Grain to Tilbury project team supports canal improvements with funding is awarded to the Thames and Medway Canal Association

Volunteers from National Grid and its contractor Ferrovial and BEMO joint venture have volunteered with the Thames and Medway Canal Association, carrying out gardening and clearance work along the canal at Canal Road in Higham.  

The group cleared overgrown bushes and hedges, removed weeds, improved sections of the cycle path with new surface covering, and removed dead trees. Volunteers also installed a pole for a new litter bin to help keep the area tidy for local people. 

The Thames and Medway Canal Association Limited will also receive £20,000 through National Grid’s Community Grant Programme. The funding will be used to purchase a compact tractor and a rear arm-mounted flail mower, helping the team manage reeds and brambles along a 5km stretch of canal towpath. 

The Community Grant Programme supports communities impacted by construction work linked to major infrastructure projects, helping local groups deliver improvements that benefit people and the environment. 

The canal association is one of the closest neighbours to National Grid’s Grain to Tilbury project, which is taking place between Gravesend and Tilbury. 

Dave Parnell, Chair of Thames and Medway Canal Association, said: 

“The volunteers have made a real difference in a short space of time, helping us clear and improve sections of the path which is used every day by the local community. The restored pathway looks great, the new bin post installation would have been a bit challenging for our regular volunteers, and the litter that was collected was amazing. 

"The funding will be a big help too, giving us the equipment we need to manage the towpath so much easier and more effective over the long term.” 

Mark Farmer, Project Director, National Grid, said: 

“We’re pleased to support the Thames and Medway Canal Association with both hands-on volunteering and funding that will make a lasting difference. This towpath is a well-used local route, and it’s important to us that our work leaves a positive impact for the communities closest to our project. 

"The Grain to Tilbury project is about strengthening the electricity network for the future, but also about working constructively with local partners and supporting improvements that people can benefit from day to day.” 

Borja Trashorras, Project Director, Ferrovial BEMO JV, said: 

“Initiatives like this are a key part of how we deliver projects, working closely with local partners and giving back in a practical way. The Grain to Tilbury project goes beyond infrastructure delivery, it’s an opportunity to create a lasting, positive impact in the communities we work in.  

"It’s great to see our teams collaborating with National Grid to support a valued local asset, delivering improvements on the ground, alongside funding that will leave a tangible benefit for years to come.” 

Delivered by Ferrovial in partnership with BEMO, the Grain to Tilbury project will replace the existing Thames Cable Tunnel, originally built in the 1960s, which carries high-voltage electricity. Part of The Great Grid Upgrade, the project will help to ensure secure, cleaner and home-grown energy from more affordable sources flows through the network. 

Work is now underway on the Gravesend side, with further activity expected as construction progresses.

Image