Meet the volunteers restoring 'missing mile' canal

An army of volunteers has dedicated their evenings, weekends and retirement to rebuilding a historic canal so generations can enjoy it for hundreds of years to come.

After six years of planning, volunteers from the Cotswold Canal Trust have begun constructing a section of the Stroudwater Navigation waterway canal in Gloucestershire, known as the Missing Mile project.

Once complete, it will create a navigable route from the River Severn to the River Thames, trust chiefs said.

Matthew Jackson, construction team leader, said: "You're doing something which will be there 1,500 years from now and it's a legacy thing. It'll be there for children and whoever comes after us for years to come."

Hundreds of volunteers have been working to restore the Cotswold Canals since the 1960s.

The restoration has been delivered in stages over many decades and more than 5 miles (8 km) between Stroud and Stonehouse have already been restored.

Brian Hill, a former maintenance manager now volunteer, has been working with the trust for two years and he said he has found a sense of "comradery" he missed since he retired.

Hill said: "I thoroughly enjoy it, it's great to mix with the guys.

"As they say, they're from all walks of life and they've got very interesting backgrounds. It's great to trade stories with them.

"It's something there that's going to be there for hundreds of years after us when we're gone, and it's just great to tell the kids the stories and show them what's going on."

Team leader Jackson came from an engineer background, but he said he has learnt a lot from the work, including being trained in scaffolding and how to operate diggers.

"It's a lot more hands-on stuff working on the canal," he said.

Trust leaders said volunteers have had training in a range of specialist skills to ensure they can safely support the restoration works.

The volunteers have been operating machinery, digging and shaping the canal channel, constructing and compacting the banks, surveying levels and preparing the route for clay lining and the future towpath.

Volunteers are now directly constructing the missing mile and are currently working on the excavation and construction of approximately 750 metres (2460ft) of new canal.

Will Foster, volunteer deputy manager, said participating in the project is accessible for all and is not restricted to construction work.

Foster said: "We have something like 350 people who volunteer their time for nothing. They range from people who work in our book shops and visitor centre. They raise a large amount of money to help with restoration."

The project is largely funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a total investment of £15.4m, and is supported by Stroud District Council.

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