Volunteers from the Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project have been working hard improving the 'Fisherman' section of the Oakham Canal this week, with works expected to continue until 5 March.

The Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project is a registered charity working to preserve and restore the old Oakham Canal in Rutland, UK, in order to "share the economic, environmental, social and leisure opportunities this beautiful waterway offers". ​

The new Green Corridor will provide around 2.5 miles of footpaths between the Springfield Estate in the south, and the Oakham Enterprise Park in the north, with work so far having taken place on the canal paths between and around Oakham and Langham.

Works are progressing well. Image credit: Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project.

The project has been ongoing for 8 years, and has been a registered charity for 2.

Project Manager, Paul Dadford, said: "It was only and idea 8 years ago. I got talking to landowners, asked the public, and the idea grew. A public meeting was held and I expected only 10 people, so when 100 turned up, it was amazing to see that this would be a well-supported project - something it continues to be today."

Only in January the MP for Melton and Rutland, Alicia Kearns, unveiled the Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project information board and milepost in a ceremony celebrating the hard work of the project volunteers.

With no time wasted, the dedicated team are back at it, this time making improvements to the 'Fisherman' section of the Oakham Canal, which intersects Burley Road near to the Ashwell/Langham roundabout.

The path on the opposite side of the canal is open for use. Image credit: Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project.

This week, they are scraping back the old path and laying a new aggregate surface, the same as on the 'Northern section' path. They are using mechanical vehicles to carry out the work. The works are well signposted and a diversion is in place along the Permissive path, to the west of the section being worked on.

The team have thanked Oakham locals for their co-operation while this work takes place, adding the the volunteers "will be there to ensure your safety."

Volunteers are working hard on the Oakham - Langham Canal path. Image credit: Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project.

If anyone has any questions about the project, or wishes to get involved, the group can be reached via their Facebook page or through: [email protected].