THE poetry trail along Tavistock Canal has been restored to its former glory thanks to a few dedicated local residents.

Poetry for the trail was created in 2012 by pupils at Tavistock Community College but parts had become shabby and worn away over time.

In order to bring the trail back to life, local resident Jane Miller spent six months renewing the area, with the help of artist Gary Hammond and poet James Crowden.

There are nine places where poetry can be found — the first is on Abbey Walk, near Abbey Bridge, where the canal leaves the Tavy. At this location there is a map of the walk with the nine sites pinpointed.

The walk follows the canal to the end of the public path at Lumburn, a distance of about 2.5miles, where James’s poem ‘Endgame’ can be read. The lines of verse are written on different structures, (benches, wooden slabs), of different materials (metal, plastic panels) and vary in length from one line to several couplets.

The poetry was written by pupils from Years 7 and 8 at Tavistock Community College, with the guidance of the James, who was brought up in this area. The installation of the work was carried out under the auspices of the canal section of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site in 2012.

But, by 2016 much of the writing had become too faded to read, as at the benches at Shillamill Viaduct and Drake’s Globe, or stolen, as with the metal plates on the Crowndale Farm benches, or completely missing, as with the single line now on a bridge at Crowndale Farm. The poetry had added enjoyment to an already beautiful and interesting walk on the edge of Tavistock, so volunteers took on the task of restoring the original verse at the six sites from which it had vanished.

With the help of James, who supplied a copy of the original poetry and endless information, and Gary, the artist and sign writer, who repainted the Viaduct benches and Drake’s Globe, as well as advising on technical matters, the verse has been restored.

Funding was provided by Tavistock Lions and the Tamar Community Trust with the support of Robert Plumb. Jane added thanks to Karl Jones at South West Water and the local landowners for their help.

A leaflet on the Tavistock Canal Poetry Walk is available in Tavistock Museum, along with leaflets and booklets on the history of the canal.

Pictured are Jane Miller,?Robert Plumb and James Crowden at Drake’s Globe.