COMMUNITY-spirited volunteers in Rugby have given a spring clean to a ‘unique’ flight of canal locks.
A dedicated team of Canal and River Trust volunteer lock keepers carried out a seasonal tidy-up of the historic Hillmorton Locks ahead of the busy summer boating season.
As part of ongoing work to rejuvenate the locks, they removed encroaching vegetation and refurbished the stone edging at several locks.
A flower bed at the bottom of the locks has been replaced with a larger and more vibrant display, while the original planter has been moved to help spread greenery and colour along the flight.
Several mooring rings have also been brought back into use, helping to ease congestion along the busy and popular stretch of the canal.
The three pairs of locks have been a defining feature of the Oxford Canal for more than 200 years, and are now the busiest lock flight in the country – handling over 8,000 boat movements each year – as well as being a much-loved destination for locals.
The dedicated team of 14 volunteers – who have won three Rugby in Bloom Gold Community Awards for their efforts – are on duty every day from April to October to help boaters through the locks and provide visitors information, and meet up once a fortnight for various maintenance tasks.
Lead volunteer Taryn tolld The Observer it was all a labour of love.
She said: “I’ve always liked the canals and I’d rather do something useful with my spare time.
“If nobody helps look after places like this, they would soon end up looking neglected. It’s nice to know you’ve done your bit and made the place better for everyone.”
Fellow lead volunteer Kevin said the paired locks were unique and are steeped in history.
He added: “There is always something happening here, whether it is boaters travelling across the country, families out walking or volunteers working together. It feels like a real community.”
Volunteer Kev said it was satisfying to keep the lock flight in clean and tidy order.
He said: “It is important to keep the area clean and tidy for everyone – walkers, boaters and the local community.
“It is also important from a health and safety perspective – and it enables us to hold annual Macmillan cake sales which have raised over £1,000 in each of the last two years.”
Maurice, the group’s longest-serving volunteer, said their efforts do not go unnoticed.
He added: “A lot of the passers-by compliment us on the flower beds and grass cutting.
“People new to boating who have just arrived at their first lock are grateful for our advice on how to get their boat through the locks safely.
“The bonus is, once they have learnt the skill, they will enjoy their boating holiday all the more and hopefully come back, bringing tourism to the Rugby area.”
Henriette Breukelaar, director of West Midlands at the Canal and River Trust, thanked the volunteers for playing such a vital role in keeping the canal alive.
She added: “We’d love to encourage more people to get involved and be part of protecting these special places for future generations.”
Visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk for more information on volunteering, or to donate.
