The actor and presenter is urging the public to rediscover derelict canals, as part of a Canal & River Trusts campaign
Actor and presenter Sir Tony Robinson has lent his support to the Canal & River Trust’s campaign to restore derelict canals.
The Blackadder actor and Time Team host is urging Brits to discover their lost local waterways and channel the spirit of the volunteered who spearheaded the canal restoration movement in the 1960s and 70s.
“The waterway network is part of the fabric of our nation but it’s easy to forget that not so very long ago some of our most popular canals were almost lost forever.
“The fact that we can still enjoy them now is thanks largely to the vision, dedication and sheer hard work of volunteers in the 1960s and 70s.
“These inspiring men and women just wouldn’t take no for an answer and worked on the basis that nothing was impossible.
“We need to recapture that same spirit within our communities to support today’s volunteers in bringing more of these once proud waterways back to life.”
The CRT estimates that more than 200 miles of canals have been restored in the past 14 years, but adds that the UK had more than 5,000 miles of active waterways during the height of the industrial revolution in the 19th century.
To help waterways enthusiasts find out about projects in their local area, the CRT has put together an online map, showing details of all 98 Lost Waterways projects.
