News
Coltbridge Residents scoop conservation award
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Every year The Water of Leith Conservation Trust presents a trophy to a community or volunteer group that finds the most unusual object during the many clean-ups that take place on the river throughout the year. This year is slightly different in that although no unusual objects of note were found one member of The Coltbridge Bridge Group, Mr John Riddell, found a hole developing in the historic Bells Mill weir. After alerting the Trust and all the relative council departments the weir is now being repaired and consolidated. The Coltbridge Group is formed of local residents who work throughout the year keeping their stretch of the river in excellent condition. They even get in with a canoe every now and then to get the harder to reach objects and litter that most people can't get to without the use of chest-waders.
The Lady of the River Trophy was presented to Dave Black from Coltbridge by our Chairman George Hunter last week. The Trophy itself was found during a clean-up of the river in Bonnington ten years ago and had a base added to make a rather fun trophy. In the past the trophy has been awarded for a range strange and unusual objects such as a black pudding, set of false teeth and deer antlers to name but a few.
This is the first time that The Coltbridge Group has won the conservation trophy. It was felt appropriate because of all the hard work they undertake throughout the year in keeping one of the busiest stretches of the Water of Leith and its Walkway in great condition, and thankfully a hole in a weir is a rather unusual find.
The above is an extract from the 6th October number of the "Water of Leith Conservation Trust News".