Q: What do shopping trolleys, an aeroplane propeller and a fridge of food have in common?
A: They were all pulled out of the UK’s canals last year during Towpath Tidy

Did you know that Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice? Many miles more, in fact. ‘So where are our Gondolas?’ I hear you ask. ‘Where are our young couples gazing longingly into one an-others eyes whilst a man in a stripy shirt serenades them in sultry tones?’ You say

Well, the state of Birminghams canals can answer those questions for you. Litter, graffiti and overgrown vegetation hardly beckon love and romance.

To address the situation acclaimed author Bill Bryson has teamed up with British Waterways for the Towpath Tidy 2010. This scheme aims to make a big difference to small nominated sections of canals across the county. The main Birmingham event, will be taking place around the Heartlands Ring from the 3rd – 6th March 2010

Task such as litter picking, painting, graffiti removal and gardening will be taking place over these 3 days by volunteers. 

There opportunities to volunteer at these venues across the midlands:-

Monday 1st March
Sneyd Junction, Walsall
Litter clearance and vegetation management

Wednesday 3rd March – Saturday 6th March
Cuckoo Wharf, Birmingham
Litter clearance, painting lockside structures, removing sunken debris

Sunday 7th March
Earlswood Lake, Solihull
Removal of litter from land and water

Wednesday 10th March – Thursday 11th March
Minworth, nr Sutton Coldfield
Removal of litter from land and water, towpath maintenance

Thursday 11th March
Stratford upon Avon
Removal of litter from land and water, towpath maintenance

Saturday 20th March
Pudding Green Junction, Sandwell
Litter Clearance

For information on all of the Towpath Tidy events visit www.waterscape.com/towpathtidy.