Water, water everywhere

Bridgwater’s historic waterways are a treasure worth celebrating, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY

- CATHERINE COURTENAY

For a growing band of people it’s one of Somerset’s ‘hidden gems’, and Mike Slade is one of Bridgwater’s most vocal supporters.

Mike lives in Bridgwater and still remembers the moment he first fell in love with the canal that runs from the docks, looping through and around the town, before heading off on its 14-mile run to Taunton.

“I was 20 years old. I had a caravan and used to come up from North Devon. We’d keep the caravan at Bathpool, which was adjacent to the canal. You could go straight from the site to the canal and hire out tug boats.”

That was many years ago, says Mike, and admittedly his first impressions were gained closer to the Taunton end of the canal, but he’s never forgotten the impact it made on him and the enjoyment he felt when exploring this stretch of waterway.

Mike works with the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), a charity which maintains and restores canals. About five years ago he set up a group of likeminded volunteers who spend many hours tending to the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal, clearing litter and restoring and maintaining the waterway.

It’s a valuable green corridor between two towns he says, another reason why he’s part of a growing movement to make the canal a major feature in Bridgwater for both locals and visitors.

“Bridgwater Docks was the fifth biggest in the country about 180 years ago,” says Mike, adding how important it was for the town’s famous brick and tile industry.