Almost 750 miles of waterways managed by the Canal & River Trust have been honoured with the prestigious Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy.
CANAL & River Trust has retained all its existing 736 miles of Green Flags, with waterways maintaining the standard required for the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The canal charity expressed its delight at the accreditation in the face of significant challenges, including extensive damage from successive storms and floods that impacted the 250-year-old network last winter.
CRT chief executive Richard Parry said: “Our canals span 2000 miles around England and Wales and Green Flags have been awarded the length and breadth of the network, demonstrating the benefits these historic navigable waterways continue to bring to the 21st century.
“They offer free, accessible green space to millions of people across the country, provide vital homes for wildlife, and support the nation’s nature recovery, as well as being navigated, as they have been for centuries, by thousands of boats.
“These Green Flags are testament to our colleagues and volunteers who work hard to keep our canals clean and welcoming places for communities and visitors. Caring for a 250-year-old canal network is a challenge, with our ageing waterways vulnerable to changing weather patterns, daily wear and tear, and perennial problems like litter and encroaching vegetation.
“We are redoubling our efforts to keep canals alive, working with funders, partners, and our growing volunteer support. We have also started the dialogue with the new government about the role our network can play – in part illustrated by these Green Flags – to so many communities around the country.”
In addition, seven stretches received a Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of historic features, supported in England by Historic England. These are: the Huddersfield Narrow Canal East, the Shropshire Union Canal from Middlewich to Audlem and Barbridge Junction to Ellesmere Port National Waterway Museum; the Peak Forest Canal and Bugsworth Basin; the Lancaster Canal; Stanley Flight to Wigan Top Lock on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal; the Weaver Navigation including Anderton Boat Lift; and the Trent & Mersey Canal. To achieve this, winners must understand and take action to conserve the heritage value of their sites and help people to understand and enjoy the unique history of these places and communities.
