TWO much-loved mid Cheshire attractions have been recognised with a prestigious Green Flag Award.

Anderton Boat Lift and the River Weaver Navigation, both run by the Canal and River Trust, have picked up the award for being well-managed green spaces.

Jane Hargreaves, local volunteer team leader with the Canal and River Trust, applied for the award on behalf of the charity.

She said: “We are thrilled that both the Anderton Boat Lift and the River Weaver have been assessed as achieving this gold environmental standard.

“Every year the Anderton Boat Lift attracts thousands of visitors to the area and the Weaver Navigation is a much-loved waterway, offering huge potential for walking, cycling, angling and boating.

"We know that spending time by water is good for health and wellbeing, and the trust has seen record numbers of people enjoying their local waterway as a place to exercise and de-stress during the pandemic.

“We have a brilliant team of staff and volunteers who all work hard to maintain and improve the boat lift grounds and the riverside.

"And we would love to recruit more volunteers, groups or individuals, who would like to come and join our wonderful towpath task forces or adopt a stretch of waterway, like the fantastic Mid Cheshire Stand Up Paddle Boarders."

The Anderton Boat Lift, built in 1875, is regarded as the 'cathedral of the canals' – while the Weaver Navigation covers 20 miles of the river from Runcorn to Winsford.

For more information on volunteering email jane.hargreaves@canalrivertrust.org.uk