A CONSERVATION group is appealing for new members to help it create a wildlife and heritage corridor along the Somerset section of the old Grand Western Canal.

The Friends of The Grand Western Canal Trust are promoting plans to develop a the route along a stretch of the old canal which was mostly overlooked because it was no longer in water.

The canal once linked Tiverton via Wellington to Taunton as a flourishing trading route.

The friends realised after a meeting last autumn that there was enthusiastic feedback that what was needed was a greater understanding of the canal’s heritage, historic structures, and wildlife.

Long-standing member and trustee, Chris Whitcombe, said: “This is a long stretch of canal from French Weir, in Taunton, to Lowdwells, on the Devon Border, so, there is a lot of planning and organising to do to define the remains of the route, and links to public footpaths, most of which are in the open countryside.

“We are looking to locate suitable key sites for installing interpretation boards, adjacent to those existing footpaths.

“We have a good size membership, however, we find ourselves in a situation where we are down to only four volunteers who actively meet as a working group, so we really do need more to join us in order to achieve present and future ideas, including, the park and glide project.

“Failure to increase the help needed could result in the loss of several years of planning and work.”

Mr Whitcombe said the friends would welcome anybody who could contribute ideas, help with areas of social media, publicity, or project management, or any other task they felt would help the group to continue.

Anybody who wants to help the group should email Mr Whitcombe at [email protected].