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The Waterways Trust is a registered Charity in England and Wales (1074541) and in Scotland (SCO39264)

Projects and Appeals > Scotland > Animating the Canal

Animating the Canal

Green Apple Environment Award Winner 2009
Best Practice in Regeneration Award Winner 2008 (Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum)

The Waterways Trust Scotland raised £163,000 towards the £2.2 million project to regenerate the canal-side environment from Bowling Harbour to Clydebank.

The Trust led the signage, access and seating elements of the project which involved working with members of the community to add life and interest to the 7km stretch of waterway.

Trainees from the Coach House Trust helped to carve picnic tables, benches and litter bins. Local school children, pensioners and community groups worked with artist Julia Smith of Deepfired to create ceramic panels to add a splash of colour and interest to the new facilities.

A 2 metre high carved swan created by artist Mick Burns, provides a stunning focal point to the harbour.

Access to the canal has also been improved at Portpatrick Road. The existing footpaths had disintegrated. Through this project, a new section of footpath has been created and the existing footpath along the canal bank has been upgraded, enabling residents from Erskine View and walkers to access the canal and River Clyde.

While at Clydebank shopping centre an orientation panel has been installed directing people to the canal. A life-size replica of the former Singer Factory Clock Hands has been sited at the point where the National Cycle Route joins the canal towpath, indicating the direction of Glasgow and Loch Lomond, and an interpretation panel at the Saltings local Nature Reserve shows routes from this location to the canal and places of interest beyond.

New signage, interpretation panels, seating and picnic benches and cycle racks welcome all visitors to the canal, whether they are on two feet or two wheels.

Project outcomes:

  • 73 signs directing people to canal installed along a 7km stretch of the canal
  • 56 canal towpath signs installed
  • 32 seats and picnic benches created and installed
  • 6 cycle racks installed
  • 5 new cairns installed at the Saltings to support posts for the new interpretation panels
  • 60,000 towpath visits per month all benefiting from the improvements
  • 123 volunteers involved

Funders: Animating the Canal was funded by the Environmental Justice fund, which Forward Scotland is administering during 2007-08 on behalf of the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, West Dunbartonshire Council and the City of Growth Fund.