VOLUNTEERS are being recruited to help protect Glasgow’s historic Forth and Clyde Canal.

Scottish Waterways Trust, in partnership with Scottish Canals, is looking for people to join in a ‘Love your Canal’ adopting project on the historic canal.

Volunteers will be trained like traditional lock keepers to open locks for passing boats, helping to repair canal stonework and masonry, painting and litter-picking.

Last year, volunteers contributed over 1,500 hours as part of the ‘Love Your Canal’ project.

This year, it will run between Friday and Monday each week from Saturday March 25 until the end of October 2017.

The project will be based at Maryhill running from locks 21 to 27.

The charity aim to run a number of workshops for volunteers which could include learning about wild plants, bumblebees and an Emergency First Aid course.

After full training from Scottish Canals waterway staff, the volunteers will be able to help Scottish Waterways Trust and Scottish Canals to open the locks for boats travelling west to Bowling, east to Glasgow city centre or across country to The Kelpies at Grangemouth or Edinburgh via The Falkirk Wheel.

Volunteers will also be put forward for awards such as the John Muir Discovery Award and Heritage Hero Award as well as certificates of competency for training in areas such as water safety and lime mortaring.

Tracey Peedle, Development Director, Scottish Waterways Trust, said: “We were overwhelmed by the resounding success of our ‘Love Your Canal’ project last summer, and are delighted to be bringing the project back to North Glasgow, with the support of our partners Scottish Canals.

The ‘Love Your Canal’ adoption project is a great volunteering opportunity for those looking to try something new and learn new skills whilst connecting with our vibrant canal heritage and biodiversity.

Last summer, the project attracted a wide range of people who came together to care for the 250 year-old waterway.

As well as learning traditional lock-keeping skills and built heritage skills, volunteers meet new friends and get the opportunity to earn a range of awards and certificates whilst doing something a bit different.”

Volunteer Lock-keeper, Bob Alston, added: “I didn’t know what to expect. For me the best part was the lock-keeping, we were trained and out of all the boats we moved through the locks I was involved with almost all of them. I am a lock-keeper now! It’s a great project.”