Scouts show their community spirit in Stourport with canal clear up

Members of the 1st Stourport (St Michaels) Scout troop from Kidderminster & District Scouts spent Saturday, March 10 volunteering with the Canal and River Trust.

They were working towards their world challenge award, one of nine badges they need to gain to earn their Chief Scout’s Gold Award, which is the highest award in the scouting section (aged 10.5 – 14 years).

Amongst other requirements for this award the scouts were required to learn about an aspect of local community life and then spend a day volunteering in the local community and taking part in an environmental project.

The scouts then enjoyed a talk from Canal & River Trust volunteer team leader John Foale and local volunteer John Stribblehill on the history of the canals in Stourport.

Mr Foale said: “The event was held at Stourport basin we had nine scouts, one Young Leader and three leaders.

“The project was to clean up the litter on the offside of the canal and remove any protruding branches plus to do some towpath repairs.

“The leaders split the team into two some on the boat and some on the towpath, the towpath team re-surfaced 15 yards of towpath by Lidl store, as well as repairing some deep pot holes. The boat team did 600 yards of offside litter and vegetation.

“The Scouts were very enthusiastic and have asked if they can come back and do some more.”

Mark Atkinson, Scout Leader added: “We are very grateful to John and his team for letting the scouts help out for the day.

“I am very proud of all the effort the scouts put in helping improve this section of the canal for the local community.

“The scouts have already asked if we can plan another session with the Canal & River Trust as they had so much fun helping and have been proudly showing off their work to their friends and family on walks along the canal.

“This project has given them all a new sense of respect and pride in their local community and the beautiful countryside that surrounds it.”