FAMILIES are being urged to visit Cheshire's canals and rivers to investigate the wildlife of the waterways.
The Canal and River Trust launched its Great Nature Watch campaign to monitor the species that live along the waterways, protect them and enhance their habitats.
People are being urged to record their sightings on the trust's free mobile app eNatureWatch.
Mark Robinson, national ecologist for the Canal and River Trust, said: "By taking part in the Great Nature Watch you can help us monitor the numbers of all species living on waterways, which is essential when looking after and maintaining a 200 year part of our industrial heritage.
"With the warmth of the summer sun, canals are now alive with dragonflies, butterflies and bees.
"This is also a plentiful time for birds, with food abound, as the young leave the nest and take to the wing.
"This makes the school break a great opportunity for families to get out and explore their local canal or river, and find out what’s living there."
The Great Nature Watch remains open until the end of September.
For further information on Great Nature Watch please visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/great-nature-watch.
The trust has also put together a free activity book and sticker sheet.
To receive the free guide, visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/summer or text ‘Sunny’ to 70060.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here