A new Volunteer Warden Scheme is being launched at the Grand Western Canal Country Park, giving local residents the opportunity to play an active role in caring for one of Devon’s most cherished green spaces.
The initiative is a partnership between Devon County Council’s Canal Ranger Service and The Friends of the Grand Western Canal, a registered charity that supports both the navigable section of the canal in Devon and the historic abandoned section in Somerset.
Volunteer Wardens will receive induction training and authorisation to carry out a variety of light maintenance tasks in their own time.
Activities may include litter-picking, trimming overhanging vegetation, cutting back low branches and maintaining benches and other visitor facilities. Volunteers will also be encouraged to report any damage, hazards or maintenance issues they encounter to the Canal Ranger Service.
All Volunteer Wardens will be covered by Devon County Council’s health and safety policies and insurance arrangements.
The Friends of the Grand Western Canal will provide a dedicated Volunteer Warden Co-ordinator to support volunteers and act as a link between them and the Canal Ranger Service.
To promote the scheme and recruit new volunteers, the Friends of the Grand Western Canal and the Canal Ranger Service will be holding a drop-in information session at the Canal Basin in Tiverton from 11am to 3pm on Sunday 26 July.
Anyone interested in becoming a Volunteer Warden is invited to come along, meet representatives from the Friends Group and the Canal Ranger Service, and find out more about how they can get involved.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said:
“The Volunteer Warden Scheme provides an exciting opportunity for local people to get involved and help shape the future of the Grand Western Canal. Supporting the Canal Ranger Service, volunteers can learn more about and be involved in protecting wildlife, enhancing the canal’s appearance, and creating memorable experiences for everyone who visits this much-loved historic attraction.”
Robert Hodgson, The Chairman of the Friends of the Grand Western Canal, said:
“The Friends were set up to make the Grand Western a place everyone can enjoy. This is a great opportunity to talk to canal users face to face and explain how our volunteers can support the Rangers in maintaining the Canal and Country Park as Mid Devon’s most loved outdoor space.”’