Small Tasks Team Volunteers getting the work done

Published: Wednesday, 24 July 2019

THE Small Tasks Team volunteers was formed by Paul Mills, who was for some 20 years with the Shropshire Union Canal Society, John Bannister writes.

SmallTasksTowpathAs the Society’s priorities moved away from enhancement of the canal corridors to focus on restoration of the Montgomery Canal, and as the new Canal & River Trust took over from British Waterways, Paul formed a new group: The Small Tasks Team Volunteers (STTV).

Help maintain and restore canals

It, is now called upon by the various canal area supervisors in the North West and Wales regions to maintain, construct and develop facilities for the benefit of all those who frequent the canals. We are a group of friends who work together, helping to maintain and restore the canals.

Since Paul’s death in 2017 John Riley has taken over the reins and co-ordinates with Canal & River Trust in organising a variety of working parties in the northern region of the Shropshire Union, the Weaver and the Llangollen canals. The picture above shows the team working on a towpath whilst the one below show 'cuppa time!'

SmallTasksCuppaInvolved with festivals

We also get involved with the Ellesmere and Whitchurch festivals during the summer months helping to crew the CaRT trip boat. Our monthly working parties are around the fourth Thursday of each month. Usually one day, but we sometimes extend this to two or three days depending on the extent of the tasks.

We have also done a week on the move using boats to give an area of the Shropshire Union Canal a makeover! The type of tasks we do are varied and range from painting picnic tables and fencing, to building towpaths and developing new mooring areas.

150 projects

Our members have a range of skills and many new ones are learnt whilst taking part in the projects. We are well on our way to completing 150 projects since the start of STTV.