Rochdale Canal Connections recognised at national waterway awards

Narrow Boat at Lock 48 on the Rochdale Canal at Littleborough

Rochdale Canal Connections was the winner of the Art & Interpretation Award at the 2014 national Living Waterways Awards held on Wednesday 24 September, in Leeds.

Launched by The Canal & River Trust in January, and led by an independent panel of experts from the voluntary, environmental, heritage, engineering and architecture sectors, the Living Waterways Awards seek to recognise exceptional projects that are helping to care for canals and rivers across the UK.

Helen Carey OBE DL, Chairwoman of the Awards’ Assessment Panel, said: “The community here has been empowered to put ideas forward to improve their canal. As well as conventional towpath improvements, bespoke artworks and stylish interpretation totems have been installed and the range of groups involved has stimulated a variety of connections and collaborations.”

Community engagement underpins this inspiring organic project, which focuses on bringing the waterway to life for the towpath community.

Local materials, including recycled car brake discs, have been used to create a series of art works designed to reflect the character of each town. Canalside events have been organised, towpaths resurfaced, bird and bat boxes installed, wildflowers planted and rare plants protected.

Volunteer Observers of Waterway Lengths (OWLs) have worked with neighbouring communities at every stage, from conception to design and delivery, tapping into a ‘great mosaic’ of funding sources and creating a range of ways for people to take part.