Pioneering work to make a well-used canal tow path accessible to residents has been given a boost by the RJS Foundation, who given them a grant to purchase equipment to support their work.

The Trentham South Residents Association established their ‘Towpath Taskforce’ a few years ago, building on work that had started during covid, and now being delivered with support from the Canal and Rivers Trust.

The Taskforce have cleared stretches of the verge along the Trent and Mersey Canal as it runs through Trentham and is now broadening it’s work to other places in the vicinity.

The RJS Foundation’s chair, Abi Brown OBE, recently met with the Trentham South RA and took a walk along the canal to see the difference the work had made.

“The canals are such an important feature of Stoke-on-Trent, and this section through Trentham is well used by local residents.

The work done by the Trentham South RA’s ‘Towpath Taskforce’ has opened up the towpath, restored some of the planted beds and cleared overhanging vegetation, whilst working with the CRT to ensure the varied biodiversity of the area is maintained,” said Abi.

“It’s great to see what local organisations can do with our grants – buying new equipment and safety gear for the taskforce will make a real difference and hopefully demonstrate the breadth of the work of the RJS Foundation locally.

We’d love to receive more applications from local groups and further information can be found on our website at www.rjs-foundation.com