THE newly-formed Wessex Waterways Restoration Trust is appealing for more volunteers to help restore the historic Wilts & Berks Canal.

The 50-member trust has just received a £10,000 award from the National Lottery Community Fund to buy equipment and publicity materials.

WWRT chairman Carsten Drew said: “We are still in the process of negotiating for work sites and, very importantly, recruiting members.

“When forming the trust we were very well aware that there was a growing need for ‘hands on’ work for

enthusiastic canal volunteers, and this is what we will provide.

“Our raison d’être is to enhance the work already being carried out on the old Wilts & Berks Canal by working on lengths of towpath and canal which are currently inaccessible and, with landowner support and permission, to open them up to the public.

“As a new trust we are still establishing ourselves within the canal restoration movement and this award will allow us to purchase publicity material (marquee, banners etc) and extra equipment such as strimmers and mowers, as well as a substantial road trailer.

“We will also undertake minor rebuild and repair work on structures such as accommodation bridges and locks. These are tasks that can be undertaken at relatively low cost, and completed within a fixed time-frame.

“To achieve this we need to recruit members from all the relevant disciplines – planners, engineers, fundraisers etc”

The Wessex Waterways Restoration Trust was set up in September 2017 by a group of canal enthusiasts, some of whom are members of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which was established in 1977.

Mr Drew says the trust is “complementary” to the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust but follows a different strategy.

The two trusts have not yet collaborated on restoration projects but have not ruled out doing so in the future.

The 52-mile Wilts & Berks Canal links the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington with the River Thames at Abingdon.

Anyone interested in joining the WWRT should email contact@wessex-waterways.org or go to www.wessex-waterways.org.uk