Events and News
Volunteers required Grand Western Devon Canal
Brief History of the Grand Western canal
Plans for a Grand Western Canal were born out of an 18th century idea, by engineer James Brindley, to link the Bristol and the English Channels. If successful, the Canal would have allowed shipping to avoid long and perilous journeys by sea around the Cornish peninsula. It also promised to better connect the heart of Somerset and Devon to the outside world.
An initial 11 mile section of the Canal was opened in 1814 between Tiverton and limestone quarries at Westleigh. However, the project had run in to financial problems. Building costs had escalated as engineers were forced to use steep embankments and deep cuttings to negotiate the rolling Devon countryside.
Between 1814 and 1960 the canal had a number of uses, from shipping to water lily farm.
By the 1960s the Canal’s life looked to be coming to an end. Plans were drawn-up to fill in a portion of the Canal in Tiverton, and use the land for residential development. These threats caused local people to act. A ‘Save the Canal’ campaign was fought and won.
In 1971 Devon County Council took on ownership and declared it a Country Park. In the years since, investment in dredging, repairs to the Canal and improvements to its visitor access have helped make it what it is today: one of Devon’s most popular countryside attractions.
Find out more here link
Volunteering for the Grand Western Canal
The Grand Western Canal Ranger Service are always looking for new volunteers or volunteer groups to assist with the day to day running of the Country Park. With eleven and a quarter miles of canal to look after there is plenty of work that volunteers / students can get involved in, including hedge laying, coppicing, tree planting, pond maintenance and clearing scrub; or if that’s not your thing, how about helping out with litter picking, patrolling or wildlife surveys?
Volunteering needn’t take up too much of your time. When you volunteer is largely up to you. Some people volunteer on a regular basis each week or month. Others when they have a spare day.
Please be aware that some of the tasks are quite physically demanding, so please be mindful of this when deciding what type of volunteering you would like to do.
If you are interested, please contact the Canal Ranger Service on 01884 254072 or email gwcanal@devon.gov.uk to discuss volunteering options.