Boats will make a floating garden

May 16 2008 Chester Chronicle

WATERWAYS will play host to a unique floating floral pageant this summer as part of the Cheshire Year of Gardens 08 festival.

Decorated canal boats will set sail from the four main compass points of the county, converging on Middlewich for the Folk & Boat Festival, which starts on Friday, June 13.

From the west, heritage vessel Shad leaves Ellesmere Port Boat Museum on Saturday, June 7, travelling the Shropshire Union Canal through Chester.

The vessels will negotiate a staggering 324 bridges, tunnels and aqueducts before congregating at the festival on Saturday, June 14.

The flotilla will effectively form a floating garden, decorated with flowers and plants.

Societies are to support the floating parade while private vessels are encouraged to participate.

Wales & Border Counties business development manager Susan Lewis said the event embodied the unique vitality generated by waterways: “Our canals have the capacity to excite and engage with people in all walks of life, whether on the water or along their towpaths.”