Traffic jams on the streets of Burton have undoubtedly skyrocketed in the past few weeks due to the controversial closure of St Peter's Bridge for repair work.

It is one of the town's most used bridges, which typically sees more than 24,000 vehicles travel across it every day, shut on Tuesday, August 29, for three months as essential repairs are made to "life-expired" rusted bearings, which are needed to keep the bridge safe. If they are not replaced then a weight restrictions would have to be imposed on the bridge, say highways bosses.

Businesses, commuters and pretty much everyone else in the Staffordshire town have been having their say about the closure. It has also meant that many people have had to find alternate routes or methods of getting in and out of the town when trying to get to work, home or even to do a bit of shopping.

Taking different roads around the town centre has been effective for some, while others have opted for less wheels by dusting off their old bicycles, or simply by taking the green option of walking to get where they need to go.

Many commuters, when heading across any one of the many walking bridges or Burton Bridge which connects the town to Stapenhill, Winshill and South Derbyshire may look fondly to the River Trent and wonder how easy it might be just to tackle the waterway to cross from one side of the river to the other.

This idea also occurred to us here at the Burton Mail so we thought we would be the guinea pigs and give it go. It's not for everyone for sure and you need to be a skilled canoeist so perhaps its not one to try at home sadly.

There were many sights to be seen along the River Trent
There were many sights to be seen along the River Trent

I took up the challenge of taking on Burton's most famous waterway, the River Trent, to see the town from a different perspective that not many people get the chance to do.

I went along with Burton-based kayaking enthusiasts, John Anderson and his son, Lewis, as we set off from Burton Canoe Club, in Newton Road, to have a look at the many nooks and crannies which the River Trent has to offer.

There were some patches of the river where you would be forgiven for thinking you had paddled into a section of the Amazon rainforest.

Some sections of the river felt like travelling through a jungle
Some sections of the river felt like travelling through a jungle

What seemed like forests of large, broad trees with hanging branches and vines touching the water littered some parts of the river, which was just barely wide enough to fit the narrow boat, which itself is only roughly two-and-a-half-feet wide.

"You would never believe that we’re still in Burton would you," said John, who during the day is chairman of Outwoods Parish Council.

"All along here is the back of the town, passing the Meadowside Leisure Centre, The Winery, Burton and South Derbyshire College - and you wouldn't have a clue that we're just the other side from all of that."

The Winery, one of Burton's top restaurants seen from a very different angle
The Winery, one of Burton's top restaurants seen from a very different angle

That was the most surprising aspect of the whole two-hour journey, how distant we felt from the busy town centre.

Despite being, at times, just a stone's throw away from the growling traffic in the town, or the loud activities going on at Meadowside Leisure Centre, the whole journey was remarkably quiet and tranquil and I was able to see Burton from a different angle. There is a plethora of hidden sections of the river which would appeal to anyone's investigative or more curious side.

Taking the boat through small gaps, or sometimes through the branches of whole trees, we would get through to a new area that made you feel like a modern day Christopher Columbus, discovering somewhere completely untouched by anyone else. Although the odd deflated football or fast-food cup spoiled that.

There are a couple of sections of the river which were completely covered with a thick green layer of what felt like porridge to paddle through.

On closer inspection it was actually thousands of tiny green plants called lemnoideae, more commonly known as duckweed, all clumped together to form the solution.

Duckweed covers sections of the River Trent, including near the Andresey Bridge, which can be difficult to paddle through
Duckweed covers sections of the River Trent, including near the Andresey Bridge, which can be difficult to paddle through

John said: "This is all duckweed, tough to get through, but take it home and put it in a pond and within a week it'll start multiplying."

Coming literally face-to-face with a range of wildlife on the waterways, such as swans and coots, is a lasting memory which I wouldn't have been able to enjoy from any other angle.

History of the River Trent in Burton

The River Trent is one of the longest rivers in the whole of the United Kingdom, only measuring shorter than the Thames and Severn.

The history of the town of Burton and the river are intertwined, such as in 1795 when a flood devastated a lot of the town, flooding the streets and houses.

Because of constant concerns of further flooding, flood defences were installed in the 1950s, then improved in 2012.

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Would you go for a paddle down the River Trent through Burton?

In 1699, major businessman from Burton, Lord William Paget, wanted to expand navigation on the river from Nottingham up to Fleetstones Bridge, now the Ferry Bridge, in Burton.

Locks were built at various mills in Burton, thanks to an Act of Parliament, which allowed Lord Paget to have complete control to build wharves and warehouses along the bank.

This was a controversial decision at the time, as many workers in Nottingham disagreed with the trade moving to Burton and claimed that Lord Paget was attempting to create a monopoly, completely owning and running the business on the stretch of river.

This led to poor relations and in 1777, the Trent and Mersey Canal was authorised to be built to run alongside the river to allow for better trade routes.

What else can you do on the River Trent?

Sometimes it can be easy to forget the opportunities that are right on your doorstep. The River Trent offers a whole range of boating, fishing and aquatic activities that are enough to keep you busy throughout the year.

For example, the Trent Rowing Club, which is situated just off the Burton Bridge offers year-round coaching and lessons on how to row.

With sessions perfect for a range of abilities, whether you are a trained professional or a complete beginner, the club has sessions for all.

The yearly Burton Regatta, held by the club is arguably the river’s busiest time, being held yearly since 1865.

The race consists of a full distance, 1100-metre regatta and a 700-metre sprint regatta across the two-day event in July, which regularly attracts the interest of most of the town.

But, if boating isn’t quite your thing and you don’t fancy getting your feet wet, then the river can act as a beautiful back drop to a number of hotspots along the bank to relax.

Restaurants like The Winery and The Sump in Burton which back on to the river are perfect for kicking back and forgetting the world, with a fantastic view of the Trent.

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