging the people who use the canal in Hayes to tackle the problem of litter on the waterways.

Volunteers are needed to put on their wellington boots and take part in British Waterways’ Towpath Tidy 2009 – coordinated activity days which will take place along targeted stretches of the Grand Union Canal including Bull’s Bridge on Thursday 26 March 2009 from 10 – 3pm.

The volunteer effort, ahead of the main summer visitor and boating season, will bring wildlife and environmental benefits as well as providing a welcome boost to the year-round maintenance work carried out by British Waterways.  Everyone is welcome, with activities ranging from litter picking, planting, painting and graffiti removal, to cutting back towpath vegetation.

As part of its Stop the Drop campaign, CPRE is supporting Towpath Tidy by involving its local branches and other litter picking groups registered on Litteraction. Bill Bryson comments: “Britain’s waterways are of vital importance, providing everyone with the opportunity to experience their cities, towns and countryside from a unique and tranquil perspective.  It’s a disgrace that some people choose to treat their waterways as an open litter bin or as a place to dump their discarded waste.  I urge everyone who wants to get this country clean to join in and tidy a towpath.”

Last year British Waterways London collected 2,405 tonnes of rubbish from the capitals waterways, with everything from fridges and shopping trolleys to drink cans, traffic cones and mattresses dumped into the canals and rivers British Waterways cares for.  

Simon Bamford, British Waterways London general manager adds: “Our local canals are enjoying a long overdue renaissance, often used and enjoyed more than at any other time in their 200-year history.  Volunteers have become essential to the waterways ongoing success and Towpath Tidy is an enjoyable and rewarding occasion when we join forces with individuals and organisations to support wildlife and improve the appearance of the network for everyone.”

In addition to CPRE, Towpath Tidy 2009 is supported by Encams’ The Big Tidy Up campaign, the leading inland waterways charity the Inland Waterways Association as well as Thames21 and BTCV in London.  To find out how you can get involved and register for the Towpath Tidy event in Hayes, contact our customer service team on 020 7985 7200 or enquiries.london@britishwaterways.co.uk or visit www.waterscape.com/towpathtidy

For further information aboutwaterway wildlife and enjoying London’s canals and rivers visit www.waterscape.com

Ends

For media enquiries and photo opportunities please contact either Felicity McClintock British Waterways London on Mb 07 500 226 139 or felicity.mcclintock@britishwaterways.co.uk or Gill Owen British Waterways London on 020 7985 7227 or 07 733 124 580.

Notes to editors:

Towpath Tidy events
Brent Reservoir
Date: Thursday 26 & Sunday 29 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Activities: Litter clearance, some board walk repairs and pruning of small trees and bushes
Mini bus running from King’s Cross (BTCV) on both days
Car parking: yes

Bull’s Bridge, Southall, Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch
Date: Thursday 26 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Activities: Repainting the historic bridge, graffiti clearance, litter and vegetation clearance
Car parking: yes

Cheshunt Visitor Moorings, River Lee Navigation
Date: Thursday 26 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Activities: Painting Cheshunt Lock, doing towpath surfacing improvement works, vegetation and general litter clearance
Car parking: yes
City Road Lock to Islington Tunnel, Regent’s Canal
Date: Saturday 28 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Activities: Plantings at the visitor mooring, tidying up the lockside, painting and litter clearance

Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Date: Friday 27 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Activities: Clearing reed growth from the banks, hedge and tree pruning, graffiti and litter clearance
Car parking: yes

British Waterways cares for and manages 100 miles of canals and rivers and 110 acres of docks in London.  As a not-for-dividend public corporation it works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to unlock the potential of the inland waterways for the benefit of the millions who visit and care for them.  www.britishwaterways.co.uk

Towpath Tidy will be on top of more than £100 million that British Waterways spends each year maintaining and improving the nation’s waterways.  British Waterways’ work includes dredging the channel of the canal, repairs to historic buildings and bridges, lock gate renewals, cutting back trees and maintaining towpaths.

Waterscape.com provides information on all of Britain’s waterways, and guides visitors through the complete waterside experience in an easy to use, fully comprehensive online resource.  The site includes a full range of services including:
- How to hire a canal boat or waterside holiday cottage.
- Recommendations on walking, cycling, jogging and angling beside the water.
- Best waterside bars, pubs and restaurants.
- Waterway guides with information on attractions, local history and wildlife.
- News and events listings.

CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquility and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in 1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways for public benefit.  IWA’s members interests include restoration, towing path walking, industrial archaeology, boating, nature conservation and many other activities associated with the inland waterways.  IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public participation in the inland waterways. The Association also supplies voluntary labour through its Waterway Recovery Group.  www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk

Thames21 is an environmental charity working to bring London's waterways to life. Dirty rivers and canals reduce the quality of life for all, harm and kill wildlife, damage the environment and drive people away from vital open spaces. London's rivers and canals are precious natural resources providing green spaces for urban communities and habitats for wildlife. Each year, with the help of over 4,000 volunteers, Thames21 removes over 600 tonnes of harmful litter from the River Thames, its tributaries and the canal network.
www.thames21.org.uk

BTCV, a registered charity, is now the world's largest team of green volunteers.  It makes a significant impact on the UK and International environment by inspiring 300,000 people to look after more than 50,000 places.  Their work includes regular conservation tasks across the UK and training provision ranging from hedgelaying and NVQs in Environmental Conservation to helping the unemployed get back into work. BTCV has an online shop, offering native trees and plants, conservation handbooks and tools. www.btcv.org