The Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project is launching an audio guide project to go alongside the group's conservation work of the Oakham and Langham canal networks - and they are looking for local people who are willing to share their stories.

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 '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.

The OCGCP team have worked to improve the paths alongside Oakham's waterways for walkers and anglers to enjoy. Image credit: Nub News.

There are more plans to extend the work going on across the local canal paths and walkways.

For now though, the team are working on an exiting new project, and they need your help.

Thanks to National Lottery funding, they are working with Arts for Rutland to explore the life of Oakham's canals in an intriguing new audio book project.

They shared on their social media: "Oakham Canal Green Corridor Project is very excited to announce our new audio guide project. We will be working with Excavate and Arts for Rutland to explore the past, present and future of the canal.

"Thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Grant, we will be running a series of workshops to collect stories as well as offering people the chance to learn about and carry out their own oral history work, gathering memories and knowledge of the canal. This will feed into the creation of an audio guide that will bring these stories to life through a variety of colourful characters from across the ages."

OCGCP is made up of volunteers who undertake physical and administrative work to ensure that Oakham's paths and canals are maintained. Image credit: OCGCP.

They continued: "Excavate have a long tradition of working on community-based heritage projects and have created a number of much loved shows, in partnership with Arts for Rutland, over the last 20 years. This year will see the work being researched and shaped, so watch out for the open workshops, which we will advertise here.

"And as we head into Autumn you may find yourself bumping into some of the characters testing out their lines as you stroll along the canal! We aim to have the audio guide recorded and ready to use early next year, with a Spring launch.

"We'd love to hear your stories and memories of the canal to help form the audio guide, please inbox us if you are interested in taking part."

You can get in touch with the team on Facebook or find out more about the team and what they do online.

Alternatively, share your own projects, news, views and local opinions with us by emailing [email protected]. No news is too small, so get in touch!

The OCGCP run walks and gudied tours of the calan to highlight the area to Rutland residents and showcase their hard work. Image credit: Nub News.

Find out more about the guided walks on offer along Oakham Canal in 2023.