Wildlife Habitat Project

Congratulations to CRT on gaining funding from the People's Postcode Lottery. Look forward to seeing the results of the project.

Christmas Celebrations

Here are members of the Mirfield Community Partnership at a Christmas lunch organised in Manchester by the Co-op, to celebrate the funds raised by local stores to support Mirfield Promenade.

Newgate Riverside Walkway

Today the Mayor of Mirfield cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the newly restored Newgate Riverside Walkway.  John Marsh from the Co-operative Store in Mirfield and his staff of volunteers have worked hard for several weeks to improve this area.  These improvements have been achieved via a partnership of the Co-operative, Darren Smith Homes, Mirfield Community Partnership and Gavin Rhodes Landscapes.

Co-op Local Community Fund

If you are a member of the Co-op, then every time you buy its products or services the Co-op will give 1% to a local cause - Mirfield Promenade is one of those causes.  Your support can help raise much needed funds for local good causes in our community.

Go online to coop.co.uk/membership and make the Mirfield Promenade your good cause.  Thank you!

Wildlife along the Canal

Footpath improvements

These photos show some of the improvements to the footpath alongside the canal in Mirfield. Thanks go to Darren Smith Homes, Gavin Rhodes Landscapes, Tesco, Co-op and the Canal and River Trust.

 

Happenny Bridge, Battyeford

A very old photo of Happenny Bridge at Battyeford - it used to cost a halfpenny to cross it! 

Photo courtesy of The Mirfield History Archive. 

New seating and bug hotel on Battyeford Island

RHS Britain in Bloom Awards

Mirfield Promenade has been awarded a prestigious recognition of the hard work and commitment of volunteers in Mirfield, in the development and vast improvement in local waterways.

The judges in their appraisal said "This is a developing project, along with areas that have been successfully reclaimed and planted. The group has used imaginative ways to achieve results such as engaging with a development adjacent to the towpath to provide planting beds and path surfaces. The Co-op store has a commitment to provide ongoing working parties to assist with the implementing of the plan. There has been a success in gaining grants and funding."

Hilary Brooke, who was presented with the award on behalf of Mirfield Promenade, said "This award is due to the partnership working and support from Darren Smith Homes, Canal and River Trust, Tesco, Groundwork, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Building Society and above all, our fantastic team of volunteers who give up their time for the town."

 

Japanese Knotweed

Recently a quite alarming article appeared on the BBC website about Japanese Knotweed - it makes very depressing reading but we all need to be aware of this plant and the action to take if we spot it.  If you missed the article - you can read it by clicking here

A date for your diary

If you're free on Friday 8 September, then come and join us at Battyeford Island.  You can get involved in a general clean up, or working on the path improvement scheme, or building seats from logs . . . . .

More details when they become available.

 

Voting for Boats in Bloom

Voting is now open for "most flower-filled boat" and "best business in bloom" (voting in the other categories will open shortly).  Click here to see the Boats in Bloom shortlist and to vote.

 

Volunteers working along the canal today

Boats in Bloom

Please see the link given below (which takes you to the Canal and River Trust website) and get out your camera to take photos of boats, towpaths, riverside businesses . . . . . enter your photos and promote our local area, but remember that the closing date is 31 July.  You can nominate anywhere including your own boat or business.

Boats in Bloom

Signs of Battyeford Island

 

 

 

Growing Afloat

Tune in on Friday 2 June at 6pm for a live broadcast on Facebook from the Canal and River Trust 's #boatsinbloom Growing Afloat event in Paddington Basin. Get your questions ready for the live Q&A with a panel of gardening experts.

500 miles of canals up for adoption

TV personality and outdoor champion Julia Bradbury is joining the Canal and River Trust (CRT) to encourage local communities across England and Wales to play a bigger part in looking after the waterways on their doorstep. The aim is for a quarter of our waterways to be adopted by local people. The call comes as part of CRT's wider plans to ensure that the nation’s waterways continue to thrive and don’t fall back into the dereliction of the mid-twentieth century, when they were almost lost forever.  To find out more click here CRT

Tesco's Bags of Help - Mirfield Towpath Pocket Park

We'd love you to show your support for the work and improvements that are taking place along the canal by voting for the Mirfield Towpath Pocket Park project when you next shop at any of the following Tesco Stores:
 
Ardsley Express (WF3 2JA)
Batley (WF17 5DR)
Dewsbury Leeds Road Express (WF12 7DR)
Dewsbury Express (WF12 8AJ)
Mirfield Queen's Road Express (WF14 8AN)
Ossett Express (WF5 9NQ)
Outwood Wakefield Express (WF1 2DX)
Tingley Express (WF3 1PZ)
Wakefield Barnsley Road Express (WF1 5NP)
Wakefield Express (WF1 4LH)
 
 Tesco's Bags of Help Scheme

Boats in Bloom

The Canal and River Trust (CRT) is celebrating the people whose green fingers and gardening achievements help make our waterways such pleasant places to visit. This summer the CRT will be presenting certificates to those whose plants, flowers and vegetable displays make a positive contribution to our canals and rivers.

The certificates are a way of saying a big thank you to everyone who boosts the CRT's ongoing work to make waterways green and attractive places which everyone can enjoy. Gardening efforts on, and besides, our waterways help:

• Brighten up these spaces for everyone, making them a nicer place to boat, walk and cycle;
• Provide habitats and food sources for birds, insects and other wildlife;
• Contribute to reducing the impact of extreme weather, for example helping heavy rain soak away reducing the risk of “flash-floods”, or by helping cool the air and reducing ‘urban heat spots’ particularly in built up areas when temperatures are very high.

As well as presenting certificates to thank everyone who has made a positive green contribution (big or small), the CRT will also be giving out some special awards for boaters and other groups who are making an extra-special effort to help make waterways blooming lovely.

To find out more and see how you can get involved, visit the page on the CRT's site -  Boats in Bloom

New seating on the canal

The Canal in Mirfield

Last week the Canal and River Trust along with other individuals and representatives from local organisations and businesses met to see the work that has been taking place - here are some photos from the event:


 

Artwork along the Canal

Calder Towpath Clean Up

The Calder Towpath Clean Up will take place on Monday 20 March, 10.00 am to 13.00 pm. It is being organised by Mirfield Community Partnership and Mirfield Co-operative Retail Services.

The next stage of the Mirfield Promenade is about to launch. After consultation with, and expert guidance from, the Royal Horticultural Society and its Greening Grey Britain Programme we need your help to clean and tidy the river towpath from Ledgard Bridge Lock, Newgate.

On this occasion the Canal and River Trust cannot help us (the path is not legally on CRT land) but the Trust has offered tools to assist. There will also be litter picking gangs along the canal towpath.

The tasks:  Litter picking, scraping of cobbles to clear debris, painting of seats, cutting back trees and vegetation, saplings and climbers.

Future plans:  Planting of pollinators, new seating overlooking the weir, setting and pointing of cobbles, bird and bat box installation, insect hotels, laying of sandstone chipping paths. We aim to keep the riverside as wild and natural as possible.

Please come along on 20 March and bring friends and colleagues. Wear sturdy shoes, clothes and gloves. Please bring, secateurs, loppers, spades, strong black bags, litter pickers, if you have them.

Rotary Navigation Walk: Sunday 2 April 2017

Volunteering on the Canal: 20 March 2017

Volunteers and staff from the Canal and River Trust will be taking part in litter picking and general tidying along the riverbank and pathway at Newgate, Mirfield  on Monday 20 March, starting at 10 am and finishing at 1 pm.  Litter picking and gardening equipment will be available, but feel free to bring your own along.

We look forward to seeing you there.