A CHILDREN'S poetry competition has been launched to celebrate a canal.

Waterways and wellbeing charity, Glandŵr Cymru – the Canal and River Trust in Wales – has launched a children’s poetry competition celebrating the Llangollen Canal to mark ten years since it became a World Heritage site.

Called ‘Go with the Flow’, the competition is open to young writers aged five to 11 with the focus being on poems that have been inspired by visiting the Llangollen Canal.

There are three age categories and the winner from each category will win a special experience as a VIP on their own horse drawn boat trip along the World Heritage Site.

Each winner will have their own 45-minute boat trip that will leave from Llangollen Wharf, having the whole boat to themselves to invite friends and family to join them on Saturday, August 17.

Ani Sutton, from the Canal and River Trust, said: “The Llangollen Canal is a really beautiful waterway and is busy with visitors throughout the year. We want our younger canal explorers to really let their imagination flow and come up with a poem to highlight how being next to water makes them feel and why our canals are so special to them.

“Recent research shows that being by water is good for your mental and physical health so what better reason do you need to come and visit. With lots of water, nature, history and boats all around its bound to offer some inspiration - and you never know you could be the next Canal Laureate.”

Entries need to be received by June 18 and all poems should be no longer than 200 words.

Poems should be posted to Canal and River Trust, Go with the Flow Competition, Trevor Basin Visitor Centre, Off Station Road, Trevor, Wrexham LL20 7TY.

Full terms and conditions are on the website at https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk/ or can be picked up at Trevor Basin Visitor Centre.

For more information on Glandŵr Cymru – the Canal and River Trust in Wales – including how you can volunteer or donate money to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk