SCHOOLCHILDREN are to help decide what a new play space in the Droitwich Canals Gateway Park will look like.

The play area, which forms part of the project to restore the town’s historic canals, will be built after the Waterways Trust received £20,000 from Welcome to our Future and £41,000 from Biffaward – a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.

Artist Richard Janes has been selected to create the play feature and throughout this month the sculptor from Nottingham will be visiting several schools in the town to work with the children to develop design ideas.

The play area forms part of the Droitwich Canals Gateway Park which will be situated at the bottom of the flight at Hanbury Locks.

Development manager Kim Chester said: “The restoration of the Droitwich Canals will have something for everyone – a place to walk, boat, relax, fish or cycle. This project will create something for the youngest members of the community to enjoy.

“There is already a pushchair-friendly route from Astwood on the Birmingham & Worcester Canal, to Hanbury Wharf. When complete, the new play feature will encourage even more people to make use of the regenerated waterway.”

For more information on the Droitwich Canals Gateway Park play space project or to get involved, contact Susannah Ronan, education and interpretation co-ordinator, on 07825 681715 or susannahronan@britishwaterways.co.uk.

The restoration of the Droitwich Canals will entail the creation of a 21-mile linear park and canal loop, the establishment of new wildlife habitats and the preservation of 40 heritage structures.

Once complete it is expected to generate more than 320,000 new visits to the area within five years with an additional spend of £2.75m per year in the local economy.