A Cheshire Angling Club is celebrating having invested over 2,000 voluntary hours in improving a reservoir for their own and community use.
Macclesfield Victoria Angling club have the fishing rights to Sutton reservoir near Macclesfield, which is owned by the Canal & River Trust and supplies water to the Macclesfield Canal.
In 2012 the angling club adopted the reservoir as part of the Canal & River Trust’s adoption programme, an increasingly popular way of giving communities the chance to work together with the Canal & River Trust’s local teams to shape the future of the waterways.
Since then the angling club has invested over 2,000 voluntary hours improving the path around the reservoir, building steps down to fishing spots and cutting back overgrown vegetation.
The angling club work closely with the Canal & River Trust with the club providing the manpower and the Trust supplying the materials and expertise.
Canal & River Trust Volunteer Development Co-ordinator Steve O’Sullivan, said: “The adoption of the reservoir by the angling club is a great example of how a local community organisation can make a big difference to local facilities.
“Since they formerly adopted the reservoir in 2012 they have contributed over 2,000 volunteer man hours and now the reservoir offers excellent facilities for both the anglers and the local community.
“This is a perfect example of how local people can help bring about change by being prepared to invest their own time which is matched by the expertise and materials supplied by the Canal & River Trust.”
David Moss, match secretary for the fishing club said: “The path around the reservoir was in very poor condition and there were places where it was becoming impossible to fish. By adopting the reservoir and working with the Canal & River Trust we have been able to use our own volunteers to improve the facilities for everyone’s benefit.
“The main work has been to provide a hard path around the reservoir and we are about three quarters of the way round now with work parties going out once or twice a month. Our members really enjoy doing the work and it gives them a real sense of ownership of the reservoir.”
If any other organisation is interested in adopting their local waterway they can contact the Canal & River Trust [email protected]
The photograph shows volunteers at work creating a new footpath around the reservoir.