River Don heritage trail approved

The project has received a £1.2m grant which will also help encourage salmon to travel further upstream.

The cash, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, has been handed over to the Don Catchment Rivers Trust to carry out the Living Heritage of the River Don project.

A heritage trail from Doncaster to Sheffield along the Don will be signposted and offer the chance for people to learn about the history of the waterway and how people have used it over the years.

The project will also encourage ways to help salmon move further upstream in the River Don towards Sheffield.

Karen Eynon, project manager for Don Catchment Rivers Trust which aims to protect and improve rivers in the Don catchment area, said: “We’re over the moon that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support.

“The rivers of the Don catchment historically provided prosperity to South Yorkshire. It’s time to recognise, restore and celebrate their contribution to our heritage.

“We hope to capture the imagination of the people of South Yorkshire with the return of salmon to the River Don and the signposting of a long distance heritage trail along the river and canal.”

Fiona Spiers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “In the 18th century, apprentices in the centre of Sheffield complained that they were forced to eat salmon for lunch every day. We are delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to fund this project which will once more make salmon commonplace throughout the Don catchment area, and help people better understand the natural heritage at the heart of their communities.

“It is wonderful to think that in five years’ time we will be able to stand in the centre of Sheffield and watch these fish swimming upstream again.”