The Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has received the charity’s annual Tony Davy Award for 2019.
The accolade – named after the charity’s first chairman – is presented to the branch whose volunteers donated the highest number of hours throughout the year.
Local supporters provided more than 12,000 hours of activities including workparties, boat-rides, fundraising events and public talks.
Their contribution has been estimated as being worth around £135,000.
Dave Maloney is the chairman of the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch. He said, “This award celebrates the amazing achievements of our volunteers, donating thousands of hours of their own free time to work together in pursuit of a common goal – breathing new life into the former Wilts & Berks Canal. Their efforts are truly outstanding.”
Branch volunteers, working in partnership with the Trust, continue to make steady progress in restoring the historic waterway.
Recent years have seen a significant stretch between Chippenham and Lacock brought back to navigable status, allowing workboats to carry out further improvements and providing a popular attraction for walkers, runners and cyclists.
The Pewsham flight of locks, which lifted canal-boats on their journey from Melksham to Chippenham, continue to be restored together with the adjacent dry-dock.
Volunteers have also continued clearing hundreds of metres of the former line on private land on both sides of the A4 between Chippenham and Derry Hill, including laying a new hedgerow.
There is also a longer-term project to reopen the towpath on the northern edge of Melksham to create a safe route for families to visit Lacock.
Dave added, “Many of our activities are slowly restarting after lockdown so we’re very keen to hear from anyone interested in joining us.
“There are lots of roles available, from digging, bricklaying and grasscutting to project management, engineering, fundraising and research, with a wide range of different opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
“Members receive regular updates and newsletters, and invitations to enjoy a wide range of social events.
“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills, while leaving an important legacy for future generations – creating a valuable new amenity for the local community as well as giving a much-needed boost to tourism, trade and employment.”
For further information on how to support the local restoration campaign, email dave.maloney@wbct.org.uk. The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. Visit www.wbct.org.uk for more details.
