A GROUP of volunteers formed to look after the Middlewich Arm of the Shropshire Union Canal, have adopted more than five miles of the canal.


Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch Adopters took advantage of the Canal and River Trust’s ‘Adopt Your Local Canal’ scheme by adopting four-and-a-quarter miles of the Shropshire Union Canal in April.


The group then adopted a further one-and-a-quarter miles in October and now look after five-and-a-half miles of adopted canal from Barbridge Junction to Morris Bridge 15 at Churchill Minshull.


Tony Hales, River Trust chairman, said: “Adoptions aren’t just good for our canals, rivers and towpaths, helping to get those communities who most care for them to help us with their upkeep.


“They are good for communities too, providing wonderful outdoor spaces for people to come together, to get involved in a rewarding activity and to grow their own community.”


The Middlewich Branch Adopters have now set to work on maintaining the stretch of the canal, planting trees along the towpath.


Canal and River Trust’s chief executive, Richard Parry, visited Aqueduct Marina to launch SUMBA’s Cheshire’s Towpath Gardens project and planted two Cheshire apple trees next to the canal.


The project will include planting native spring flowers and bulbs, species of Cheshire’s 33 historic apple trees, other local fruit trees, fruit bushes, insect attracting shrubs and hedging whips to extend and repair the hedgerows.