KEIGHLEY Action Team have been cleaning up the banks of the River Aire below East Riddlesden Hall.

The Creative Stewards charity recently recruited a team of local volunteers to carry out improvement work on both the River Aire and River Worth in partnership with the Aire Rivers Trust.

Before the work day the group held a “Big Conversation” at Central Hall, Keighley, to share stories and make plans together over free cake and hot drinks.

Creative Stewards work with communities around the district to develop stewardship of wild places, celebrate biodiversity, and create habitats for wildlife and people to enjoy.

They are also organising a similar clean-up operation on the River Aire where it runs through Bingley.

Following last week’s Bingley Big Conversation there will be clean-up days on Sunday Saturday May 14 and Saturday May 20.

The jobs will include tackling lingering flood debris, managing woody waste into habitat piles, clearing litter, and improving pathways and access.

Each volunteer day ends with a free lunch as a thank you. The workers, where they can plan their next action day.

Anyone interested should email canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/adopt-a-canal or call 07508 543473 for further information.

The Creative Stewards’ initiative came as the Canal and River Trust, the charity which oversees Britain’s waterways, called on community groups to adopt sections of local waterways.

The organisation this month issued a county-wide call for volunteers to play a bigger part in looking after mile-long stretches of what was on their doorstep.

This is part of the trust’s wider plans to ensure that the region’s waterways – including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal – continue to thrive and do not fall back into the dereliction of the mid-20th century, when some sections were almost lost forever.

Adoption groups will work in partnership with the trust in order to make their local waterway shine; anything from improving wildlife habitats and access for local people, to creating a linear veg-patch for the community.

Each group works at least one day a month for 12 months and agrees the projects they want to prioritise to make their mile matter.

The Canal and River Trust has published an online map showcasing existing adoption groups, along with areas that are available for people to support.

People who would like to find out more about volunteering and adopting a canal can visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/adopt-a-canal

Richard Parry, the Canal and River Trust chief executive, comments, said local waterways were as important today as they had ever been.

He said: “They have evolved from freight highways to linear parks in our towns and cities. They are places for us all to escape – havens for both people and wildlife.

“But to make sure this valuable legacy thrives into the future, we need to capitalise on the huge pride people have in them and encourage groups to work alongside us to make it happen.”