A Lichfield canal trust has taken the first steps in providing a new outdoor amenity for the city.
The Heritage Towpath Trail will follow the route of the on-going work to restore the Lichfield Canal from Huddlesford to Ogley Junction.
Over the coming months signs will be appearing to mark sections of the towpath that will be opened to the public to form the trail, and a brochure and interactive map will be issued by the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust showing how the waterway wraps around the city, including links to other paths, walks and cycle routes, as well as heritage information.
The first six kilometres of the trail were recently launched by Help for Heroes champion Doug Hamilton-Cox who is walking the canals of the UK collecting for the troops along the way, and raising the profile of the work being done to restore the nation’s industrial heritage.
The Trust is also enlisting the help of Bower Queen Savannah Bennett and her deputy Charlotte Aspley, who officially marked the launch of the trail at the recent Huddlesford Heritage Gathering.
Chairman Brian Kingshott said: “The Trust, which is entirely run by volunteer members, is currently restoring the Lichfield Canal Heritage Towpath Trail through the city for the local community to walk, cycle and enjoy the wildlife and outdoor environment of our beautiful city.
“We are progressively re-opening sections of the Lichfield Canal as a waterway, which will restore the missing canal link between Staffordshire and the West Midlands. This is creating both a popular visitor attraction and a local amenity for the benefit of the environment and the prosperity of the region.”
For more information on the canal restoration visit www.lhcrt.org.uk.
