THE Bude Canal Trust, a small local charity that owns and manages the old Bude Canal, is presenting an illustrated talk on the Bude Canal by renowned local historian, Gerald Fry, at the Chilsworthy Village Hall on Thursday, November 17 at 7pm.

Mr Fry is a founding member of the trust, with a wealth of local knowledge and many interesting anecdotes about his involvement with the canal.

His previous talk and slide show in Bude was very well received and reported on in the local press.

His talk will now be repeated, in response to numerous requests from those who were unable to attend the previous event.

The Bude Canal comprises a small network of waterways on the Devon and Cornwall border. It is of considerable historic interest, featuring some of the most unusual and ingenious engineering of the canal building era.

The Aqueduct Branch of the system, which is the length in the ownership of the Bude Canal Trust, was the original feeder arm for the whole system, although it was later also used as part of the general canal network.

The Bude Canal Trust is a charity whose aims are to retain the historic interest while managing what has become an important wildlife area.

The trust owns a continuous five-mile length of the Bude Canal, the length known as the Aqueduct Branch. The trust is the major single landowner of the canal, and exists to retain and enhance the historic interest of its length and to manage it appropriately for its wildlife importance and low-key recreation potential.

The five-mile public footpath along the old towpath gives an opportunity for all to enjoy this truly wonderful facility.

The objective of the event is to raise funds to help with the upkeep of the canal, and support the trust’s ongoing maintenance programme. Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children.

For more information, visit www.bude-canal-trust.co.uk.