COMMUNITY groups in Huddersfield have been urged to adopt a canal.

The Canal & River Trust, the guardians of 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales, wants residents living close to the waterways to help them out.

They are appealing to communities around Huddersfield to ‘adopt’ a one-mile stretch of canal or river and support a campaign which could help transform miles of waterways across the country.

Trust officials have promised to carry on with regular maintenance work and repairs, but they want the volunteers to bring “added value” to the waterways.

In Huddersfield, there are both the Huddersfield Broad Canal , running from Cooper Bridge to Aspley, and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which runs from Aspley up to Marsden and then beyond the Standedge Tunnel.

Several stretches of waterways in other parts of the country have already been formally adopted by local community groups, from scouts to waterside residents, as part of a pilot project across the waterways.

Now, the Canal & River Trust is calling on more communities around Huddersfield to come forward to adopt mile-long lengths of waterways.

Working in partnership with the Trust’s local teams and regional partnerships, communities can help shape the future of canals such as the Narrow and Broad canals and the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

They will be able to get involved in specific activities, from recording and improving wildlife habitats or maintaining a local towpath, to helping to fundraise, run educational events or helping combat anti-social behaviour.

For some groups, adopting a canal is also a social activity, allowing them space for barbecues and social events and a chance to grow their own community.

Mark Penny, regional trust official said: “Anniversaries are a good time to celebrate and thank the hard work of volunteers and partners.

“They are also an opportunity to look to the future and encourage more people to get involved.

“That’s why we are calling for more community groups to come forward and adopt a section of their local canal or river.

“It is easy to forget that 500 miles of canals were lost in the last century because not enough people cared and too many people took them for granted.

“This should act as a reminder that it doesn’t matter how much money, time and effort we all invest in caring for our precious waterways, they will only survive in the long-term where local communities take pride in them and help us improve them.”

Jason McCartney , MP for Colne Valley, said: “The Canal & River Trust manages some of our best-loved industrial heritage, for example we have one of the seven wonders of the waterways at Standedge Tunnel.

“If local people want to see their waterways thrive I’d encourage Colne Valley residents to embrace this waterway adoption campaign and get involved in making sure our canals continue to be protected.”