Halfpenny Bridge, Battyeford

Not sure of the date of this photograph of Halfpenny Bridge

If you would like to see other photographs of Mirfield from years gone by - visit the Mirfield History Archive at http://www.mirfield-2ndlook.info/ or on Facebook

Mirfield Towpath Task Force

The next meeting of the Mirfield Towpath Taskforce will be on 31 May from 10am to 1pm, at Gill Bridge (WF14 8LU).  The group will be continuing the work that it started at the last meeting -  including tending the garden and clearing the area of litter.  If you'd like to get involved, you'd be made very welcome.

To find out more about the Towpath Taskforce Groups, please visit the Canal and River Trust site.

New Welcome Station to open at Salterhebble Locks

The Canal and River Trust is set to open a new Welcome Station in a historic stable block at Salterhebble Locks.

The Welcome Station will enable people to find out more about the canals, local facilities, wildlife and nearby volunteering opportunities or even enjoy some family activities. It will be run by local volunteers who will greet visitors and give information on what they can do in the area. Over time it’s hoped that the Station could develop into a focal point for walking, school and community groups.

To mark its opening, the Trust is inviting local people along on Saturday 14 May to explore the new Station, find out more about local volunteering opportunities and help local artist Ged Walker paint a mural on the side of the building, inspired by the rich, colourful history of the Calder and Hebble Navigation.

Tom Wright, Development and Engagement Manager for the CRT said; “Salterhebble is a really popular spot and the Welcome Station will be a great focal point directing people to the best wildlife walks, pubs and places to visit. We really hope that local people will come down to the launch, explore a little bit of their local history, have some fun and leave with a real sense of pride in their local waterways. They may even want to volunteer to help run the Welcome Station which would be fantastic".

The launch event is taking place on Saturday 14 May between 10am and 2pm at Salterhebble Locks (Halifax, HX3 0QL) - accessible by car from Wakefield Road (A6026) or a 10 minute walk from Halifax or Sowerby Bridge.

To find out more about volunteering at the Welcome Station, or elsewhere on the region’s waterway network, email becca.dent@canalrivertrust.org.uk. 

Mirfield Towpath Taskforce

The Mirfield Towpath Taskforce met yesterday at Gill Bridge.  The Group got quite a lot of work done - in particular clearing brambles and overgrown vegetation. Good to report that everyone enjoyed themselves. 

The weather ranged from lovely, warm sunshine to cold, horrible hail. Fortunately not too much of the latter, that came later in the day. 

Many of the plants previously put in have survived plus the Group left some of the wild flowers. They did put some more plants in but with the frosts still occurring they resisted planting the less hardy ones - these will be planted when the nights warm up a little. 

New Mirfield Towpath Taskforce

Tuesday 26 April sees the first meeting of the Mirfield Towpath Taskforce Group.

The Group, which will meet on the last Tuesday of every month, will take on such tasks and projects as litter picking, working on the garden that was started last year, creating a rock garden by Gill Bridge, installing another seat that has been donated, and painting existing benches.

If you would like to get involved with this worthwhile work - the Group will meet next Tuesday at Gill Bridge (WF14 8LU) between 10 am and 1 pm.

To find out more about the work of Towpath Taskforce Groups - visit the Canal and River Trust site.

Love My Stretch

The Canal and River Trust started this scheme late last year - for a small donation you'll receive a dedicated space on the CRT map and a certificate to show your regard for your favourite part of the waterways.  

To find out more visit - Love My Stretch.

National Go Canoeing Week

This year National Go Canoeing Week will run from 26 May to 5 June 2016. British Canoeing has launched a new website for this week-long paddlesport extravaganza. Here, paddlers can log the miles they have paddled and help propel MacGregor, British Canoeing’s mascot, on his journey around the UK and on to Rio and the Olympics. This year’s target is a 30,000 miles!