Walsall Canal reopens after devastating toxic spill
By Lucy Wood
The Canal &River Trust has celebratedthe reopening of theWalsall Canal toboats after aserious pollution incident forced its closure last year.
MONTHS of dedicated effortby teams from the Canal& RiverTrust, Environment Agency,Walsall and Sandwell Councils,UKHealth and Safety Agency, emergencyservices,Severn TrentWater andcontractorsonbehalf of the polluter worked to limit thedamage and protectthe canal’secosystem.
The chemical spillagein August caused up to 4000 litres of highly toxiczinc cyanide solution to enterthe canalat Pleck, Walsall,affectinglocal wildlife.To contain the pollution, a12-mile stretchof the canalwas initiallyclosed to the public and boaters.
The canalclosure wasquicklyreduced to aone-mile stretch from PlecktoWalsall TopLockatBirchills and the towpath wasreopenedseveral weekslater when chemical levels were at aconsistentlysafe level.
The canalhas been dredgedtoremove cyanide-contaminated silt,further reducingrisks to wildlife andaiding ecological recovery.About 526 tonnes of silt have been removedand safely disposedof.
Henriette Breukelaar, directorfor the West Midlands at the CRT, said: “After many months of closure, Iamdelighted to reopen the Walsall Canaltoour boating community. It hastaken significanttime andresources to remove the toxins,and Ithank boatersfor their patienceduring the clean-up.
“Thisincidenthas hadalastingimpact on the canal’secology,but ourteam actedswiftlytocontain the pollution and preventfurther damage to wildlife The clean-up hassofar cost ourcharity £100,000 –funds that wouldhavebeen used to repair ourcanals. We will seek to reclaim this moneyfromthe polluting companyand invest it in caring forthe
canals in theWestMidlands
“Wewill continue to closelymonitor the canaltoensurenofurther harm comes to wildlife.Theextraordinary scale and nature of this pollution incident meanswecan’t be certainhow longitwill takefor fish and other wildlife to fully recover. We will thereforecontinueto closelymonitorthe canaltomakesure we remain on tracktosee thisbeautiful and much-lovedstretch of canalmake afull recovery forboaters and local communities to fullyenjoy.”
Coun Adrian Andrew, associateleader at Walsall Council, added: “Muchwork hasgone into gettingustothe position to reopen the canal. Amid adevastating chemical spill, the partnerswho have been involved throughout stepped up to keep the public safe andtominimisethe long-termimpacts.
“Despitethe situation, thisreopening is somethingtobecelebrated. Iknowour canals areimportant to many people,and it is agreat relief theycan nowbeenjoyed once more.”
West Country campaignershelp to clean up bathingwaters
By LucyWood
COMMUNITIES whocampaignedtoturn their favourite spots into official bathingwatersare helpingthe EnvironmentAgencymakethem cleanertoswimin. EnvironmentAgencymonitoringofthe 451 rivers and beaches on England’s listofdesignated bathingwaters this summerhas begun. Watersamples will be taken weeklyorfortnightly at consistent points in rivers and seas and sent for laboratory testing.
The results of thesesamples showhow cleanthe water is andultimatelyhelp dictatewhatclassification the locationswill be givenlater in theyear; anyclassification from ‘sufficient’ andabove meansthe waterquality is good enough to swim in. The results will be available to viewonline
ThreeriversinSomersetand Hampshirewere officiallychosen as ‘designated bathingwaters’ last year,but contrarytopublic opinion, said the EA,being ‘designated’ doesn’t automaticallymeanthe watermeets setstandards of public hygiene.Classifications for these rivers came back as ‘poor,’meaningswimmingwas not advisable
In response, groups includingcampaigners,swimmers, councillors, MPs, watercompanies and the Environment Agencyhavejoinedforcestoturn around waterquality at thesesites
Thisincludesthe RiverTone, at French Weir Park in Taunton. Agroup hascome together to create an action plan to driveimprovements to reduce pollution affecting the bathingwater qualitywhereswimmingtakes place. JimFlory, of theEnvironmentAgency, said:“We routinely monitor rivers to checkthatthe waterqualityfor wildlife andthe naturalecologyofour rivers is protected.
“But thestandards needed to protecthuman health aredifferent from thoseneededtosafeguardthe ecology and wildlife in ourriversand alot of teamwork is needed to clearthatbar.This will be amarathon, not asprint.” EnvironmentAgencyofficers will patrol the surroundingarealooking for obvious sources of pollution entering the watercourse, as well as inspecting water pipesand othertypes of equipmentthatdischarge waterintothe river. The othertwo rivers areinFarleigh Hungerfordand Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
Throughout the summerseason, whichbegan in Mayand runs until the end of September, the agency will takemorethan7000 samples at 451 designated bathingwatersinEngland. Meanwhile, the application processfor new bathing waters for2026 hasreopened –for thefirsttimesince October2023. Sincethen, the Governmenthas announced significantreforms to theBathing WaterRegulations to better reflect public useoficonic swimmingspots.Successful siteswill be announcednextyear.
To checkthe results of watersamples in your area,visit: https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles More freedom with
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The first boat alongthe newlyreopened canal. PHOTO: CRT
Lee Bates, area operations manager at the Canal &River Trust,EdJames, from BBC RadioWMand Walsall Town MayorCounLouise Harrison cut theribbon to officially reopen the canal. PHOTO: CRT
Waterwaysfundingcampaign reachesheart of government
By Lucy Wood
The Fund Britain’sWaterways (FBW) nationwide appeal for an urgent review into waterways infrastructure funding is gathering pace following ademonstration on the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament.
THE FBW’stravelling narrowboat flotillaissued awarningtothe nation’s policymakerstoprotect the futureofour waterways in advance of the Government’sSpending Review.
The colourful 26-strong cavalcade of participants –some of whom travelled morethan250 miles to attend–soundedtheirhorns to cheers from supporters on WestminsterBridge, drawingthe attention of MPsgathered on the Palace of Westminster’s terrace ahead of Prime Minister’squestions.
Welcomingthe flotillawere crowds of inland waterway supporters on the bridge andrepresentatives from the campaign’s allianceof 160organisations joining parliamentarians on the terrace
Theflotillahas been on themovesince March 29, when an initial group of boatsset off from Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster, raising awarenessand beingjoined by other boatsalong the way. By thetime it stopped outside Parliament,the grouphad operated 172 lockstoLondon. The
group includeda pair of workingfuel boats, a historicnarrowboat, a Dutchbarge andprivately ownednarrowboats from around thecountry,some of whichhad to battle failingcanal infrastructure andapollution incidentto reachWestminster.
Fu nd Br itain’s Waterwaysisa coalitionof organisationsrepresenting usersand supporters of inland waterways campaigningtosafeguard thefutureofBritain’s 5000-milenetwork of cherished canals and rivers.The campaign urgesrecognition of the importance of Britain’s inland waterwaysaspartof the nationalinfrastructure with environmental, leisure, heritage and commercial freightvalue, andcalls for an urgent fundingreview in lightof theiralready-deteriorating
condition.
Thisyear’sflotilla is led by HazelOwen, chair of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC) andamember of the FBW steering group, whosaid: “Not even broken locksor pollution from afire closing the Maida Hill Tunnel stood in the way of the26boats representingthousands of FBWmembers getting ourmessage across to the Government that adequate funding is required to save ourcanalsfor future generations.
“Weweredelighted to be welcomedby Parliamentariansand FBWrepresentatives on the terrace andsupporters on WestminsterBridgeas we soundedour horns and made quiteanoise.”
From Westminster,the FBWflotillacontinued itsjourney to the cityof Milton Keynes to promote itscause.Theself-managed Lionhearts Cruising Club hasa40-boat marina at GreatLinford,and theFBW boatswerewelcomedby Lionhearts’harbourmaster Kevin Bates.
The core groupofboats formingthe flotillais scheduledtoreturn to DoncasterinAugust, 20 weeksafter leaving. The Government’sSpending Review wasscheduledfor June 11, as thisissue went to press.
New approach to cleaningupBritain’sriver systems
By Lucy Wood
LEADING figuresfromthe waterindustry, environmental sector and freshwaterscience community have met in Westminster to discuss a newstrategyfor cleaning up Britain’s watersystems –bystartingatthe top.
OrganisedbyFreshwaterHabitats Trust, the Headstartconference focusedonprotectingand restoring headwater catchments to kick-start nature recovery.Located upstream, at the source of ariver,headwater catchments include small streams, wetlands and ponds that feed into the riversystem. The FreshwaterHabitats Trustsaidthattargeting thesesmall catchments at thesourceofour river systems would help to addressurgent challengesfacingour rivers
In its report Headstart: Using headwater catchments to kickstart naturerecovery, the charity puts forward acasefor mitigating wastewater and agricultural pressures on headwatercatchments,restoring
headwater streams andwetlands, and creatingclean waterponds.This includes upgradingsmall wastewater treatmentworks to reduce the impact of sewage on headwater catchments
Theconference featured presentations from NaturalEngland, theNational Trustand Anglian Water.
Prof Jeremy Biggs,CEO of the FreshwaterHabitatsTrust,said:
“When we talk aboutcleaningup ourwater system,people usually think of pollution in bigrivers. But ourevidenceshows that cleaning up smallcatchmentsatthe topofthe rivernetwork couldtransformthe waterenvironment.
“Although theyare individually small, headwater streams make up morethan70% of Britain’sriver network,and their catchments cover more than half of Englandand Wales Because they aresmall,headwater catchmentsfacefewer pollution sourcesand areeasier to manage Crucially, these catchments respond quicklytorestoration. This means
Next steps to reach theShropshire Gap
By LucyWood
WORK beingcarried outbythe ShropshireUnion CanalSocietyto restorepartofthe MontgomeryCanal continues apace.
The society’sregular workingparties arecurrently focusedon the Crickheath South projecttorestore the drychannelbetween Crickheath Bridge (bridge85) at Crickheath Basinand Schoolhouse Bridge (bridge86) at Long Lane,adistanceof750m
As reported in previous issues of TowpathTalk,overthe years awidevariety of enhancement andrestorationactivitieshave been undertaken, from towpathand mooringimprovements to rebuildinglocks and restoringdisused channels
In 2022, the societycompleted restoration of the Montgomery Canalbetween Pryces Bridge and Crickheath Basin, amajor undertakingoverseven yearsthat addedafurther 1¼ miles of navigation to the national networkwhen it officially opened in June 2023.
Afurther twomiles of drychannel restoration remainsbeforethe restored canalatLlanymynech is reached– the ShropshireGap.For first time in morethan100 years, it will then be possible to navigate from the national networktothe MontgomeryCanal in Wales
we canachieveresultswithin years rather than decades.”
Thereportalsohighlights the rich biodiversity of headwater catchments,which supportunique speciesand providevital spawning habitatfor migratorysalmon and trout. The trustdeveloped Headstart after carryingout an evidence review commissionedbyAnglian Water and the CaSTCo programme.It highlightedalackofinvestmentin headwaters, andthe need for more recognitionofthe importance of smallwatersinlegislation protecting the waterenvironment.
The trustwillnow collaborate with the watersectorand other partners to identify catchmentsfor the Headstart project. Headstartisone of the approaches the charitywill useto buildthe Freshwater Network, using smallwaterstoregeneratefreshwater landscapes.
The currentphase of workscontinues thechannel restoration from Crickheath BasintoSchoolhouse Bridge.Inthe latest working partyreport, projectmanager TomFuldasaiditwas another “highly productive” session, helped by the prolongeddry andsunnyspell. “Profiling, liningand blocking continuedtobethe main eventbut as usual, avariety of othertasks were undertaken,” he added.
The report read: “Working back towardsthe previously re-watered section, thechannel widens considerably on abend. When we startedliningthis currentsection, lengthsofliner about8.5 metres longweresufficienttocover the channel from side to side.This work partyfinishedwith 14m lengths beingusedand we haven’t yetreached thewidestpoint. Regularadjustments aretherefore made to keep the nib at the topofthe blocksjustbelowwater level.
“Asthe channelwidens there is space again to incorporatethe soft bank designonthe offside.Twentymetres of the first course of hollowblockswereinstalled. Asignificantvolume of soil is required to infill behind the hollowblock retainingwalland this hasalready been positionedabove the liner,ready for infilling when the retainingwallhas been completed
“Intotal, 102 metres of this sectionhavenow been linedand blocked, and the towpathbank hasbeencompleted abovewater levelbycoveringthe linerswith riprap then soil. Soil covering for the offside bank waits for anotheroccasion.”
Avariety of othertasks were undertaken includingfixing some leaksaround atemporary connectingpipeand knockingdown weed growth on the spoil heap in the compoundand elsewhere.
“Nextworkparty,itwill be time to remove the temporarydam separatingthis site from the re-watered section (havingfirst de-watered the re-watered section!) in ordertoprofilethe channel in this area and startlining,”the report concluded.
TheFund Britain’sWaterwaysflotillareaches the Thames to bringits fundingwarning to Westminster. PHOTO: LIZ RAYNER
New chief executiveappointed
By Lucy Wood
WATERWAYS charitythe Canal &River Trusthas announced the appointmentofCampbell Robb as its new chief executive. Mr Robb will join the charityonOctober 6, after sixyears leadingthe social justice charityNacroasits chief executive. He is replacing RichardParry,who joinedthe trustin2013, and who has ledthe organisation through its critical formativeyears to become an establishednational charity.
BeforejoiningNacro, Mr Robb waschief executiveofthe Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, steering the organisation through asignificantchange programme.Prior to this he spentseven yearsaschief executiveofShelter,buildingits abilitytosupportmorepeople than ever beforeand leading the organisation’sresponseto some of the biggestchanges to housingand welfarepolicy in generations.
Mr Robb alsohas government experience.Before joining Shelter,hewas the first director general of the Office of the ThirdSector, an adviserto
HM Treasury,and waspreviously director of public policy at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
“The role of chief executiveofthe Canal&River Trustisone of the most excitingroles in thepublic
and voluntary sectorsand one I am delighted to take on,” he said “Toact as asteward for the history andprotect the future of these amazinglivingmonuments will be a challenge,but alsoanopportunity.”
Acruisewith adifference!
By Lucy Wood
SPECTATORSatthe MoiraCanal Festival were delightedtowitnessaconvoyof wildernessboats at the annual event–and the boatersshowedtheirsupport for the Ashby Canalrestoration.
Wildernessboats aretrailboatswhich can be easily loadedontoa trailer andtowed to gettotheirlaunchdestinations. Tenof the boatsfromthe WildernessBoatOwners’ Club attendedthe MoiraCanal Festival, held on the detachedsection of the Ashby CanalatMoiraFurnace,nearSwadlincote, Leicestershire, in mid-May,alongwith two CaraBoatsand aSea Otter.
All 13 boatsweretowed to thecanal by their ownersfromall around the country and launchedeither at theMoiraFurnace
New charity formed to supportEssex waterway
By Lucy Wood
Incoming director
The CRThas alsoannounced the appointmentofBen Cottam as the directorfor its historiccanalsspanning Walesand thesouth-west of England. He will join the charityonAugust11from the Federation of Small Businesses,whereheis currentlyheadofWales
Beforehis currentrole, Mr Cottam wasfor eightyears theheadofthe Association of CharteredCertified Accounts in Wales. He is amemberofanumberof boards and groups including WelshGovernment’sSocial Partnership Council and the Wales Productivity Forum andpreviously served for some yearsaschair of the LocalAdvisoryBoard of Cardiff &Vale College’s Career Readyprogramme, deliveringcareer-focused employabilityopportunities for young people
slipwayoratConkers WatersideCentrein the National Forest,justdownthe canal.
On the Sunday afternoonofthe event, sevenofthe boatsset off for the southern endofthe detached section, abouta mile away,and hadamostenjoyable cruise. Theylinedupacrossthe end of the canal andtoasted the sunshine and restoration progress.
The Ashby CanalAssociation (ACA)isat the helmofthe projecttoreverse the yearslong closureofthe sectionofcanal dueto theeffectsofminingsubsidence. Through workingparties,the ACAhas carriedout restoration work andmaintainsthe restored length.
Aspokespersonfor theWilderness Boats
THEInland Waterways Association hassuccessfully completedthe final details in settingupanew charity designedtoincrease support for theChelmerand Blackwater Navigation in Essex.
In November 2024 plans were announcedbyIWA’s trustees and the boardofEssex WaterwaysLtd to forma new charity, theobjective being the continuedsuccess of the navigation. With the sharein EssexWaterways Ltdhaving been transferredtoEssex WaterwaysNavigation Trust, the arrangements arenow complete.
ManagedbyIWA’s wholly ownedsubsidiary, Essex WaterwaysLtd,the navigation hasbeena greatsuccess.It hasgonefromaposition of near bankruptcy and poor maintenance to amuchlovedamenityenjoyed by an appreciativelocal population andpromotedasastarattraction of the county by both VisitEssex and the localauthorities
Notonlyhas thehistoric waterway been enjoyed by
many visitors andlocals, it hasalsoprovidedsignificant employmentwithtripboats andwaterside businesses, as well as maintenance work.The navigation hasbecome amodel of efficientoperation and sustainable management The IWAand EssexWaterways Navigation Trustwill maintain closerelations,and some of the charitableactivitiesperformed by EssexWaterways Ltdwill transfer to the new charity. Freehold ownershipofthe navigation remains with the CompanyofProprietors of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, establishedin1793 by ActofParliament, whichhas contracted EssexWaterways to manage the navigation for as longasEssex WaterwaysLtd wishestodoso.
RoyChandler,chair of Essex WaterwaysLtd,said: “Taking on managementofthe Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation was acourageousdecision by IWA’s trustees in 2005, and we are gratefulfor the confidence and supportfor ourendeavours over the past 20 years.”
Owners’ Club said: “Ofcourse, it will be some yearsbeforethis section is linked to the rest of theAshby Canal. In the meantime,our club continues to demonstrateits support
forthis, andother restorationschemes up anddownthe country, throughsupporting events such as the very well-attendedMoira CanalFestival.”
Campbell Robb,the incoming chiefexecutive of the Canal &River Trust. PHOTO: CRT
The Wilderness Boats Owners’ Club at Moira on the Ashby Canal PHOTO: WBOC
Full Big River Watch resultsreveal pictureofour water health
By Lucy Wood
Thousands of peoplearound theUKand Ireland joined forcesand becamespringtime citizen scientists forThe River Trust’s biannual citizen scienceevent,the BigRiverWatch.
THERiver Trusthas since been busy combingthrough the data and hasnow shared the results of the participants’ efforts,recordedbetween April25and May1.
“This watch wasparticularly exciting forusasit marks twofull yearsofBig River Watchsurveys,” said atrust spokesperson.
“Together,anamazing 3909 people took part and submitted2261 surveys. That adds up to 41 days of watching and recordingobservations of ourpreciouswaterways, from Stornowayinthe Outer HebridestoDover on the English south coast.
“For us,this wasa particularly exciting‘watch’ , as not onlydoesitmarktwo full yearsofBig RiverWatch surveys, butwealsoteamed up with Earthwatch’sGreat UK WaterBlitz to offereven more opportunities to gather riverhealth data by measuring nitrates and phosphates in the water.
“Four-time BigRiver Watch champions,ducks once again takethe podium spot for the mostcommon wildlife sighting, being
recorded in 1100 surveys. Second place goes to fish, with 636 recordings,followed by riverflies at 628. Close behind butnot quitemaking the podium arethe heron and swan,with 429 and 419 sightings respectively.”
Beaverswerespotted by 11 surveyorswhile148 caught aglimpseofthe stunning kingfisher
“Yourwildlifeobservations help shine alight on which species arethriving, where they’re beingseen, and howriver ecosystems are functioning.Beaversightings areanexcitingsignof ecological restoration, while riverflies area keyindicator of good waterquality.
“Thoughmanysurveys recordedwildlife,whichcan be agood indicator for the health of ourwaterways,it’s clearthatour rivers arestill underpressure. More than half of all surveys(54%) recordedatleast oneformof pollution.
“Silt wasthe mostfrequently reported pollutant, with 547 sightings.Silt and soil often enterwaterways after rainfall; restoringour soils,using
covercrops,and installing nature-based solutions like buffer strips and riparian tree plantingcan help us keep soil, silt and nutrients on land.
“Livestock-related pollution came next, recordedin343 surveys, areminder of the impact of farmanimals with directaccesstoriverbanks. Notonlydoesthis bring nutrientpollution, likenitrates andphosphatesthatcan result in toxicalgal blooms,but it canalsointroduce antibiotics and pathogens to river ecosystems,posingrisks to both ecosystems andhuman health.Livestock presence on riverbankscan alsodamage vegetation and increase erosion, further degrading riverhabitats.
“Algal blooms were recorded in 250 surveys. Theseoften suggesthighlevelsofnutrients in thewater,whichcan come from agricultural run-off or untreatedsewage. They become morecommon in the summer months in response to warmer temperatures, prolongeddaylighthours,and the washingofspringfertiliser nutrients from farmland with rain.
“Sewagepollution itself was reported 139 times (featuring in 6.14% of surveys),while sewagefungus, astringy greybrowngrowththat thrives in polluted conditions and can indicate sewage pollution taking placeovera long period,was seen in 189.
“Othertypes of pollution
were alsonoted.Roadrun-off, usuallyrecognised by an oily or rainbow-likesheen on the water’ssurface,was recorded in 89 surveys. Mine water, which cancontain toxic metals and stainriverbeds, wasreportedin50.
“Despitethe high frequency of pollutionand reports of litter (present in 50% of surveys),70% of participants felt theirriver stretch looked healthy, while 22% said it looked unhealthyand 8% were unsure. At first glance, that sounds promising, but many of the biggestthreats to ourriversare invisible to thenaked eye. Chemical pollution, for example,affects all rivers in theUKand Ireland, butcan’t be detectedwithout labtesting.
“Plus,participants aremore likelytoheadout in dryand sunnyweather,when signsof pollution likesewageorlitter maybelessvisible.These oftenbecomemorenoticeable afterrainfallwhenoverflows and run-off wash them into rivers.
“Aswith previous BigRiver Watchevents, we asked participants to summarise howtheyfeltduringtheir rivervisit usingasingle word These one-word responsesare one of ourfavourite elements of the survey to explore and revealed aclear emotional connection to riverhealth. People whothought their riverlookedhealthy most
reverse-level layout, vaulted ceilings and castiron windows overlooking thetranquilStaffordshire &Worcestershire Canal, this unique property is now available forthe first
time since its sensitive conversionin1998 following itsconstruction circa 1800.
SteepedinGeorgian history andjusta moment’s walk from thetown’smany shops,cafes andamenities,
FOR SALE- THE BOATHOUSE- AHISTORIC
CANAL-SIDE HOME WITH MOORING ParkesQuay,Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire
Stunning end-terrace in asecluded waterside setting.
•Cathedral ceilings.
•Exposed beams.
•Original 17th Centurylargecast-ironwindows.
•2bedrooms.
•Private mooring for boat of anylength with panoramic canal views.
OIRO £250,000
Formore information ortoarrange aviewing,please contact Phipps &Pritchard Estate Agents on 01299 822060
thischaracterful home offers the perfectblendofseclusion and convenience, and would make an ideal main residence, stylishretreat, or lock-upand-leavebolthole forthose with aloveofBritain’sinland waterways.
Aboater’sdream
Setbeside awide stretchofthe canalwith commandingviewsofthe nearby lock,the property offersnot just beauty but boatingpracticality.The currentowner moorsa 12melectricnarrowboat outside the house.
Thevendor,who originallypurchased and helped design the property as asafe haven from riverflooding,said: “I’d admired the site for years– thosewonderful warehouseproportions andthe secure canalside
often described feelingcalm, peaceful, or happy. Whereas thosewho felt theirriver looked unhealthyweremore likelytosay they felt sad, concerned, or frustrated
“Theseemotional responses remind us that the condition of ourriversisn’t just about nature, it directlyaffectsour mental well-beingand our relationship with theplaces we live. Clean, thrivingrivers, full of nature, bringuspeace and help fosterasenseofpride in ourlocal area.Polluted waterways, on theother hand, bringworry,frustration,and asenseofloss. Restoringour rivers doesn’tjustbenefit theenvironment,ithelps improvethe well-being of our communities,too.
“Big RiverWatch offersa chance to reconnect with wellknown andloved riverspots, or to exploresomewherenew Thistime, 181 surveyswere conductedatbrand-new locations,but more than 700 surveystookplace at locations that participants reported to visit at leastevery week.
“This tells us something important– ourriversneed more champions, andthis personal connection helps buildcareand stewardship for ourwaterways.”
The next BigRiver Watch will takeplace in September. To findout more aboutThe Rivers Trustand what you candotohelp ourrivers, visit https://theriverstrust.org
position. When it came up for sale in 1998, Iknew Ihad to act.Wedesignedthe house to make the mostofits canal setting, with upstairsliving space andstunningviews from the original cast-iron windows.It’sbeenalabour of love.”
Listed jointlywith other former workshop buildings under Historic England Entry No.1209471, this property
embodies Britain’s proud canalheritage while offering 21st-century comfortand charm.
Onepastvisitor noted:“I fell head over heels in love with it.The location, the tranquillity, the views– this isn’t just acottage,it’sa way of life.”
This canalside gem in the heart of Stourport-onSevernisnow on the market. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Another example of pollution submitted to this spring’sBig River Watch. PHOTO: THE RIVERS TRUST
AROUNDTHE COUNTRYWITHIWA’SAMYTILLSON
Waterway Restoration Conference asuccess
THE Annual Waterway Restoration Conference at the National WaterwaysMuseum wasjointlyorganised by IWAand Canal&River Trust.
Apackedaudience attended this event, held at the historic venueatEllesmerePortonApril 26. Specialthanksgotothe excellent speakers andcompere who made the conference inspiringand delightful, to IWA Chesterand Merseyside Branch, and all the volunteerswho helped hugely throughout theday,and to themuseumand archives teams. The eventwas reallymadebythe attendees,locally and from far and
wide,who networked and offered so much in termsofquestions andcomments. IWAchair Mike Wills committedthe organisation to increasing itscapacityto supportrestoration projects.The challengesremain huge,however, and restorationgroupsare going to have to depend on each other more.Theconference slides can be downloaded from theIWA website
Afterthe eventthere wasa fascinatingwalk around Chester’s historicwaterways,organised by John Herson of IWAChester& Merseyside Branchand Chester Civic Trust.
Navigating abright future for Essex waterway
IW Ah as su cces sfu ll y completedthe finaldetails in settingupthe new charitydesignedto increase support forthe Chelmer andBlackwater Navigation in Essex.
In November 2024, plans were announcedby IWA’strustees and the boardof EssexWaterways Ltdtoforma new charity, whose objectives were the continuedsuccess of the navigation. With the sharein EssexWaterways Ltdtransferred to EssexWaterways Navigation Trust on March31, the arrangementsare nowcomplete. Managedby IWA’swholly ownedsubsidiary, EssexWaterways
Ltd, thenavigation hasbeenagreat success. It has gone from a position of near bankruptcyand poor maintenance to amuch-loved amenityenjoyed by an appreciative localpopulation and promoted as astarattraction of thecountybyboth VisitEssex and the localauthorities Notonlyhas the historicwaterway been enjoyed by many visitors and locals,ithas alsoprovided si gn if ic an t em plo ymen t with trip boats and waterside businesses, as well as maintenance work.The navigation has become amodel of efficient operation and sustainable management.
IWAand Essex Wa te rw ay s Navigation Trust will maintain closerelations, and some of thecharitable activi ties performedby
EssexWaterways Ltdwill transfer to the new charity. Freehold ownershipof the navigation remainswith the Company of Proprietors of the Chelmer andBlackwater Na vi gat ion, establishedin 1793 by Actof Parliament, which hascontracted EssexWaterways to manage the Navigation for as longasEssex WaterwaysLtd wishestodoso.
Mike Wills,IWA national chair, said: “After ajoint review by both IWA’strusteesand the directors of EssexWaterways Ltdanew chapter hasstarted, and all the final details have nowbeen sa tisfa ct or il y settled. IWA’s commitmentto thenavigationis undiminished, and we arepleased that it will stay connected as part of awider IWA family.”
Work Parties
Rallyingfor Bridgewater Canal
Join IWAand thewider boatingcommunity over the August bank holiday weekend for agathering at Agden Bridge,united in supportofrestoring fullnavigation to the BridgewaterCanal.
Following the recent breach earlier this year, this waterway,which is part of avital north–south route, faces acriticalmoment. While not caused by poormaintenance,the incidentisa reminder of the growingthreatthatextreme weather posestoour waterways.
Thisismorethana localinconvenience.Ifa road or rail link of national significancewere to fail, rapidrestoration would be agiven. IWA believes Britain’sinlandwaterways deserve thesameurgency, visibilityand commitment. Why it matters
Aturningpointfor the BridgewaterCanal
The breach highlights the fragilityofeven well-managed waterwaysinthe face of climatepressures
Opportunity to engage
As the privateowner of this historiccanal, the BridgewaterCanal Companynow hasthe chance to engage with the community, share its plansfor restoration anddemonstrate transparent leadership
Anational waterways issue
This disruption impacts navigation across the western side of the country, affecting livelihoods, tourism and heritage.The responsemustreflectthatscale. Community in action
Thisgatheringisaproud showofunity Boaters, anglers, families, localbusinessesand supporters will come together to champion a causethathas an impact on allofthe network
What to expect
Live music, greatfood, arealale bar, and family-friendlyfun.A vibrant, visible showof supportfor resilient, connected waterways. Opportunities for directdialoguewiththe BridgewaterCanal Company
Be part of thisweekend. Celebrateour canals Demand their protection. Shapetheir future. Save the date:August23-25, AgdenBridge, Lymm
PLEASE contact the branch to register yourinterest if you would like to attend awork party.Itisadvisable to wear stoutshoes, old clothing, andto take waterproofs. Apacked lunchand refreshments are also advisable.
July4 &18: 10.30am-2.30pm
BurslemPort
Regular work party on the Burslem Arm of the Trent &Mersey Canal, run in partnership by IWANorth Staffordshire&South CheshireBranch &the BurslemPort Trust. Meet atLukeSt,Burslem Alltoolsandequipmentwill be provided. Volunteers areadvisedtowear old clothes,stoutshoesandto bringwaterproofsincaseof rain anda packed lunchif stayingallday. Please contact Dave Broome beforeattending: 07974 966253 or dave. broome45@gmail.com
July17
CheshireLocks
Monthly work party on the CheshireLock flight of the Trent &Mersey Canal, between Kidsgrove and Wheelock. Meet at the BroughtonArms, Rode Heath,Stoke-on-Trent. We will meet as usual at 10am andwork through until3pm.Ifyoucanstayall day,please bring apacked lunch andadrink. Be sure towearoldclothesthatyou don’tmindgettingdirtyand marked with paint. Stout footwear is appropriate andtakeawaterproofin theeventofrain ContactTonyWalker:07708 320470 walker.tony31@ gmail.com
July 6&15
NorthamptonBranch volunteeringdates:
Work parties areusually heldoneweekdayandone Sunday amonth, along the Northampton Arm. The tasks usually include vegetationclearance, weeding, litter picking and paintingatlocks. ContactGeoffWood:geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk June 21 &22: 10am-4pm Volunteer on the Manchester Bolton and BuryCanal IWAManchesterBranchwill beworkingwithManchester Bolton&BuryCanalSociety atPrestoleeattheirregular work site, NobEnd locks, near Prestolee Road, Little Lever,Bolton,BL31AD.
Restoration conferencegroup. PHOTO: MARTIN LUDGATE
Characters of the Cut
AmyGuerrier,Absoboatly Fabulous
By Alice Elgie
VIBRANT, positiveenergy is what radiates from performer and coach, AmyGuerrier,soit’sperhaps no surpriseher dogisnamedSunny Sunshine and that her boat, Toady, is all the coloursofthe rainbow!
‘Phenomenal synchronicity’ is howAmy describes her move on to the waterinearly 2025, andI suspect alot of her life comes down to the very same thingdue to her seemingly unwavering commitmenttojoyfully embracingnew experiences.Amy said: “I reallyfollowmyexcitement as away of beingmyguide.I trust my excitementand what brings me joybecause Isee it as, if I’m notfollowing my joy, excitement and enthusiasm then what elseam Ifollowing?I’m following fear and that’s silly.”Instead, Amylikes to trusther gutand jump in and that’s certainlywhathappenedwhen Toady came into herlife.
Findingherself in aposition of beingabletobuy ahome,Amy soon realised she couldn’timagine anywhereshe would liketolive andstayinone placeand so when friends were sellingtheir boat,she knew it wasanopportunity not to be missed: “There have been many seedsplanted over the years, from seeing theboats alongthe canal at Bradford-on-Avon, to havinga couple of friendswho ownedboats, to my mumevenmentioning that she would reallyliketoget aboat, so when my friends were selling Toady thetiming of everythingseemed perfect.”
What mostappealedtoAmy aboutboatlife wassimplicity, beinginnature, and the freedom of beingable to travel to different communities:“IreallylikethatI’m in my ownspace butatthe same time Iget to choose whereIam and howpublic it is.Ienjoy being quiet butwhen I’minplaces where there’smorefootfall it alsoallows me to bringmycreativeideas to life in termsofinteractingand creating very silly, very fun content!”
Amystartedperforming professionallyin2012 as ahula hoop artistand laterembarkedon adegreefromthe National Centre for CircusArt whereshe fell in love with clowning. Shetells me that clowningand hula hoops arenow her specialities because“theyare interactiveand bringabout fantastic connection with the audience”.But it’s not just herown performances that Amyispassionateabout;she’s also incredibly excitedabout using 60ft longand 10ft wide Toady as aspace to hostguests,whether to experience boat life for aday,toshare aconversation for her burgeoning YouTubechannel, or to performon the topofthe boat. Herdream is to “capture the beauty of natureand the scenerywhile overlayingthe voices of fellowartists talkingabout whytheydowhattheydo” .
AparticularinterestofAmy’s is howfellowperformerswork through their version of notbeing good enough.She believesthis wayofbeing is inherentinalmost everysinglepersonand helping people with their mindset is very much the focusofher coaching work,supportinghighperformance athletes and actors–aswell as people from all walksoflife –in overcomingnot-good-enough-ness, procrastinationand perfectionism to strive towardswhattheyreally want.
Amy’sway of workingwith people on mindsetisto“explorethe story they tell themselves, reallygetting to the nitty-gritty of self-talk and language and the specificwords we useand howtheyhavesucha strong physiological effectkeeping us either stuck, or liberatedand following ourheart and goals”. This passion for helpingotherstoadjustthe lens through whichtheyview the world stems from Amy’s ownexperience whichbegan whiletravelling15 yearsago when sheembarkedon some potent self-developmentwork. Sincethen she hasattendedmany differentworkshops and events and is dedicatedtosharing with others the toolsthat have enabledher to
Heritageand habitat both benefit from canal restoration
RESTORATIONworkatthe
Fromebridgesection of the StroudwaterCanal is moving ahead at pace,with the exciting Cotswold Canals Connected vision nowtakingshape –not just for canalnavigation, butfor naturetoo.
As part of awider effortto revitalisethis historicstretch of waterway,the canalisbeing carefully restored to flowthrough what will become abrandnew naturereserve.Anetwork of newly createdponds,fed directlybythe restored canal, will provide essentialhabitats for birds,amphibians and aquatic invertebrates. This integrated approach enhances both heritage and habitat, creatingapeaceful greenspace for the community while boostingbiodiversity Severalkey milestoneshave already been achieved.Thanks to thehardworkofvolunteers from the Cotswold Canals Trust, GloucestershireWildlife Trust and Stroud Valleys Project, vegetation hasbeencleared from thecanal andrelocated to Fromebridge Pond. The pond will soon be fencedoff, creating asecurehaven for wildlife
Drydredgingbetween theA38 roundaboutand Occupation Bridge hasnow been completed. CCTvolunteersare currently movingsilt outofthe area to make wayfor the nextphase –towpath construction,due to begin in June.This will be followedbythe installation of fencingtoprotect the canal banksfromcattle. Anewly installedbirdhide is alsoinplace and will open once the towpath and fencing work is completed, offeringa tranquil space for nature lovers to enjoy the site’s flourishing wildlife.Thegoalis to open thenew Fromebridge Reservetothe public duringlate summer
It’s trulyamazing to seea communitycomingtogether to reinstateour canals, encouragewildlife to flourish andsupportthe biodiversity of the Stroudwater Navigation. All of this is onlypossiblethanks to the hard work,passion and motivation of volunteersacross the navigation. If you’dliketofind outmoreorget involved,contact TheCotswold Canals Trust or email:volunteersupport@ cotswoldcanals.org
“radicallyfollowmyjoy,interestand curiosity”
Thisradicalnessisnodoubt what alsodrivesAmy’s resolveonher new watery path becausedespitehaving momentswonderingif Toady would be toomuchtoembrace singlehandedly, she soon found away to approach that potentialobstacle with optimism:“Ihavelots of friends who want to join me alongthe way so I’mplanning to make the whole experience as fun and creativeas possible!”
In just afew shortconversations I’ve come to realisethat this boundlesspositivityiswhatwecan expectfromAmy.Let’s just hope our towpaths areready!
Website: amyguerrier.com
Socials: @absoboatlyfabulous
Alice Elgieisa writer whosplits time between anarrowboaton thewaterways of England, atiny camper on the open road and adoer-upper in rural France. Sheshareswords aboutthis rathernomadiclife on herblog: slowintotheseasons.substack com
Ariel footage of the restoration of the Cotswold Canals creating the Fromebridge NatureReserve PHOTO: LEE GRANT
AmyGuerrier with herdog, Sunny Sunshine. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Museum Focus: alittle-known gemon theKennet &AvonCanal
Nicola Lisle discovers asmall but delightful visitor centre in the heart of theBerkshirecountryside.
ALDERMASTONWharf todayisapeaceful, idyllic spot,perfect for simply relaxing and enjoyingthe localamenities or usingasabase to startexploring the 300-year-old Kennet & Avon Canal.
Neverone of the most commercially successful canals,the Kennet&Avon neverthelessenjoyed some prosperityduring itsearly years.
Thispopular canalwas formedfromthree waterwaysoverthe best part of acentury, starting with theKennetNavigation from NewburytoReadingin1723, followedin 1727 by the Avon Navigation from Bristol to Bath and finally, in 1810, the man-made section from BathtoNewbury,completing the 87-milestretch of navigable waterway to link the South West to London.
Aldermaston Wharfquickly developed into an importantindustrialcentrealongthe Kennet Navigation, with mighty horse-drawn wooden barges,some up to 109ft longand 17ft wide,handlingcargoes of timber, malt,flour, cheese,coaland iron, many destinedfor both domestic and international markets
Abrewery wasestablishedatthe wharfin 1770, lateracquired by the Strangefamilyand remainingintheir hands until it wassold to
Scrace’s BreweryofSouthampton in 1945. The site wasdemolished in the1950s and subsumedintothe 1990s developmentofthe wharfasaleisureand touristarea.
The completionofthe canalin1810 saw Aldermaston become ‘the place of exportof very considerable quantities of round and hewedTimber, Scantling,Hoops,Brooms and so on’.Thewharf also acquired itsown mill for producingflourfromcargoes of wheat from HDoulton &Son.
On arrivalatAldermastonWharf it is temptingtoheadstraightfor the tearooms, housed in ahistoric, white-paintedbuilding that could almosthaveleapt outofafairytale First, though,takeapeekinside thesmall timber-framedbrick building on your rightas
you enterthe garden. This is the visitorcentre, runbythe Kennet &AvonCanal Trust. Don’t be fooledbyits diminutive size –thereisa lot of canalhistory packed into this tinyspace Aseries of information boards give an exceptionallydetailed history of the Kennet &AvonCanal,fromits inception in the early 18th century to its decline,restoration and triumphantreopeningmorethan200 years later.
Here we learn howthe buildingofthe Kennet &AvonCanal –aswas so often the case –was anything butsmooth. Parliamentary consenthad to be sought four times –in1801, 1805,1809and 1813 –toraisemoremoney for the project, andtherewerethe inevitable objections to their plansfrommembers of the public
Some of theseobjectors,though,were placated with generouscompensation. Lady Wroughton, of Wilcot Manor in Wiltshire, was none toopleased at the proposal to have a canalnavigationpassing through her estate, butshe changedher mindwhen offered an ornamental bridge,the widening of thecanal to forma lake and 500 guineas in recompense!
Despitethe optimism that drovethe establishmentofthe Kennet &AvonCanal, therewas seldom enough commercialtraffic for it to be viable,and the openingofBrunel’s GreatWestern Railway in 1841 hastenedits inevitable decline.
By the 1960s the canalhad been largely abandoned, until agroup of canalenthusiasts
Visitor information:
The TeaRoomsand Visitor Centre
Aldermaston Wharf, Aldermaston RG7 4JS
www.tearoomsaldermaston.com
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am-4pm
Admission: Free
Getting there: Exit the M4 at Junction12and follow theA4/ A430. Alternatively,the wharf is afive-minute walkfrom Aldermaston station.
Laundry items on display capturethe domestic scene of yesteryear
–includingthe late actor TimothyWestand his wife,FawltyTowersstar PrunellaScales –successfullycampaignedtorestore the Kennet &Avontoits former glory. Also on display in the visitor centreare displaysofdomestic items,includinga mangle and other laundrynecessities,aswell as acollectionofhistoricphotographs and contemporaryleaflets and magazines
From the tea rooms and visitor centre,take astroll to the Aldermaston WharfLift Bridge, whichdates from the 1980s andrecently underwent amajor revamp.Closebyisthe Grade II-listedAldermaston Lock,whichwas completed in 1723 andgiven its distinctive scallopedbrick walls in the 18th century. Strange’sBrewery once stoodalongside. Then, of course,there’s the glorious canal to explore, with its rich wildlife –lookout for kingfishers, coots,swans and herons
This display boardgives avery detailed history of the Kennet &Avon Canal. PHOTOS: NICOLALISLE
Thetea room is awelcome sightand definitely worth visiting for tea and cake! Ageneral
Bridgewater Canal to be closed untilDecember next year
THE COMPANYthatrunsthe Bridgewater Canalhas confirmeditwon’t reopen to navigation until December2026.
Acatastrophic flood occurred at Little Bollington,nearDunham Massey,onNew Year’s Dayfollowing heavyrainfall. It left farmland under waterand drained a1.9-mile section of thecanal. Emergency stoplogs were putintostopfurther water lossand the area hasremainedofflimits ever since.
Nowthe BridgewaterCanal Company, whichownsthe canal, says permanentrepairs will take18months to complete– meaning boatswill notbeabletouse thecanal until the end of nextyear.
the CheshireRing–byDecember2026. Initial consultationsonrepairdesignhavebegun, and we hopetoappointanengineering consultancyinthe comingmonths
“Todate, around £300,000 hasbeen invested in stabilisingand protectingthe canalfollowing the breach.Weremain committedtokeepingthe community, our boatingcustomersand all interested parties updatedasplans develop.”
Astatementfromthe company said a permanentearth damwill secure the breach siteand wooden stoplogswill be fittedwhile long-termrepairstakeplace
The BridgewaterCanal wasbuilt 250 years ago by theDukeofBridgewater to move coal fromhis mine to townsand cities.Ithas no locksand runs from RuncorntoLeigh with ashortbranchstretch to link up with the ManchesterShip Canal.
Volunteer lock keepers helpsavecyclist’s life
QUICK-thinkingvolunteersand staff from the Canal&River Trustsprangintoaction to help save the life of acanal cyclistwho suffereda sudden cardiacarrestnearthe historicBingley Five Rise LocksinWestYorkshire.
The incidentoccurredon May2,when 61-year-old Bingley-born residentJoost Smeele collapsedonBeckLane,neartothe historiclocks
Canal&River Trustvolunteersand staff were amongthe first on the scene,assistingwith CPR andcrowd control, after beingalertedbytwo runnerswho hadfound the cyclistunconscious and calledthe emergencyservices
Volunteer lock keeper and trainedfirst aider RichardBreeseassistedwithCPR,while MeganDarley, owner of Five Rise LocksCafe, retrievedthe automated external defibrillator (AED) by the teashop and helped usethis on thecyclistbeforeparamedics arrived.
Richardexplained: “We’djustreturnedfrom helpinga boat down the lockswhen twoguys sprinteddowntoget hold of thedefibrillator outside the cafe and askedifanyone could do CPR.
“I just dropped everythingand rushedto help.This wasthe first time I’ddone CPRfor real, Iwentintoauto-pilot mode,Ijustgot on with it.”
YorkshireAmbulance Servicearrived on scene within minutes and took over advanced medical care,stabilisingthe cyclist, who suffered afurther twoheart attacks while
travellingtoBradfordRoyal Infirmary before beingtransferredtoLeeds General Infirmary Joostsaid: “I’vealwaysbeenfitand healthy andnever considered myself at risk of cardiac arrest.Ihavenorecollection of the incident, butwhen my heartstopped,Ihad limited time beforethatbecamepermanent. Everyone of us should be confident to performCPR and useadefibrillator if required.”
Sean McGinley, Canal&River Trustregional director, Yorkshire&North East, said: “This could have hadaverydifferentoutcome if it wasn’t for the swift action of those involved.”
In November 2019 adefibrillatorwas installedatthe Five Rise LocksCafe thanks to supportfromthe Canal& RiverTrust andfunding from Mark Province of West Yorkshire. MeganDarley, whorecently became thenew ownerofFiveRiseLocks Cafe,after workingatthe waterside hotspot for the last 10 years, added: “I’m just so glad Icould help –it’ssomethingI’ll neverforget and shows howimportant it is to have access to this life-savingequipment.”
The incidentatBingleyhappenedjustahead of Volunteer Week (June 2-8) whichrecognises the incredibleworkofvolunteersacrossthe UK.For details of howtoget involved in volunteeringbyyourlocal canalvisit the Canal &River Trustwebsite –canalrivertrust.org.uk
From left: Phillippa Gibbons,Canal&River Trustvolunteer lock keeper; Megan Darley,Bingley Five Rise Locks Cafe;Seth Anderton, Canal &River Trust seasonal lock keeper;Joost Smeele; Stephen Pierce,Canal &River Trust volunteerlock keeper(wearing life jacket) and RichardBreese, Canal &River Trust volunteer lock keeper PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Celebrating Ireland’sHighKing
THE annual festival celebrating Ireland’s greatest king takes place this year from Wednesday, July 2toSunday,July6.
BrianBoru, Ireland’s High King from 1002 to 1014, broke with tradition, choosing to build afortressawayfromthe Hill of Tara,the establishedresidence for Ireland’s kings. Instead, he selected asiteabout amile from modern dayKillaloeinCoClare overlookingthe vast expanse of Lough Derg.Here, Ireland’s first –and last –HighKing residedwhile keepingwatch for anywould-beinvadersfrom the spectacular vantagepoint until hisdeath duringwhatis described as his greatest triumph –victoryoverthe Vikingsat the Battle of Clontarfin1014.
Todaythe High King is rememberedinmanyways. The mostwell-knownoftheseis the Féile BrianBoru, an annual summer five-day festival, held in the twin-towns of Killaloeand Ballina. Féile BrianBorufeatures arange of events aimedatall ages andusually includesaliving history camp with re-enactors, guidedtrips on Lough Derg aboard a40ftreplica Viking Longboat, craftdemonstrations andbattle re-enactments Bringingituptodate–stand-up
paddleboarding, waterzorbing, kayaking,wild swimming and sailingtastersessions also feature. Forchildren avarietyof BrianBoruworkshops such as sword, shieldand crownmaking and facepainting. Historical talks and guidedwalkswill takeplace and the eventculminates with a spectacular fireworkdisplay over the RiverShannon.
Visitors to the area canboard a guidedboattourtakinginsome of the siteslinked to BrianBoru. Thosewith their ownboats or choosing to hireacraft for afew days cancruiseLough Derg in more leisure,takinginsome of theareas which Ireland’s High King would have known; Killaloeand the site of Kincora, Inis Cealtra (HolyIsland) where BrianBoruwas reputedly educated and his brotherwas Abbotand of course Béal Boru, BrianBoru’sgreat fortress.
New bridge
In Mayofthis year anew bridge crossing the Shannon and linkingKillaloeinCoClare and BallinainCoTipperarywas officiallyopenedbythe Minster for Transport,MrDarragh O’Brien. Aptlynamedthe Brian Boru Bridge,itisthe first new vehicular bridgeacrossthe
Shannoninmorethanthree decades
Settoimprove thequalityof life for residents of both towns, the bridge will takeawaythrough traffic from the town centres and reducecongestion. Thenew bridge has10viewingplatforms locatedateachofits fivepiers as well as both pedestrianand cycle ways crossing it
Theoriginal multi-arched stone bridge crossing the Shannon stands about1km south of thenew BrianBoru Bridge.Beingasingle lane bridge,ithas,for many years, struggledtokeepthe 7000 or so vehicles aday whichcross it constantly flowing. As an iconic featureofthe twin townsthe fate of the bridge hasbeenofconcern for many butitwould seem that it still hasanimportantrole to play as avital link for pedestrians whichiscurrently beingtrialled. And so,morethan1000 yearson, Ireland’s High King will continue to play apartin thousands of people’s everyday lives as they crossthe bridge dedicated to hismemory.
Original bridge at Killaloe may nowaccommodate pedestriansonly
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PHOTO: COURTESY OF GAVIN SHEEHAN
Aerial view of the Brian Boru Bridge. PHOTO: PAUL COREY
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Persistenceand thewill to Wynn
Jonathan Mosse’smonthlylook at freight developmentonthe inland waterways.
IRECENTLYattendedthe Inland Waterways andFreight Reception, held in the House of Commons,whichwas hostedbyLeigh Ingham MP.
TimWest, Robert Wynn &Sons’ company secretary, opened proceedings by welcoming allthe guests,ofwhom therewereabout 60, and thanked everybodyfor attending. He explainedthe longand drawn-out fundingprocess whicheventually resulted in the constructionofthe TerraMarique –with Wynn’s havingreceived £9 million of public monies, through the FreightFacilities Grantscheme, to design and build the vessel and purchase and convert her sister ship,the Inland Navigator. He alsonoted that the 20-yearanniversary waslastyearand that thisevent wasplanned for then butwas scuppered by the election He went on to thank themanypeople who hadassistedWynn’swith the funding process and for alltheir hard work in achievingthe construction of what wasa unique,purposebuilt, inland waterwaysvessel. He finished by invitingLeigh Ingham,MP for Stafford& Eccleshall, to sayafew wordsasthe sponsor of the event.
LeighInghamwelcomedeverybody to the HouseofCommonsand hopedtheywould enjoythe afternoon lookingout over theRiver Thames.She went on to sayhow pleasedshe
wastohostthisevent andhow much she had learntabout inland waterwaysand abnormal loads from TimWestand the Wynn business, and howpleased shewas to promotethe greateruse of the inlandwaterways to reduce pressure on the road network
RichardParry,the outgoing CEOofCanal &River Trust, wasthen invitedtosay afew words. He pointedout that CRTpresidedover some 300 miles of freightwaterways,all of whichneedinvestmentfromthe Government to deliverbenefits at afraction of thecosts comparedwithother transportmodes
He cited Casper (featured last month) making useofthe inland waterwaystodeliver goods into Leeds, whichveryprobablystarted theirjourneyfromsomewheredistantin Europe.Healsoreferencedother important freightnavigations –suchasthe RiverSevern and RiverLee –and alsothe many smaller waterwaysrunningthrough urbanareas,such as the Regent’s CanalinLondon,carrying Camden Market waste.
Next up wasJames Trimmer,directorof planningand developmentfor thePortof London Authority. Jamesechoedthe issues Wynn’shas experienced with the Terra Marique andsaid youmustbepersistentto getcargo movedonthe Thames as everybody wantsto tell youthatthingscannotbemoved by barge–‘it just won’t work!’
However, persistence pays off and large projects such as Tideway andCrossrail slowly came round to the ideathatyou could in fact move quitealot by barge–six million tonnes
in fact!
He highlightedthe conflict between residentialdevelopment andfreight and mentioneda currentissue at Gravesend whichcould result in the potentiallossofa workingwharf.Hecited newcargoes such as lightfreight for DHL,whichhedescribed as high margin/lowvolume.However,he expectedtheretobeabig increaseinparcel deliveryonthe Thames, somewhereinthe region of three to fivemillion parcels peryear. He also confessedtobeing sceptical of the TerraMarique collectingConcorde from the London Apprentice in Isleworthwhich meant loadingacrossthe foreshore. He admittedthat when he drovetoIsleworth and sawjusthow narrow andwindingthe road to the London Apprentice was, he wassuretheywould never getConcordetothe bankside pub– just shows howwrong youcan be!
The last speakerwas PeterWynn, director
of the company. Peternoted that last year wasalsothe 80th anniversaryofthe D-Day landings.Heexplainedthatafter the warthe MinistryofTransport startedtooverhaul logisticsinthe UK and noted howbetween the 1950s and the 1980s the bulk tonnagethat could be movedonthe roads increased from 150 tonnesto300 tonnes. Theseincreasesweremade possible becausetherewas aNational PortsCouncil considering the size of road vehicles increasingfrom12axlesto16axles and then aircushioning equipmentallowing greater loads to transit betweenkey locations making sure bridgesetc would takethe loads.Hesaid nowpolicyisdiluted,industry is fragmented, with toomuchinterdepartmental politicsand agreater need for ‘joined-up thinking’ . The formal part of the afternoon concluded with Timand Petertakingquestions from the guests,beforetea and sandwiches.
Terra Marique, loaded witha 370-ton transformer, under way on the River Clyde. PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE
Robert Wynn &Sons’ parliamentary reception PHOTO: TIMWEST
One of Terra Marique’s morehigh-profile loads. PHOTO: ROBERTWYNN &SONS LTD
Terra Marique loading a370-ton transformer at Clydebank. PHOTO: JONATHAN MOSSE
Peter Wynn –director of Robert Wynn &Sons. PHOTO: TIM WEST
Beats on the Five Rise
Amusical celebrationonthe Leeds &Liverpool Canalwas part of Bradford beingfeted as theUK’s City of Culture this year.Sally Clifford beata path to the West Yorkshire markettownof Bingley... MELODICelectronic beatsplay outfromthe lock chamber. The creatorofthisgentleyet funky compilationsitsatthe bowof the Skipton-based charityboat, Richard’sEndeavour, surrounded by hisimpressivesynthesiser technology.
SteveVardenisthe Morecambe-basedmusical maestroconductingthissolo performancebased around a couple of Korg Kaossilators synth/ FX units, Boss RC-505 looper, Roland Jupiter-xm,After Dark Blipbox synth, Digit Cmpsr midi controller and an iPad, drawing powerfromasilenteco-friendly batterypackasthe boat descends Bingley’sFiveRiseLocks
The soundscape formedpartof atwo-day musicalevent curated by Bristol-basedParaorchestra, acollectiveofdisabledand non-disabled musicians, for Bradford 2025.
“Asaregular musician andperformer with the Paraorchestra, they askedmeif Iwould be interested in playing some musiconacanal boat while descendingBingleyFive Rise Locksand Isaid yes.
“Itwas areallyspecial feeling to performtosuchawarmand appreciative crowdofpeople. The atmospherewas akin to my
Paralympic Games days that were many yearsago,” says Steve. Bingley’slandmarklocks are familiarterritory to the performer “I quit college in order to be more physically active rather than academic andthatcameinthe formofrenovating amotor boat that ItookupBingleyFiveRise Locksinthe late Eighties
“Since then Ihavesailedmany boatsand have owneda few so I am very at home on the water. I think the first time Iplayedmusic on aboatwas on atrimaranin the Caribbeanaround 20 years ago, butthisisthe first time I have played an electronic seton aboat.”
SallyGoodman,skipper and trusteeof Richard’sEndeavour, said they were delightedto participateinthe eventwhich forms part of the celebrations for Bradford’sCityofCulture year “Itisaprivilegeto be part of a wonderful, friendlyand inclusive event. It hasbeenamazing.”
Sallyand BobEvans,who is also askipper andtrustee with thecharity,alsopraised the lock keepersand thestafffrom theCanal &River Trustfor their supportinhelpingthem navigate the locksduringthe specialevent Richard’sEndeavour was originally purchasedand
operated by SCAD –Skipton and Craven Action forDisability. It relaunched as thecommunity boat charity, Spirit of Endeavour, in 2021 thankstothe foresight of one of its late founders, Richard Clarke,after whom it nowtakes itsname Floating alongthe Leeds& LiverpoolCanal to Three Rise Locks, this musicaljourneyispart of The BradfordProgresswhich beganwithanearly morning performance on land at Cowand Calf RocksinIlkleyonSaturday, May17.
Workingtogetherasa ‘relay’ to reducelockagesand protect precious watersuppliesdue to therecentdry weather, musiciansonboard twoboats waitingatthe bottom of Three Rise Lockscontinuedthe melodic soundscape to the WorldHeritage Site of Saltaire.
Onlooker andartist, Lou Sumray,was so inspired by the eventshe wanted to getinvolved Unfoldingher sketch book at
Thames Water finemust be spent on rescuing rivers
By LucyWood
THE Rivers Trusthas respondedtoThames Water’s£122.7million fine forbreaching rules in relation to wastewater managementand shareholder dividends –the largestfine ever handedtoawater company.
Ofwatannounced itsfinaldecisionintotwo investigationslooking into the operationsof Thames Water, with the financialpenaltytobe paid by the companyand itsinvestors,and not by customers.
In what the regulatorsaidwas itsbiggest and mostcomplex investigation, it hasbeenlooking into all wastewater companies’operation, managementand maintenance of theirsewage treatmentworks and sewerage networks. As part of that investigation, in August 2024 Ofwatconsultedona proposal to impose a £104.5m penaltyonThames Water, alongside an enforcementorder which would requirethe company to take steps to ensure its compliance. At the end of May, Ofwatfinalised both the penaltyand enforcementorder whichhavebeen imposedonthe company.
ThreeRiseLocks,Lou,from Bradford,explained shehad documented theprogressofthe eventwalkingfromCow andCalf RocksinIlkley, to seethe canal performances through Bingley.
“For me,drawing records somethingdifferentfromwhata photograph or hearingdoes. It has many elements to it,” says Lou.
TheBradfordProgresswas curatedbyParaorchestra’sartistic director,Charles Hazlewood, Jeremy Deller,and the people of BradfordDistrict Twenty-fourmusicians,from Paraorchestraand groups across Bradford District,performed a repertoire of electronica, with SouthIndianclassical,jazz, folk and Klezmer beingplayedacross fiveboats.
Curating aproduction on thecanal wasa firstfor the organisation that haspreviously performedonbeachfronts,city streets, festivalstages, museums and concerthalls
Theevent wasalsomade possible by the Canal& River Trust. Aspokesman forthe charity said:“Thankstothe supportofour amazingvolunteer lock keepers thetrust helpedtohostthe ‘BradfordProgress’ on Saturday, May17. Oneofthe Bradford2025 highlightevents, this musical journeytravelledfromBingley Five Rise LockstoSaltaireonthe Leeds&LiverpoolCanal.
“Inlight of the exceptional circumstances with lowwater levels on thecanal ourteam worked hard to ensurethat this performance could still be broughttothe waterway.The performancetookplace as a ‘relay’ofboats,ratherthanthe original flotilla,toreduce the lockages requiredby80% and save precious watersupplies.”
Mark Lloyd, chief executiveofTheRivers Trust, said: “The decision by Ofwatisa welcome sign that the regulators arefinallyshowing their teeth in tacklingpoorperformance in the water industry.Itisimperativethatthese fines areused to rectify the environmentalharmour rivers have been sufferingfromasa result of theiractions, to uphold the principle of polluterpays, and to ensurethattheyare not lost to the blackhole of Treasury
“Weare still lookingforward to afuturewhere watercompanies arenot lurchingfromfine to fineand financial crisis,whereour rivers are healthy,well-functioning systems that can cope with the increasing incidence of flood and drought, making spacefor waterand nature.We hopeSir JonCunliffe’sindependentreview of the watersystemwill make thisfuturepossible.”
DavidBlack,chief executiveatOfwat,said: “This is aclear-cut case whereThamesWater has letdownits customersand failedtoprotect the environment. Ourinvestigation hasuncovered aseriesoffailures by the company to build, maintainand operateadequate infrastructure to meet itsobligations
“The companyalsofailedtocomeupwith an acceptableredress packagethatwould have benefited theenvironment,sowehaveimposed asignificantfinancialpenalty.This decision provides certainty for the company for both itspastfailures andwhatweexpectfromthe companytocomplywith its obligations in future.”
EnvironmentSecretary SteveReed added: “Theera of profiting from failureisover. The Governmentiscleaning up ourrivers, lakes and seas for good.”
Ofwathas alsoconfirmedits decision to impose a£18.2m penaltyonThames Wateras aresultofa separate investigation which found that the company had broken therules relating to the payment of dividends. This is the first time Ofwat has used its powers to take enforcement action against awater company where their decision to make dividendpayments does not properly reflectthe company’s delivery performanceforcustomersandtheenvironment.
Mr Blacksaid:“We areclear that dividends must be linkedtoperformance for customers and the environment. We will not stand by when companies payundeserved dividends to theirshareholders. Thisisthe first time we have used thesenew powers,and this sets thestandard.Wewillprotect customers from watercompanies that seek to takemoney outoftheirbusinesses,wheretheirperformance does not merit it.”
Artist Lou Sumray,with her sketch book documenting The BradfordProgress, at Three Rise Locks, Bingley. PHOTO: SALLYCLIFFORD
Musician Steve Varden on board Richard’sEndeavour with the charity boat’s volunteers at Bingley’sFive Rise Locks. PHOTO: SALLYCLIFFORD
Fullsteam ahead at Cheshire’s ‘cathedralofthe canals’
Anderton Boat Liftwelcomed 3000 visitors to the 150th anniversarysteam festival spectacular.LucyWoodreports
STEAMatthe Lift 2025,hostedatthe AndertonBoatLift &Visitor Centre in Northwich, sawsteam-powered engines,lorries and steamrollers on show, as well as an exhibition of workingminiaturesteamengines.
And for the second year running, aflotillaofvintage and modern steamboats moored up on theRiver Weaver under the iconic Anderton Boat Lift.The 1903 ArtDeco steamship Daniel Adamson,known as ‘the Danny’,hostedanonboard real ale festival andtours,while the EdwinClark trip boat offeredshort cruises,givingvisitorsaunique view of the stunning1875 iron structure, whichconnects the Trent& Mersey Canaltothe RiverWeaverNavigation 50 feet below.
More to come…
The eventisone ofmanyscheduled for throughout the year to celebrate the150th anniversary of the world’s first boat lift,includinga Pirate Weekender (June21/22), Old
Time SailorsConcert(July 4),and Steampunk Lift Off Weekender (September20/21).
Oneofthe highlights of the 150th anniversary celebrations for the uniqueScheduledMonument will be duringaspectacularVictorian Fair over the anniversary weekend of July 25-27, when visitorswill be transported back in time to 1875.
Ani Sutton, Canal& RiverTrust’s destinations and attractions manager, said: “Itwas fantastictosee so many peoplejoinusand enjoya fabulous weekend of familyfun at ourSteam
The National Traction Engine Trust(NTET), the leadingauthority on road steam preservation, and itsSteam Apprentice Club (SAC), for youngermembers under 21, broughtmanyofthe exhibits to the award-nominated Steamatthe Lift Festival
Ani added: “This is such aspecial year of exciting celebrations in 2025 to mark the 150th anniversaryof AndertonBoatLift,the world’sfirst majorcommercial boat lift,Cheshire’s Cathedral of Canals in Northwich. We’rereallylooking forwardto hostingour excitingprogramme of family-friendlyeventstocelebrate this incredible industrialheritage, one of theseven wondersofthe waterways.”
RED HILL MARINA
Boat tradestands, bar &cafe, LIVE music also featuring Tractor &Vintage VehicleShow
Moorings available, Overnight Camping&Caravan pitches Car
Ducksand dragons raise vitalfunds
THEmuch-lovedRubber Duck Race and Dragon Boat Regatta aremakingasplash againthis year on the Regent’s Canalin London.
The eventwill benefit Cosmic, the charitysupportingthe children’sand neonatal intensivecareunits at St Mary’s and QueenCharlotte’s Hospitals.
On Thursday,July31, up to 3000 rubber ducks will be released into the canal at Merchant Square(Paddington, London W2 1JX)atnoonfor the annual Rubber Duck Race.The bright yellowducks will bob alongthe 100-metrecourse to the finish line, with the quickest quackerwinning first prizeoftwo Eurostar tickets to adestination of their choice, plus additional exciting prizes generously provided by Haidilao and B.Duck.Ducks canbesponsored for just £3 each Thefun continues later that eveningasthe Dragon Boat Regattatakes over the canalfrom5-9pm.Traditional Chinesedragonboats,manned by 16 rowers andone drummer, will race in afrenzied 100-metre competition. Competingteams often don festivefancy dress,
with previous yearsseeing crewsdressed as Minions,drag queens andpirates,all vying for the ‘bestdressed’title along with the fastest time. Both events arefreefor spectators to attend along the canaltowpath.However, sponsoringducks anddragon boat teams raises vitalfunds for Cosmic’s efforts to support criticallyill children and their families,aswell as providing equipmentand resources for hospital staff
Susannah Forland, chief executiveatCosmic,said: “Every £3 from asponsored duckmakes arealdifference to the families we support during incredibly challenging times.Thefunds raised help us provideessential services like on-site familyaccommodation, counsellingsupport,specialist equipmentfor ourintensive care units, andvital research into life-threateningchildhood diseases.”
In addition to the races, there will be livemusic,outdoor bars,streetfood and more festivities.Tosponsor aduck, make adonation or learnmore aboutthe Cosmic charity, visit cosmiccharity.org.uk
Land Storage Fortrade &customerenquiries please contact: REDHILL MARINE,Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottingham NG11 0EB Tel: 07760 627421 e-mail: enquiries@redhill-marina.co.uk
WHAT’S ON IN JULY
Left: Aday of fun on and around the water is to be had at this year’sRubber Duck Race and Dragon Boat Regatta.
If you want youreventlisted in our free monthlyWhat’sOnsectionemailyour entrytoeditorial@towpathtalk.co.uk or usethe events form at www.towpathtalk.co.uk/events Please check with organisers whether theeventisgoing ahead before settingout on yourjourney
StaffordRiverwaylinkartefacts exhibition: Adisplay of artefacts unearthedbyStaffordRiverway link volunteers at Baswich Library(Lynton Avenue, Baswich, Stafford, ST17 0EA) from July 7toAugust30.
BuckinghamCanal Construction, Conservation andGreen Gymworkparties on Tuesday, Thursdayand on the second Sunday of each month. All equipmentprovidedand pleasewearsuitable clothing. Contact:athina.beckett@ buckinghamcanal.org.uk
sign,nexttoPreta Manger) at 2.30pm.Normalcharge£20; concessions,students and accompanied children 16 and over £15; 8-15 £5; under8sfree. Priorbooking recommended, contact LondonWalks: 0207 6243978 or email: london@ walks.com
July 18-20
Thames Traditional Boat Festival
Anotherexcitingand funday outormaybe even aweekend for the whole family, celebrating the best in British boatbuilding and craftsmanship,evoking the nostalgiaofboatingfroma bygone era.
July 20
IWATowpath WalksSociety: Regent’s Canal: Islington –Kingsland Road, Angelat 2.30pm. Normal charge £20; concessions, students and accompaniedchildren 16 and over £15; 8-15 £5; under 8s free Prior bookingrecommended, contact London Walks: 0207 624 3978 or email: london@ walks.com
Gnosall C-Festival Acommunityfestival locally managedand locallyenjoyed with volunteers. Trading craft boats, variousbands over three days at localpubs, historic workingboats,free children’sactivities.local canal societies,Gnosall canalhistory exhibition, free public boat trips.Boatbooking from cfest gnosall@gmail.com
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Ared steamroller on show. PHOTO: CRT
Swappingreal wavesfor theairwaves!
By Lucy Wood
TIM and TraceyClarke, co-foundersof the Accessible WaterwaysAssociation, have publishedtheir podcastonstreaming platformSpotify so their work canreach a wider audience.Asreported, theassociation aims to raiseawarenessofthe fact that there arepeople aboard boatsoninland waterways with avarietyofaccessibilityneeds
Itsmembers come from all walksoflife,not justthosewhoarelivingwithadisabilityorlongterm health condition, butalsoyoungfamilies, cyclists,people with sensoryorcognitive impairments,thosewho arelessmobile than theyusedtobe–essentially,anyonewho cares aboutwaterways accessibility.
The couple constantlycruisearound the UK on boardtheir narrowboat,accompaniedby Tim’spug-cross, Ozzie,who is beingtrainedas ahearing assistance dog, andTracey’sLabrador guide dog, Loki.
In the podcast, Traceyexplainedhow she isregisteredblind duetoa non-functioning left eyeand visual deterioration in herright eye. Shehas recentlybeendiagnosed with fibromyalgia,which meansdealingwithlock flights,for example,might provedifficult without help
“Isn’t it ridiculous,then, that you’reliving on aboatand workingthe locksaswecruise along, andswing bridges,”saidTim.“Howdoes that work?”
Traceyrepliedtohis podcastquestion:“At the end of the day, alockisa rectangle of water, andone rectangle is much like anyother–some arewider than others, obviously,but Loki has
been trainedtoguidemearound thelocks,as wasOakley, my previous dog. Loki shows me where the beam is by puttinghis paws on it.
“Ona‘good eyes’day,I cansee wherethat enormous beam is,but occasionallythey’renot paintedand it’s not obvious until I’mright on topofitthatit’sthere, so it’s ausefulreference pointfor Loki to find thebeam. Thatjustgives me afew momentstouse my tinywindow of vision and to assess thelayoutofthe lock and the best waytogo, and wherethe paddles are.
“Working the actual lock itself is doable by senseoffeel, to adegree. Idon’t feel safe enough to do it at nightorinpoorlight levels, so that does limit ourabilitytocruiseinless good conditions or when it’s raininghard. As ageneral rule,Ican’t drivethe boat for obvious reasons –I can’t judgethe lengthofit, or see whichway thecanal is bendingbecause it all blends in.”
The pair usetwo-way radios to communicate when workinga lock becauseTim can’thear Tracey’svoice and Traceycan’t seeTim’s hand signals.“It worksverynicely,”Traceyadded. “It’steamwork!”
The couple find livingonthe waterbeneficial to theirhealth, especially forTracey, as travellingatsuchslowspeedsmeans she can cope with hereyesightissuesmuchmore easily.Due to family commitments, they have cruised in the London area for the last twoyears butare readynow to widentheir horizons once again.
“It’sa slower pace in termsoftravel, butitisa much more restfulway of lifeaswell,”she said “I don’t likethe busy hubbub of thecitywhere everybodyisinsucha hurrytoget everywhere
I’mnot acitygirl, butlivinginLondon on the canals is adifferentLondon –it’sa back garden, andeveninthe real centreofthe city, once you getdownonthe water, youget the tranquillity, and it seems to dissipate the businessofthe city somehow.”
Basedontheir ownexperiences as boaters with accessibilitychallenges, the AWAbegan as an administrator for theboaters’blue card scheme –the boatingequivalentofthe drivers’ bluebadge –but wassoonformallyestablished followingfeedbackfromthe Canal& River Trust’sdisabledboaters’forum,in2021.
The organisation’spodcast is the latest wayit
is promoting its aims. Meanwhile,the AWAis in urgent need of morevolunteers. To find out moreabout theassociation and to getinvolved, visit www.awa-uk.org.uk
Tim and Tracey areonce again starring in the TV show NarrowEscapes, which is currently being aired on Channel 4. The second series follows the lives of those who liveand work on the UK’swaterways, from soloboaters to families. The series is made up of fiveepisodes, all of which areavailable to stream on demand.
AWAco-founders Tracey and Tim Clarke have launched anew podcast. PHOTO: AWA
‘Moor’ than 50 years at Braunston MarinaPart2:Helloto TheHoney Pot
TimCoghlan continuestotellthe fascinating storyofBraunston Marina’s longestserving moorers, Tony and PamHavard.
AFTERtheir first season of bangingtheirheads on thelow ceilingof Pamela’s Prize, Tony and Pamdecided: “This is stupid…wehaveto findanother boat.” Despitetheir sentimental attachment, sooner or later Pamela’sPrize would have to go.For theirnew ‘dream boat’, full standingheadroomwas essential, and preferably somethingwith four berths below. It wassimplyamatteroftime beforethe right boatturnedup.
In May1968 the used plywood 20ft Crescent Cruiser Alcyone came up on brokerage. It was onthe bank and hadbeenlet go abit,but this did not worryTony, whoenjoyed restoring things.They completed the purchase of Alcyone ‘asseenand approved’for £525,receiving£3 12s 6d in change.They immediatelyrenamed the boat Naiad, meaningwater nymph– after theBroadscruiser on whichtheyhad hadtheir secondholiday afloat.
An early summer excursion wastheir first visit to theThamesfor their annual summer holiday. Tony recalls:“We went with the Naiad down on to the Thames –wentthrough Duke’s Cut–and up theThames andthatwas terrifying,because it wasinflood. We hadaweekofrain and the Thames wasreallynasty,and we were trying to get up it,uptowards Lechlade.Theengine was a twin cylinder petrol outboard and one of the plugs seized up andIcouldn’t stop to change it. Therewas nowhere to stop.Thereweretree trunkscomingatus, the waterwas runningthat fast. Idon’t knowhow we kept going.”
In 1969 theywenttothe IWACoventryCanal Rallywith the Naiad with its theme of the bicentenary of the Coventry Canal. Theyarrived twodaysbefore, ‘tohelp thevolunteersget all the stuff outofthe canal’ from Hawkesbury Junction to the Coventry Basin– the rest of the
Oxford andCoventrycanalswererelatively free of it.“There waseverythinginit, beds, mattresses, washingmachines,TVs,sofas and we gotitall outand on to thebankready forthe rallythe nextday.Wethen went in procession to therally andfound that thestuffhad allbeen chuckedbackinovernight.Theboats triedto go in aline,but you sawthem sheer off one by one as theygot springsround their props.Itwas just chaos and we couldn’t getdownfar.People came outofthe factories to look at us as if we were somethingfromthe moon. Butwedid win aprize for thebestmaintainedboat, and we still have the rallyplaque on ourpresent boat
“Wekept Naiad for alongtime –eight years–until the transom wasstartingtogo. Tony kept sayingwehad gottoget ridofit, although he kept repairingit. In 1978, we decidedwewould likea narrowboat
“WewenttoColecraft andmet DomCole,who startedshowing us the hulls andsuperstructures whichwerecomingout at around £3500, andwe hadonlyabout £2000. Then we sawdownthe yard this little frillythingand we said: ‘What’s that?’ Andhesaid: ‘That belongs to the owner of the factory. He’s goingtoput it up for sale.’”
The hull wasamongthe first that Colecraft built in 1973, when thecompany commenced buildingsteel narrowboats. However, the familyhad alongcanal tradition as working boatmen. Amongthem wasgrandfather Wilson on the maternal line,who hadhis ownfleetof carrierstransportingbricksand cementfrom the Napton brickworks and Stockton cement worksrespectively. Colecraft’s steelworkwas to averyhighspecand untilrecentlythe Havards’ boat hadnever needed remedial weldingor over-plating.
The fit-out wasbythe landlord’sown joiners in the styleofacanal directors’inspection launch, with alongcovered open deck forward and sixbunksinthe cabin. No expense had been spared,includingmahogany decksand toprails
The boat wasmooredoutsidethe RoyalOak at Hillmorton, buthad not used it much and
hadbeenlet go.Thelandlordhad broughtit back to Colecraft sayinghewantedsomething bigger.‘Domsaid it wasfor sale and we said, ‘can we have alook?’ Andwejustfell in love with it immediately. It hadbeenterriblyneglected and the engine hadbeentaken outofit. It was half-full with water–westill have awaterline up in the bows timberworktoprove it.But we just lovedit, lovedthe open front-end. The pricewas £3500, the same as for ahull andsuperstructure, and we both said thereand then that we wanted it.Wedidn’tevencomehomeand discussit. Domsaid: ‘Ringthe mannow’, so we did from the office.Theman said he wanted athousand by the end of the week,and we said okay –we hadonlygot £200 in the bank,sowehad to start selling stuff’–fromthe villageantique shop theywerenow running. ‘But we gothim his thousandpounds by the endofthe week.’
The rest then came from amarine mortgage theylater raised.
The boat’s original name was Pisces. ButPam
and Tony were to change it.Theinspiration came from the swarmofbeesthathad taken nest in the underside of the deck roof,where the wiring to the spotlight hadbeenremovedand the inspection covernot putback. The workmen suggestedwecalledit The HoneyPot And we said, ‘Wellyeah’,and we did andthat wasit. And we still have the honeycomingthrough on hot days!’ Pamrefused to kill the bees.Instead, a cunningplanwas devised to lift theboatonto the lorryafter the bees hadgoneout fortheir dailyforagingand immediatelydrive away. ‘They must have come back to find their home gone!’
While waitingfor the engine to be installed, the Havardsusedthe timetocarry outanumber of improvements to theboat. Theyincludeda fullDIY repaint, paintingthe outside redall over except for twowhitepanelsoneachside whichwerepaintedincanal scenes by afriend of theirs, Rowley,who wasa retiredboatpainter from the thenBritish WaterwaysBoard.Hewas
The Honey Pot brightlylit andcoveredinflagsduringthatBraunstonBoat Show. PHOTO: HAVARD
Tony and Pam Havard (right)seenwitha friendon The Honey Pot at the1999 Braunston BoatShow PHOTO: DON BELLHAM
Craning in the repainted and renamed The Honey Pot into Braunston Marina –summer1978. PHOTO: HAVARD
somethingofanartistand Tony and Pamtried to preserve the paintings aslongaspossible, includingtouchingthem up.But the paintings have nowlongsince fadedawayand been paintedover. To compensate, Tony carved a pair of beehives outoftimberand placedthem on the side of the boat,where theyremain to this day, and alsoasmall model beehivecut outofdifferent-sizedwoodencurtainrings to go on thetillerpin
The Naiad wassoldthrough thenew owners of BraunstonMarina, the LadylineGroup of Companies,for £950, the couple havingbought it 10 yearspreviously for £525.
The late Seventies sawasea-changein the canalboatingindustry. GerryPerry had foundedand built up the Ladyline Group, which in 1970 boughtout Michael Streat’s Braunston operation. By 1978 Ladyline wasprobablythe largestmarina-operator andboatretailing businessinthe UK,with 19 operatingbases, of whichBraunstonwas onlyone and notthe majorone at that.Perry,aformer merchant navy officer who hadsurvived the NorthAtlantic convoys,was averyshrewdbusinessman who ran averytight ship and knew when to sell as well as when to buy. He spottedthatarecession wascoming, hastenedbythe then Labour Chancellor Denis Healey’snotorious budget to ‘tax the rich until the pips squeaked’. The rich in his blinkered view includedall boaters. Leisure boatsofall sizeshad the VATonthem increased from 8to25%, whichkilledoffthe canalcruiser market almostovernight– boatswhichwere almostentirelyUKbuilt
Forevery loser there is awinner.Inearly 1988 Iwas workingasastockbroker in the City of London andfacing possible redundancy following the StockMarketcollapse of October 1987. Idecidedtoget outand go and buymyself abusiness to run, whichwould seemethrough the remainder of my workingdays. In May1988 Ireadanadvertisementinthe FinancialTimes onthe Tuesday‘businessopportunities’page–a politeeuphemism for ‘bust’ businesses. That daythe page included the‘LadylineGroup in Receivership’ –which Iknew well as South Coastyacht chandlers. My enquiries revealed that the onlyasset of substanceleftwas the marina at Braunston. Everythingelsehad been sold to keep aheadofits creditors, except the small marina at ThorneinYorkshire, which couldbeseparatelysold. To cuttothe chase, Iwentfor the Braunstonsiteand boughtitfor theknock-downprice of £312,500.
In preparingmybusinessplan, IdecidedI hadtoincrease themooring charge from £10 to £15 afootper annum to make the necessary investmenttoput theplace back on its feet Iknewthe move wouldbeveryunpopular, especiallyafter the unfulfilledpromises that had been made by others beforeme. Idecided that so longas10boaters said theywould stay and back me,I would go ahead with the plan, which Iregardedasessential. Iasked the general manager, who wasretainedbythe Receiver, whom Ishouldapproach.Prettywell at the topofhis listwerethe Havards. When seeing them on their boat, Iwentand met them and told them my plans,whichtheyimmediately
pledged their support. Nownearly37years on, itissomethingIhavenever forgotten. Once Ihad acquired the business, Iwrote to allthe moorersexplainingjustwhatI was goingtodo. Of the138 stillthere at the time of theReceivership, about40gavenoticeto leaveoncetheir presentmooringsexpired at the end of December.But Iwas pleased that 98 decided to back me –a greatdealmorethan my bottom line of 10. Iimmediatelygot on with puttingthe placebackonits feet –sotheycould reallysee that things were goingtochange–and for the first 18 months it was‘apologising for anyinconveniencecaused’ as building after buildingwas restored and everypontoon renewed.Today the marina is hopefullyavery differentone,with many improvements and some 200 moored boats. Butsome things have notchanged that much and The HoneyPot is still moored roughlywhereshe wasthe dayI arrived– and still as well maintainedasever.
In 1971 the Havardsboughtacottage antiqueshopinthe villageofHarpole outside Northamptonfromaladywho wasretiring and movingtoabungalowacrossthe road. ShetaughtPam the trade and acouple of years laterTonyjoinedher in it,ashehad hadenough of lorry driving, whichhehad nowdone for fiveyears.His marina friendRay Pennycook–ofthe tinofvarnish hat–was in thejewellery trade and taught him antique clockrepairs, whichTonyhas specialised in ever since,as well as dealinginold clocks –especiallyofthe grandfather ilk.
Becauseofrunningthat shop,theyhad never
been on longtrips with The HoneyPot, barthe twotrips mentionedhere, to theThamesand theAshby.“It’s ashame we hadn’tgonefurther afield,”reflects Tony,“butwestill enjoyed it. We still enjoy just goinghalfwaytoNaptonand mooringupand walkingand beingout in the freshair.You don’thavetogotoo far actually. Ireallythink Braunstonisthe best place on the canal. It’s so nicejustbeing thereevenifyou don’t go out.”Pam continued:“We’vealways said it wasour second home.Until Istarted feelingthe cold we were up everyweekend, winter and summer.Weevenonce hada barbecue on thestern deck on Boxing Day. ButIthink we hadthe best of it.Somanyof ourfavourite mooringspots on thecanal have gone becausetheyhavebeentaken over by liveaboards.”
To mark their40th year,in2007 we gave The HoneyPot afreeblacking, engineservice and ‘touch up’, with my meetingupwith themin the drydocktocelebrate the occasion,with much Welshbantertoboot. And10years on,wegavethema free year’s mooring, the paperworkpresented to them on ourbehalf by their fellowmoorers TimothyWestand Prunella Scales.And alsoafreesurvey, which –bad news –showed The HoneyPot in need of majorover-plating, whichhas since been done Sadly, earlier this year,Pam passed away, despiteher bravefightagainstcancer.But Tony is determined to keep boatingaslongashecan, with his many boatingfriends readyand only toowillingtogowith him.And his clockshop at Harpole is still ticking away!
On the Thames aboveOxfordin the summerof1968 with the Naiad,Tony with thesternlines and hislorry driver friendTed holds the mooringline. Alltold therewerefive adultsand twochildrenholidaying for two weeks on this 20ft cruiser. PHOTO: HAVARD
Celebrating 50 yearsatBraunston Marina. The Havards with Timothy West, Prunella Scales and Tim Coghlan, after Tim and Pru had presented the Havards with ayear’s free mooring and hull survey at Braunston Marina.
PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN COLLECTION
Above:Braunston Marinain1972 following theacquisition by Ladyline. The new majorboat sales showroom is completed and atoilet block under construction, which wouldatlast include asanitary station. Themarina was almost all GRP canalcruisers. The Naiad is seen somewhereonher mooring
Above:BraunstonMarina in 1997, 25 years on, the marina has been transformed by the newhousing scheme, but with the old docks and wharves preserved and restored. The marina is now almost entirely narrowboats. The Honey Pot in red, is just discernable on her mooring this side to the right of the interconnecting bridge between the two basins. PHOTO: TIM COGHLAN COLLECTION
All-electricnarrowboat Ampère hascruised for 10 years enjoying the benefits and economies of underfloorheating.
PHOTOS:SUPPLIED
Saving energy on boat heating
By Malcolm Bridge, IWASustainable Boating Group
IT IS usuallysaid that atypical narrowboat needsabout 2kWto keep it comfortable in cold weather, although moreisobviously needed to heat it initially. Energy (and thereforecost) canbesaved by reducinglosses, utilisingwaste heat and/or installingamoreefficient system
Reducing losses
Most narrowboatshavea nominal 1in of insulation on the cabin sides and roof and 2in on the hull. Some also have underfloor insulation.In older boatsitwillall be polystyrene or polyurethane foam slab.
Newerboats have spray-foam on the sides and roof with slab foam, if anythingatall, underthe floor Spray-foam is far superior if applied properly.However,controllingits application is difficult and thereare reportsofskimpingtominimise the
cuttingbackrequired.Its thickness should thereforebechecked before it is covered.
Such insulation is adequate for two-season usebut barely so for boatsusedall year round, particularly those servingashomes. Unfortunately, higherperformance alternatives aresoexpensivethat increasing foam thicknessisreally the onlyaffordable option despite its impact on interior space
Even thisisviable onlyin new-builds and duringmajor refits as upgrading existinginsulation requires extensivereworking of panelling. Anyone considering buyinga boat shouldtherefore ensurethe adequacyofits insulation beforeproceeding.
Double glazinga newbuild is clearly worthwhile,though retrofitting is not cost-effective unlessexistingwindows need to be replacedfor other reasons.Units with ‘warm-edge’ spacersinsulate better than conventional ones,
although failurerates arehighasthe spacer needs(butoften doesn’t get) careful handling prior to assembly They canalsobevisually obtrusiveasthe spacersdon’t take shapingaswell as theiraluminium counterparts.Vacuumglazingunits insulate very much better butare considerably moreexpensivestill. In designing aboatfromscratch, configuration is therefore a potentialenergy-savingfactorfor consideration: atug,for instance, will enjoy thelowestheatlosses viawindows,while providingthe greatest security
Using waste heat
As much as 90% of theenergy in propulsion fuelcan finishupas wasteheatineither the engine coolantorexhaust.Recovering heat from thelatterisdifficult but usingcoolant to heat domestichot wateriswell establishedand more is available for space heating.
Interfacingenginecoolingand
Hydrogen Afloatunveils newwaterways Hero
By Phil PIckin
AS YOUmay remember, we have featured Hydrogen Afloat and its innovativeHyArk fuel cell powersystemusedtoproduce domestic electricityfor boats, so it was particularly interestingtosee thecompany’s latest developmentfor propulsion.
Hydrogen Afloat wasfoundedabout four yearsago by Nick Swift,who hasbeena liveaboardboaterfor around 17 years. A professional engineer by trade, Nick has worked in the rail industryfor 35 years andnow workstocontinually develop the company’s growingproduct range whichisfocused on greentechnology for boats. At therecentCrick Boat Show,Nick unveiledHero, ahydrogenelectric drive system capable of producing up to 24kW of powerper day. It is alogical progressionfromthe smaller output HyArkunitwith its 200 wattsDC. As such,itmarks asignificant step forward in addressing the increasing demand for environmentally friendly
powergeneration,asitdoesawaywiththe need for electricallypropelledboats to use diesel generators to supplementthe solar panels when chargingthe batteries.
As with allhydrogensystems,one of the biggestbenefits is the unit’s ability to operatealmostsilently. Fuelledby ‘green’ hydrogen (made from renewable electricity), the powersupplied is carbonfree,and thereare no emissions other than asmall amountofwater
The new Hero unit combines 3.6kg of hydrogen gasstorage,afuel celland allofits associated control equipment. Coupledwith acomprehensiverange of safetyfeatures, the new unit fits into a compartmentideallyconstructedwhen the boat is built.Externally, all yousee are some stainlesssteel louvre doorsbehind whichthe unit is securely locked.
In use, theunit is designedtoprovide sufficient powerfor up to 50 milesoftypical boatingwhenthe sunisn’t shining, making it an interestingproposition for hirefleets whowanttoprovide agreener alternative.
heating circuits,using aheat exchanger, canfullysupplyradiatorbasedsystems wheneverthe engine is runningbut,asrunningengines while moored is uniquely wasteful, aback-up system is needed.Nonor rarely cruised boatsshould, therefore, not rely entirelyonsuch asystem.
If thereisroomfor asecond calorifier,heatcan be stored forlater use, though making the best useofit requires asystemwhichoperatesat alower temperaturethanradiators, the best known beingunderfloor.
However, as installingthis isonlyviable in new builds, the amountofheatthatcan be stored is limited and boatshave insufficientexposed floor areasfor underfloor heatingtobeadequate on its own, so aback-up system is still necessary.Replacingexisting radiatorswith fan-assisted ones, which arealsoeffectiveatlower temperatures,isprobablythe easiestretrofit option.
More efficient heating
The onlymoreefficientheatsource availableisawater-sourceheat pump.Theseuse powertomove heat rather than produce it,thereby deliveringmoreheatthanthe electricitytheyconsume.
ACoefficient of Performance (energyout/energy in)of3is typical for air-source pumps, but water-source ones canachieve a coefficientof4or5aswater is a better heat source.Recoveringheat from wastewater,whichiswarmer than that in the canal, canenhance performance
As their optimum output temperatures closelymatch those required by lowtemperature heatingsystems,thereisanatural synergy.That said, aheatpump could still useupto8kWh/day,only likely to be available on an electricdriveboatwith alarge batterybank though, combinedwith the savings discussed elsewhere, canprobably halvethis.
To this end, the Hydrogen Afloatteam asked visitorstotheir standhow much extratheywould be willingtopay fora week’s hire of adiesel-free narrowboat that emittednocarbon. The resultsprovedthat abouttwo-thirds of holidaymakers would be willingtopay enough to coverthe extra costs,and half of thosewould be prepared to paysubstantiallymore.
Oneofthe concerns highlightedby many when consideringhydrogenasa fuel source is howreadilyavailable it is Nick told us that greenhydrogencan be deliveredtoaboatfitted with aHerounit viaNetwork Hy Ltd, and when it comes to the costs,headdedthatwhile the price of hydrogen is currentlythree times that of diesel, with moreand moregreen hydrogen beingproduced, this costwill continue to fall.
As for the unit itself, aHerowitha 1kWh fuel cell, 3.6kgtype3storage,control andfilling systemsand all of the sensors required wouldcost£27,495 (excluding VAT).For moreinformationonany of the Hydrogen Afloat products,visit www. hydrogenafloat.com
The most energy-efficientheat deliverysystemshould be (wet) radiantceilingheating in which theceiling, at 30oC, radiates heat downwards, warmingpeople andobjects directly, with limited heatingofthe air.
As aresult,heatlosses, which depend on the difference betweeninternaland external air temperatures,are reduced, typicallyby20-25%. Moreover,as boatshavelargerexposed ceiling areasthanfloors,aceilingsystem canpotentiallyheataboatfully. Combiningceiling andunderfloor systemsisalsoanoption. Now what is needed is someone to tryit!
Spray foam wall insulation with underfloor heating coils laid on polyurethane insulation boards.
Nick Swift, director of Hydrogen Afloat, discussing the new Herosystem at the Crick Boat Show PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN
ONE OF LEICESTERSHIRES HIDDEN GEMS AND AHAVEN FORPEACE ANDQUIET www.leicestermarina.co.uk
Berthing available for leisuremoorers
Pleaseenquirefor prices: 0116 2606166 or office@raynswayproperties.co.uk
Themarina offers you:
•Diesel
•Gas
•Coal
•Pump out and Elsan
•Laundrette
•Shower/Toilet Block
•Paint bay
Leicester Marina, Pinfold Road, ThurmastonLE4 8AS
MOORINGSAND BOAT SALES
Forviewings andinformation please call 01684293737 or email: sales@tewkesbury-marina.co.uk
FollowUs
SHAKESPEARE MARINA
•Flood proof moorings
MA
•250 berthslocated on river Avon
•10mins walk fromStratford-upon-Avon
•Waters&elec hook ups to each berth
•Freewi-fi •Laundry •Showers
•Fuel sales •Pumpout
•Lakeland Leisureboat brokerage T: 07967 461057
E: shakespeare@land-water.co.uk
CAEN HILL MARINA
•248 berths located on Kennet & Avon canal
•Near to Devizes Wiltshire
•Lakeland Boat Brokerage T: 01380 827062
E: caenhill@land-water.co.uk
NORTHWICH QUAY
• 50 berths located on river Weaver
• CentreofNorthwich, Cheshire T: 07967 461038
E: northwich@land-water.co.uk
Moorings available,special ratesfor newcustomers
Prime mooring’s in thecentreof Birmingham’Canal system.Securesite, withall servicesavailable,and easyaccess to the lively cityofBirmingham Justa 2minutewalk,tothe fantastic nightlifeofRestaurants, clubs and bars, Places of interest,the InternationalConventionCentre, also knownasthe ICC, off the famous boardstreet, in Birmingham, the new library, the Cresenttheatre,The Ikon galleryfor art, all just ashortwalk away,3-4 minutes, Allpublic services are availablefromthe streets outside andyou can jump on the tram from Boardstreet.Wolverhampton,ortonew street.The choiceisyours Mooringinsherborne wharf,isquiet andpeaceful,with long term residents,who have established alifehereinthe Marine.Weare an established Company, who have been here inBirminghamfor over 30yrs,friendlyneighbourswho get together and enjoysummer evenings on thetowpath socialising, sharing the evening sunand adrink,responsibly, Service’sare based on themain lineoutside the round house and Distillery Pub, with asmall chandlery, coal,diesel,Gas andpump out available on adaily basis, please notepumpouts arenot allowedafter 11.30am, thefacilitiesare small but can supply youwith whatyou need
We have no onsite parking,however parking can be found,torentwithinthe access to the site andaroundthe Marina privately
Boat services,wehaveadry dock thatcan be hired, forblacking,surveys,ormechanicalworkrequired.Wehavethe contactfor boatsurveys’gas inspectionsand repairsshouldthey be required
Northampton Marina
EAST MIDLANDS BOATSERVICES -WILLOW MOORINGS
Moorings Available for cruisers and narrowboats at £4.60 per foot, per month. Residentialmoorings available at £325.00 per month for Narrowboats only Poweredslipway for boatsupto40foot and asecond slipway for small boats. Slipway can be hired forDIY workorweoffer services for Antifouling, Painting and GeneralServicing. We also have a Boat Safety Examineronsite.
Located on the A6, adjacent to The OtterPublic House. 01509 672385 www.eastmidlandsboatservices.co.uk Kegworth, DE74 2EY
Bridge180, Grand Union Canal, Harefield UB9 6PD Tel: 01895 822036 muskmarine@hotmail.com www.harefieldmarina.co.uk
Facilities include:-Chandlery -Slipway (up to 65ft) -Covered wetdock -Water and electric points -Diesel -Pumpout -Boat sales/ brokerage -Engine inboard/ outboardrepairs -gas andcoal
HAREFIELD MARINA
Hill Farm Marina
South StratfordCanal
The View Restaurant is now fully open www.theview-eat.co.uk
• •Enjoy privateaccess to atraditional 200 acrebeef and sheep farm
• •Dogs run free in designatedareas
• •Watch thechanging seasons,the wildlife and theanimals on the farm
• •Enjoy the completepeace,freedomand tranquillityofbeing in the countryside
• •Accesssome greatlock free cruisingfor day trips, weekend or longervoyages
• •Easy access to motorwaynetwork, buses and trains
• •Onsitelaundry, Hairdressers
• •Members benefit witha discount at our popular Restaurant
It goes without saying....
• •A secureplacetomooryourboat, and park your car
• •Luxurious showers,communal areas, pump outand fuel etc.
• •Freeunlimited WIFI
• •Electricityand water connections
• •Pump-out,fuel, coal,wood andgas available
Please watch the progress www.hillfarmmarina.co.uk email info@hillfarmmarina.co.uk or call David on 07971 118953
DiscoverOur
Idyllic Retreat
mooringsforboatsupto40ftusing code‘TOWPATH’
We are opensevendaysaweek Café,marina shop &chandlery
We also have our own Village Green –aplace to sit, relax and take in the beauty of the marina
High-specification shower/toilet facilities, elsan disposal point
Dry dock maintenance and repairs
Pump-out station,diesel, electricity, gas, coal, logs &sticks,water point
Located on the Prees Branch of the LlangollenCanal Offer valid until the endofJuly 2025
Alders Lane, Whixall, ShropshireSY132QS
Marina Enquiries: 01948 880420
Email: enquiries@whixallmarina.co.uk
www.whixallmarina.co.uk
Subject to terms and conditions
Afamily owned marinaset in rural Worcestershire, but minutes away from the M5,gives all boaters great travel opportunities.
The238 berth marinaislocated on the Droitwich Canals, ideally situatedfor greatcruising albeit forashortbreak or long holidays.Itiswithin easy walking distanceofthe Spa Town of Droitwich.
Facilities:
•
•
•
•
Brokerageservice
GooleMarinaislocatedina basinconnectingtothe Aireand Calder Canaland closetothe commercial port of Gooleinthe East Riding of Yorkshire. Themarinaprovides an idealbasefor cruising thewaterways of Yorkshireaswellasgivingeasyaccesstothe Humber Estuaryand theNorth Sea.
We have amarinabasin to accommodate 150 boatsofvarious lengths& widths. We canaccommodate alltypes of craftfromCruiserstoNarrowboatand Barges Alltypes of moorings,gardenmoorings to floatingpontoons, whichcan be accessed24hrs aday Ournew Marina Café,CoffeeDock, is nowopentothe public Open Monday –Saturday 9amuntil 3pm. Everyone welcome!
Bottom Blacking |Full DIY service available 3day slip, undercover plus3000psi hotwash £350 +VAT Telephone 01543 414808/07824 848444 office@streethaywharf.co.uk www.streethaywharf.co.uk Steelwork | Stretching | Chandlery | Timber Work
•Iver(Slough Arm) and Northolt (Paddington arm)
•Secure siteswithprivate parking
•Delivery of gas,solid fuel and diesel direct to your boat
•Electricity,water,elsan and pump out
•Showersand laundry
•Chandlery
•Mechanical, electrical, and carpentry work undertaken
Narrowboat, Workboat, Passenger boat and Powerboattraining coursesare available via our RYA Inland WaterwaysHelmsman, RYA Powerboat,MCA Boat Master, and InSTR Rescue boat schemes. RYAFirst Aid &VHF SRCby appointment.
Drydockavailable forfull7 daybookings
▪Checkingstern
▪Hirefor
▪Docking
Birmingham & Midland Marine Services Ltdprovide es specialist skipper, coxswain &water in er safety training; Plus: Commercial inland, Open- Co watermarine supporttoindustry. te arine suppor
Courses
COMMERCIAL SERVICES MMERCIAL
Please see the website
Second hand narrowboatspurchased forcash, please call
ExploreUK Narrowboat Insurance
*Features are subject to exclusions and limitations.For more information about the features of ourGJW Directinsurance,pleaserefer to the relevant policy document. Information correct at timeofprint.
Geta quote
New mooringsto‘transform’marina
AREFURBISHMENT
projectisunderway to significantlyenhance the facilities at Aquavista’s Buckden Waterside & Marina on the RiverGreat Ouse near St Neots in Cambridgeshire.
The majorinvestment, due for completion around now, sees the refurbishmentofthe existingshowers,toilets, laundryand marina reception as well as installation of adog wash facility. Therewill
be additional worksto improvethe general aestheticsofthe marina Buckden is the latest marinatoreceive
The
investment as part of Aquavista’s commitment to continuously invest in itssites andfollows recentrefurbishments at Wigrams Turn Marina in Warwickshire, Cropredy Marina in Oxfordshire and CrickMarinain Northamptonshire. Aquavistahas also
recentlyannounceda new type of mooringat Buckden. Traditionally aleisure-onlymarina, moorerscan nowchoose anew High UsePremium mooringwhich allows them to make Buckden theirpermanent base and stay sevennightsa week on theirboat. The packagealsocomes with apostbox,storage box, free weeklylaundryand monthlypumpout Regional operations managerSeanDrury
said: “Wepurchased Buckden in December 2021 as part of our acquisition of Castle Marinas. It’s abeautiful marina in astunning location, butthe facilities were lacking. We’re delightedtohavestarted theseworks and launch High Usemoorings, whichwill transform the marina and really enhance Buckden’s reputation as afantastic placefor ourmoorers to spendtime on the water.”
Cruise Moor –not just amooring scheme
Cruise Moorhas proved tobenot onlypopular with theboating community,but with the participating marinas, who have gained more thanjust new businessfrom takingpart.PhilPickin reports…
ACOUPLEofyears ago, asmall groupof independentfamily-run marinasmet up over aglass or twoof“warm Prosecco”(their words, not mine) to discuss business,the ups and downsofthe marina world. The result of theseconversations wasCruiseMoor, a scheme that allows waterway boatersan opportunitytoenjoy discountedvisitor moorings at participatingmarinas.
At atime when anumberofmarinas had become part of larger commercial organisations,this groupfelt that they could offersomething differentbyremaining independentand by beingfamily run, a philosophytheystill adhereto. The group in question includedAqueduct Marina, Droitwich SpaMarina, DunchurchPools Marina,Overwater Marina andWhite Mills Marina,sometimes referredtoasthe ‘fabulous five’.Theideawas simple: the scheme gave boatersthe opportunitytostay on each of the marinasona visitor mooring for up to twoweeks at a20% discount Other benefits includedthe knowledge that
all the participants offered the same high standards, with each member holdingBritish Marine membership
As with all new schemes, additional features and d adaptations need to be made ovver time, and this year the scheme offersup to one week of free mooringataparticipating marina.Anyone consideringusing one of themarinas and who pays for their home mooringannuallycan request aCruiseMoor card.This will need to be presentedwhen checking into the chosen marina
This network hasprovidedanopportunity forsupportand advicetobeshared between the members and, on occasions, hasprovedtobe extremelyvaluable.
Since its launch, the ideahas proved popularwith both the boatingcommunity and the marinas, with nine nowpartofthe network spread acrossthe network.But what is lessobvious is the hiddenadvantagesof participation in the schemefor the marinas themselves.Debbie SkinnerfromWhiteMills Marina and Janet Maughan from Overwater Marina agreed that all of the marinashave benefited from the network that hasformed
Sebastian steals theshow
THE spirit of fun and four-legged friendship wasaliveand well at the first-everPawsAboardDog Awards,hostedatthis year’s CrickBoatShowbyLakeland LeisureEstates
Markingthe launchofwhat is sure to becomea much-loved annual tradition, the competition gotofftoafantastic start–with dozens of delightfulentries and acelebration of the specialbond betweenboaters and their canine companions
From playfulpupstoloyal old-timers, everyentry reminds us just howmuchour dogs bringto ourlives on the water. Butone dog
in particular captured thehearts of the public –Sebastian, who wascrowned Best DoginShow 2025 after receiving morethan 200 public votes. Hischarming presence and nautical flair made himaninstantfavourite,and his owner, Anthony, will be thrilled to accept theprize:a two-nightstay at adog-friendlyLakeland Leisure Estatesdestination.
Other standout winners included:
•TheTowpath Tailblazer Award–Mollie Collie Hing, for boundlessenergy andan unbeatable towpathstrut.
•TheHaven KJ Hero Hound
AccordingtoJanet and Debbie,the schemewasn’t set up just to benefit the marinas; itwas to provide an alternative visitor mooringoption to the boatingcommunity by usinga network that shares thesame values andworks to provide thehighest possible qualityservices. It is also logical to seethat the participating marinaswill have extensivelocal knowledge that canbepassedontovisitors, which in turn could well benefit the localeconomy, so encouragingmorevisitorstoareas they mightnot otherwise have visited could also be beneficialtothe wider community.
If youare interested in making useofthe CruiseMoorscheme,visit thewebsite of any participatingmarinas andlookfor the logo or link. Currently, the marinasinthe scheme areAqueduct, DroitwichSpa,Overwater, WhiteMills,DunchurchPools,Fenny, Fox Narrowboats, Sheppertonand Lechlade
–Ralphie,for courageand companionshiponand off the boat
•TheSir Woofchester’sTreat Seeker –Jack, whosenose knows no bounds when it comes to sniffingout snacks! The awards attracted an impressive number of entries this year, showcasingthe joy, loyaltyand characterofour four-legged first mates. With open days just around the corner at Barton Marina (June 21) and Roydon Marina Village (July19), thereare even more opportunities ahead to showoff your pups and celebratelife on the waterways— pawinhand.
Remembering TimDavis
IT WASwith greatsadnessthatOnboard Solarannouncedthe passingofTim Davis, the original founder of thecompany.Tim diedunexpectedlywhile stillworking alongside the team he helped to build, and his lossisdeeplyfelt acrossthe boatingand off-gridcommunity.
TimfoundedOnboard Solarwith avision to bringsustainable,reliable solarenergy solutions to thewaterways of theUK. His passion for innovation andhis unwavering dedication helped grow OnboardSolar into one of themosttrusted names in solarfor narrowboats, widebeams,vans and off-grid living.
Four yearsago,Tim sold the company to Matthew Gibson, butremaineda keypartof theteam, continuing to work with Matthew andcontributinghis expert knowledgeand supporttothe business he helped create
“Tim wasmorethana colleague –hewas amentorand afriend. Hisbelief in practical, off-gridindependenceshapedthe core values of OnboardSolar,” said Matthew. “He leaves behind apowerfullegacy, and we’re committed to carrying it forward with the same integrity, enthusiasm and innovation he broughttoeverythinghedid.”
As OnboardSolar looksahead, Tim’s spirit continues to inspireits growth and direction. This year,ina fittingtribute to his legacy,the company is proudtoannounce the launch of itslatestproduct line: flexible solarpanels,designedespeciallyfor boatersand van-lifers seekinglightweight, lowprofileand efficientoff-grid energy solutions
“WeknowTim wouldhavebeenexcited aboutthislaunch,”addedMatthew. “He wasalwayslooking for ways to help people live morefreelyand sustainably. Thesenew panels areanotherstepinthatdirection.”
new laundry facilities at Aquavista’sBuckden Waterside &Marina are just one small part of the revamp. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Matthew Gibson (left) and Tim Davis. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
betweenthe group, aview agreed by Nick Parkes of Droitwich SpaMarina.
FreshfromPoland –enter theDragon
It is always interestingtodiscover another person’s(or business’s) interpretation of what we seeasparticularly unique to theUK, so it was good to get the opportunity to view the first of anew range of narrowboats being built in Poland.PhilPickinwent tohavealook, although he didn’t have to travel toEasternEurope...
OVER theyears,manyboats have come on to the UK market that have been manufactured in Poland, and Dragon 2 is thelatest. Built by Dragon BoatsLondon Ltdand marketed by Aqueduct Marina in Cheshire, this new rangeofferssomethingslightly different forthose lookingfor anewly built stockboat.
Dragon 2 is a54ft cruiser-style narrowboat,soitneeds to pack a lot into arelativelysmall space, somethingthe designersseemto have done quitewell. The result is aboatthat mixesmanytraditional features with modern styling, some of whichare quite‘individual’, such as the mix of the angulargalley worktops with theround portholes, all of whichare double glazed andsuppliedbyChannelglaze. Thesewindows areusedalmost exclusivelythroughout theboat. Inside Dragon 2,you finda
good-sized galleywithworktops on both sides of the boat.Alarge squaresink is setintothe lightcoloured worktops made from Noble Quartzite. Beloware a Whirlpoolfridge, afullwashing machine, Bellinggas oven and hob. Plenty of storagespace is on offer in thecupboardsand drawers, all fittedwithpale grey fronts,and the buildershaveevenmanaged to squeezeinasmall breakfastbar at the end ofthe worktops. The interior is fittedout using lightash andwhitetongueand groove boards,and oakflooring complementsthiswell. As mentionedbefore, portholes have been used extensivelytoprovide daylight alongwithasmall side hatchlocated quitehighinthe cabin wall. Additional lighting is provided by some largewall lights as well as the insetceilingLED lights
AMorso Squirrelstove is a majorfeature in the livingarea, which hasbeenfurnishedwithtwo freestandingseats.A TV and storage unit completethe livingarea. The additionofasofa bedwould make good useofthis space, especially for ownerswho have guests staying from time to time.
As well as the solid fuelstove heatinginthe livingarea, aWebasto diesel central heatingsystemisalso provided forthe rest of theboat, plus underfloor heatinginthe bathroom, which is fittedwith asquareshower enclosurewith Hansgrohefittings anda Thetfordcassettetoilet. Forwardofthis is the main bedroom, which hasbeenfitted with afold-outdouble bedthat is possiblyintendedtobefolded away for much of the time,thereby providingadditional seatingspace and easy accesstothe doubledoors to the bow. Thismay be an issuefor some,asthereare thosewho would liketohaveafixedbed.Ifthatisyour choice,thereisnothing stopping
youfromleavingthe bedinsitu.
The electrical system for the boat uses aVictron inverter/charger, AGM, andgel batteries. The 230v system hasa shorelineconnection that includes a25-metrecable Dragon 2 is poweredbyaBeta Marine 38hpengine andisequipped with aSide PowerSE60/185bow thruster. The hull is built to a10-65-5 specification and hasbeen treated with Hempel 55143 partpolyurethane paint. Beinga stockboat, Dragon 2 is equippedand readytogo, therebyavoiding the long waits often experienced by thosebuying new. Obviously,you don’t have thechoices youwould have if you optedfor abespoke boat,but you won’t be paying bespokeprices either. Dragon 2 is £149,950, aprice that comparesquitewell with other stockboats on the market;however, at 54ft, Dragon 2 is significantly shorterthanmanyothers. It all depends on what youare looking for.Despitethis boat beingthe first to be offered for sale by Dragon BoatsLondon Ltd(despiteitbeing numbered ‘2’) I’massured that it is fullycompliant and is suppliedwith allthe necessary documentation required for aboatoffered for sale in the UK
Shower: Square, laminated walls, Hansgrohe shower tap
Power: Alternators: Beta 40 Ah andBeta 100 Ah
Batteries: 1xstarter AGM 12 90 Ah and 2x domestic gel 12v 220 Ah, 1x Victron 12v 165 Ah bow thruster
Inverter/charger: Victron
Multiplus 12/3000/120-16
Watertank:340gallons-mildsteel
Stove: Morso 1010
Squirrel solid fuel
Central heating: Webasto
Thermo TopEvo 12v diesel
Hot water: Surecal horizontal twin coil calorifier supplied by the engine and central heating (14.5 gallons).
Builder: Dragon Boats London Ltd
Brokerage: Aqueduct Marina, Church Minshull, Nantwich, CheshireCW5 6DX www aqueductmarina.co.uk
Dragon2 underway
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Side hatch on Dragon 2. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Nice mix of old andnew. PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN
Thebedroom with thebed folded to makeacouch. PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN
Good-sized bathroom.
PHOTO: PHIL PICKIN
Crick Boat Show celebrates silver anniversary success
MAYBank Holidayweekend saw the waterways communitygather at Crick Marina to seethe latest products,the newestboatsand to catch up with old friends at the 25th anniversaryofthe show. Phil Pickin savoured thelively atmosphere.
CONSIDEREDtheworld’sbiggestmarketplace, theevent gave an opportunity for morethan 200 exhibitorstoshowcasetheir latestproducts and services.Inaddition to these, around 40 boatswereavailable for visitors tolookat, 17 of whichwerecranedintothe marina afew days beforethe event. Therewerealsoused boats, boat trips,freeadvice seminarsonboat ownership, technicalmasterclasses andthe highlyanticipated awards
As is usual forCrick,there wasa live musicfestival and abeerfestival, alongside the largevarietyoffoodand drink stalls that mostvisitorsneedafter alongday of windowshopping. This year sawthe number of colourful historicboats increaseslightly. Theseboats alwaysprove popularwith visitors, and 2025 wasnodifferent, with large numbersofvisitorsgettingupclosetohave alookatthesehistoriccraft moored in the marina
PeterJohns,publisher of Waterways World and showdirector, said beforethe event that he waslooking forward to welcoming people to the show. “Crick Boat Show is firmlyestablishedasthe topdestination for waterwaysenthusiastslooking to buya new boat, upgrade or improvetheir existingboat, for newcomerswantingto getafloat forthe first time andfor thoseseeking aday outby the water,”hesaid.
The showissaid to have the largestdisplay of newinlandboats,bothnarrowboats and widebeams,for an eventofits type in the UK.With the demiseofBoatLife,itwould seem that theonlypotential competition
foracommercial eventofthissizewould be theSouthampton Boat Show,assuming the organiserslooktoexpandonlastyear’s waterwaysdisplay As ever,the trade andpreview dayproved to be popularwithgood numbersofvisitors turning up on the Friday.Although the idea of thetrade dayistoprovide thosewho want to speakwithexhibitors, apotentially quieter dayfor theseconversations,manydopay the premium price simply to enjoy aquieter day. With amaximum of 1000 pre-bookedvisitors, there is moreofanopportunity for visitorsto talkin-depthwiththe companies exhibiting.
Matthew Symonds,national boating managerfor the Canal&River Trust, added:
“Every year CrickBoatShow, theUK’sbiggest inland waterwaysfestival, celebrates Britain’s fantastic network of canals and rivers.Aswell as providingvisitorswith an opportunity to talk to the Canal& RiverTrust staff abouta wide rangeofissues,the trust’steamwere alsohopingthatvisitorstothe marquee took the opportunity to discovermoreabout the boating, recreation and thewell-being benefits that the waterwaysoffer.”
The FavouriteBoatinShowaward is a
long-heldtradition of the CrickBoatShow, with thecompetitionsponsored by Haven Knox-Johnston. Thisyear, onetrophywas awardedtothe builder of the mostadmired boat at the show, with the winner beingNorton Canes for Vampirate.Runner-up wasBraidbar Boatsfor DaisyNo. 213,and thirdplace went to OvationBoats for Breaking Bad Interestingly, the awardfor the bestnew product for the Inland Waterwayswenttoa product we’vefeaturedsome monthsago on TowpathTalk:Red Snapperhybridelectric drop-Inmarine drivesolution from Lynch MotorCompany.But this wasn’t theonly new product aimedatdecarbonisingthe waterways; Hydrogen Afloatlaunchedits new Hero hydrogen electric drivesystemand awater source heat pump that harnessesthe thermal energy from the canaltoheatthe boat Aregular exhibitor at theshowisFischer Panda, and this year’s attendance at Crick came after the companywas namedthe winner of the GreenInnovatorAward at the 2025 South Coast&Green Tech Boat Show. It also took home the Innovation in Vehicle EnhancementAward at the 2025 Motor TraderCommercial IndustryAwards. The GreenInnovatorAward waspresented by MDL Marinas, with the aim of highlighting the leadersinmarinesustainability.
Anew exhibitor,Oyster, showcaseda range of innovativeinternetsystems that boasted some impressive results.Thecompany’s new system aims to provide an improved levelofcoverageand an alternativefor those who maybeconsideringthe useofStarlink. Oyster’s system utilises the existingmobile data network,but by usinganimproved antennacoupledwith higher specification components,the company says that reception canbeenhancedsignificantly. Hopefully, we will be able to look into this further with amore detailedreportonthisimpressivesystemthat alsorepresents asignificantreduction in price comparedwiththe costofsatellitesystems
Butitwasn’tall high-techand high-cost equipmentonshowatCrick.One of the show’sregular exhibitors, Kathryn Webley, wastheretoshowcaseher new rangeofglass artdiscsculptures, many of whichwereonthe theme of waterway creaturesand kingfishers in particular.Mounted on handmade wooden mounts made by BooStar Wood,these new products were abeautiful addition to her rangeofartworks.
The show’s new layout providedvisitors with morethanafew moments of ‘head scratching’,but theysoonseemedtoget to grips with whereeverythingwas and feedback wasgenerally positive
The 2026 CrickBoatShowwill take place from May22-25, so putthe date in your calendar,itwillcomearoundall toosoon.
Some of theever-popular historic boats. PHOTOS: PHIL PICKIN
Sunshine on thefirst day was welcomed.
The Oyster internet system, seen for the first time at Crick.
Boats moored on the canal beside the show site.
Top 10 summer destinations
SUMMERishereand it’s time to make the mostofit. Luckily, Driftershires canal boatsfor the dayfrom19places across England and Wales,offeringthe chance to enjoy afamilyday outonthe canals this summer.Theadditional good news is that full tuition is included, so it’s agreat way for newcomerstocanal boatingto getthe hang of steering, mooringupand working the locks.
All Drifters’ dayboats areequipped with cutlery, crockery and akettle,and most alsohaveatoilet,cookerand fridge.Soday boaterscan plan apicnicafloat or stop off for lunchatacanalside pubalongthe way. Here’s aguide to Drifters’ top10 destinations for days outboatingonthe canals this summer:
Peak Forest Canal
Experience stunningviewsofthe Peak District on the Peak Forest Canal– on aday outboating from NewMills Marina on thePeakForest CanalinDerbyshire, dayboaters cancruiseto Marple and back,enjoyingfantastic views of the rollingcountryside alongthe way. Thereare places to moor up at thebottomofthe Marple Lock flighttosee boatspassing throughone of the steepest lock flights in Britain and walk tothe HattersArmsinMarple.Thejourneyto Marple and back takesfive-and-a-half hours and thereare no locks.
Bonehill
Alvechurch Marina
Glide alongthe leafyWorcester &Birmingham Canal– on aday outfrom Alvechurch Marina near Bromsgrove, day boaters cancruise north through the remains of theForest of Arden to Kings NortonJunction and back. Along theway they canstopoff at the canalside HopwoodHouse puband take awalk around the Bittell Reservoirs. The routeislock-free but takesboaters through Wast Hill Tunnel, which is more than amile-and-a-halflong.
Brecon Beacons
Navigatethrough theStaffordshire countrysidetoBonehill –fromKing’s OrchardMarina, on theCoventryCanal nearLichfield, day boaters cancruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Bonehill Bridge andback. The routetakes boatersthrough the villages Huddlesford, Whittingtonand Hopwas.AtHopwasthere aretwo pubs to choose from –the Tame Otterand the RedLion.Thejourney to Bonehill and back takes five-and-a-half hoursand thereare no locks.
NavigatetoTheStarInn at Mamhillad in the Brecon Beacons –ona dayout boatingalong on the beautiful Monmouth &Brecon Canal from GoytreWharf,day boaterscan cruise through theUsk Valleyenjoyingincredible mountainviews.Ittakes around two-anda-half hourstoreach moorings closetothe popularStarpub at Mamhillad, ashortwalk from bridge 62.
Napton-on-the-Hill
Cruise alongthe Grand Union Canalto Napton-on-the-Hill fromBraunston in heart of the canal network –day boaters
Shakespeare country Cruise through Shakespearecountry to Wilmcote– from Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal in Warwickshire,day boaters can cruise to the historic village of Wilmcote, home of the Mary Innpub.Thejourney takes boatersacrossthe Edstone Aqueduct, England’s longestcast-iron aqueduct,with breathtakingviewsacrossthe Warwickshire countryside.Frommooringsatthe topofthe Wilmcotelockflight, it’s ashortwalkintothe village. The journeytoWilmcoteand back takes around fivehours and there’s one lock to go through each way.
Streaminthe Sky
Floatacross‘The Stream in the Sky’ in North Wales –fromTrevoronthe Llangollen Canal, dayboaters cantravelacrossthe UNESCO WorldHeritagePontcysyllte Aqueduct.Standing at morethan38metres high abovethe DeeValley, thisincredible structureoffers stunning views of the Dee Valleybelow.After cruisingoverthe Aqueduct, thereare twotunnels andanother aqueduct to crossbeforereachingthe Bridge InnatChirk Bank.Thejourney to Chirktakes around two-and-a-half hours.
cancruisetothe historicvillageof Napton-on-the-Hill and back.The journeytakes boatersthrough the Northamptonshirecountryside and into Warwickshire. Once at Napton, boaters canmoorupand walk into thevillage wherethere’sa choice of pubs,including the popularKings Head. The journeyto Napton andbacktakes around sixhours and thereare no locks.
Nantwich from BunburyWharf
Boat alongthe ShropshireUnion Canalto Nantwich –from Bunbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canalnear Tarporley in Cheshire, day boaters can cruise south for six miles to Nantwich and back.The journeytakes boatersacrossthe impressive Grade II* listed Nantwich Aqueduct, with panoramic views across the town and passes the canalside theOlde Barbridge Innalongthe way. The journey to Nantwich takes around two-and-a-halfhours and thereare no locks.
Avoncliff Aqueduct
Boat alongthe Kennet &AvonCanal to AvoncliffAqueduct– from Hilperton Marina, near TrowbridgeinWiltshire, dayboaters can cruise west through the Bath Valley to Avoncliff Aqueduct and back,passing through the picturesque town of Bradfordon-Avon. There’sjustone lock to pass through at Bradford-on-Avon and achoice of places to eat, including the canalsideBarge Inn. The journeytoAvoncliffand back takesaround sixhours.
Atherstone
Cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to Atherstone –onaday out from Springwood Haven Marina on theCoventryCanalnear Nuneaton, day boaters can cruise to the historic markettown of Atherstone andback. Alongthe way, boaterspassthe canalside Anchor Inn. The journeytoAtherstone and back takes around three hours.
A narrowboat on the Kennet and Avon Canal, Avoncliff
PHOTO: NESSINO- CC BY-SA 3 0
Free guidedtours generate interest
AS PART of the Shannon hydro-electric scheme,the ArdnacrushaGeneration Station hasplayedacritical role in enhancing Irish life since its construction morethan90 yearsago,makingprogresspossiblethrough the electrification of the country.
Ardnacrushatookjustfouryears (1925 to 1929) and 5000 workerstobuild.Itcost more than IR£5mtoconstruct at the time –almostone-fifth of theentireannual budget –and became asymbolofforward thinkinginrelation to harnessingIreland’s naturalresources.Thenational grid was constructedatthe same time andthe 86 MW capacitywas then enough to meetthe electricitydemands of the whole country. Today, Ardnacrusharepresents only around 2% of the total installedcapacity.
Almosta century later, ESB(Electricity SupplyBoard)continues to lead theway towardsa secure, sustainable futurefor Ireland through its Driven to Make a Difference: Netzeroby2040 strategy, readying the countryfor an affordable transition to aclean electric future
The ArdnacrushaGeneration Station opens for free guidedtours on Tuesday, July 1. Visitors takingthe Ardnascrusha Experience canlearn moreabout this new
strategy as well as view the headrace canal, locksand tailrace of this amazingfeatof engineering. Inside the station, the living heritage of the ShannonScheme is related through aseries of animations which celebratethe history of the project. Moving into theheart of thestation visitors will have an opportunitytoview the turbine hall and original control room
Forboaters on the ShannonNavigation, negotiatingthe headrace,internal doublechamberedlockatArdnacrushaand the tailrace into Limerickisanunforgettable experience and remains one of the highlights of cruisingonthe Irish waterways. The opportunityofaddingaguidedtour of Ardnascrushawillfurther enhance the experience.
Brendan Shine,plant managerat Ardnacrusha, said: “All the staff working hereatArdnacrushaare delightedto once again open the gatesofthe stationto school groups and thepublicsotheycan getaninsight into the workings of ourgreat station, and thecontribution it hasmade to the country’seconomic and social history. Ourguides will ensurethis is amemorable experience for all andweencourage anyone interested to book early.”
hall and turbines.
Guided tours(accommodating individuals and groups of up to 30 people) runfor about90minutes.Personal ProtectionEquipment(PPE) including hi-vis jacket,safetyhat and safetyglasses areprovided on arrivalatthe station and visitorsare required to wear all provided
PPE for the durationofthe tour.Thereare 86 stepsuptothe headracecanal, locks and tailrace and thereforeunsuitable for wheelchair usersorthosewithmobility difficulties.
Bookings areessential and canbemade at www.esb.ie/ardnacrushatours
Best cruisetrips and tips forbeginners
FORfamilies dreamingofa holiday with adifference,wherethe journey is just as enjoyable as the destination, aboating trip with Le Boat is the perfectintroductionto slow travel. As no experienceisnecessary, first-time cruiserscan take the helm with ease,thankstoLeBoat’suser-friendly controls,in-depth briefings and dedicated supportteam.
The welcomingboatingcommunityis alwaysready to offer tips,share localinsights and make thejourneyevenmoreenjoyable –whetherit’safriendlywavefromanother boater or arecommendation for the best family-friendlypicnic spots
Le Boat’s boatsare designedwith families in mind, featuringsimple throttle and steering systems,spacious decksand comfortable livingareas.Every trip begins with afull handover, ensuringconfidence beforesetting off.With easy-to-navigate routes and plenty of fun stopsalongthe way, thesedestinations areperfect for first-time cruisersand their families.
The River Thames offers a fantastic introduction to boating. With countryside, towns and no locks to navigate for the first stretch from Benson, it’s an easy, stress-free option
CanalduMidi
The CanalduMidi in southernFranceisanideal startingpointfor families. This UNESCO-listed waterwayisnot onlyone of the mostscenic in Europe,but alsobeginner-friendly, offeringa relaxedintroduction to boating. The routeis dottedwith villages,wherefamilies canmoor upfor abikeridealong thetowpaths, stopping in Argens-Minervois for greatviews or exploring the ancientcityofCarcassonne,where kids canwalk through areal-life fairy-tale fortress.
Fonserannes LocksnearBéziersisanother highlight– afascinatingstaircase of sevenlocks Thereare plenty of places for outdoorfun, includingJouarresLakenearHomps and for ataste of localculture, Trèbes is agreat stop to visit the oliveoil farmsortry delicious fresh produce from the Sunday market
Burgundy Franche-Comté
Forfamilieswholovefood,BurgundyFrancheComtéoffers an irresistible mixofgastronomy and relaxation. Around-trip from St-Jean-deLosneunveils aworld of canals,villagesand
delicious localproduce.The117.8km route hasonlyfourlocks to navigate, making it a greatchoice for first-time cruisers. Stop at localmarkets in townslikeChagnyand Seurre to pick up fresh ingredientsfor an onboard feast. Kids will love samplingregional treats like Gougères (cheesychoux pastries), while parentscan savour world-famous wines from the Côte de Beaune region.
Off thewater,there’splenty to keep little explorersentertained. In Scey-sur-Saône,they canvisit amini-farmwith goatsand rabbits or takeaponyride through the castle grounds.In Gray,the whole familycan enjoy activitieslike go-karting, horse ridingand canoeingortake arefreshingdip in thetown’sswimmingpool.
Camargue
Further west,the Camargue regionoffersan excitingoption for families,withits vast open waters and unique wildlife.With just twolocks alongthe 135.9kmroute,this journeyis stress-freefor beginner boaters. Families canspotpinkflamingos, visitthe famous whitehorsesofCamargueand explore Aigues-Mortes, amedievalwalledcitywith impressive ramparts andatownsquare. Beyond the waterways, the nearby pink salt flats provideafascinatingdetour, while theMediterranean coastiswithineasy reachfor afamilybeach day. Horseback ridingisa greatway to explorethe beach, with excursions available from Le Grau-duRoiranch near Aigues-Mortes.
Thames
Forfamilies who want to stay closer to home,the RiverThames offersa fantastic introduction to boating, with countryside, towns, traditionalEnglishpubsand plenty of family-friendlyattractions.Withnolocks to navigate forthe first stretchfromBenson, it’s an easy,stress-free option for beginners. Families canexplore WindsorCastle, enjoy aday at Legoland WindsorResort, or visit HamptonCourt Palace,wherekids can getlostinthe famous maze.InHenley-onThames, theWind in the Willows exhibit
at the River&RowingMuseumisa hitwith youngerchildren, whileMarlowisagreat stop for ariverside picnic.For adventure-seekers, ThorpeParkisjustminutes from Le Boat’s Chertsey base
Toptips for first-time boaters
Forthosenew to boating, afew simple tips canmakeall the difference.When mooring, takeitslowand approach at agentle angle; having acrewmemberready with arope helps secure the boat smoothly. Followbasic boatingetiquette by keepingtothe right, reducingspeed near moored boatsand giving waytolargervessels.Ifnavigatinglocks,be patientand usethe ropesprovidedtokeepthe boat steady.Finally,takeadvantage of local markets alongthe routetostock up on fresh produce for onboard dining.For moretips, visit Le Boat’s blog.
Formoreinformation, visit:www.leboat.com
Ardnacrushagenerating
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Common claims and how to avoid them
By BenSutcliffe-Davies
CRICK’Sannualboatshowisanimportant date forthe marine industry,givingusan opportunitytodemonstratehow we canhelp consumersget outonthe waterand enjoy their time there.
Paul Knox-Johnston, salesand marketing managerofHaven Knox-Johnston, gave a presentation at the show aboutsomeofthe most commonnarrowboatclaims. Ihelped puttogether some of the topics and want to help pass on the main information to help you avoid aclaim.This will be part one of aseries…
Basics
Firstly, checkyourcover with yourinsurance company: most owners do have fully comprehensivecover but, oftenwhen attendingaserious claim wherethere’sbeen afire or sinkingand the owner hasbasically losteverything, Ifind some ofthe ‘options’of the coverare nevertaken up Forinstance,ifyou arealiveaboard, then do declarethat. Also, ensure youhavecovered personal effectsand really consider the ‘alternative accommodation’ option.Ifyou have taken outjustthird-partyinsurance cover, make sure wreckremoval is provided and that the levelofcover paid is stated.I’vedealt with severalclaimsthrough this last winter wherethe coverof£15,000 recovery wasn’t anywherenearenough for refloating, towage and bringingashore. It doesn’t,inmanycases, coverdisposalofthe wreck… that feealone can alsobecome atelephone number.
Most claims drop into oneofthe main categories that include:boatfires, sinkingor significant wateringress,collisions, theftor vandalism and weather-related damage.Some insurance companiesalsocover mechanical coverbut therehas to be acausation. Eachof thesecategories canoften lead to significant repair costs or even total lossofyourboat; do look at thevalue of your boat andconsider whether it is correctlyinsured
Devastating
Fire is alwaysadevastatingincidentand,in many cases, while theseatofthe fireisoften containedtoone small area,when it breaks out, it will in mostcases quicklyspread. It is essentialtomakesureyou have at leasttwo ways out, with smokealarmsand carbon monoxide alarms all tested and working. When afire gets hold thebasic fireextinguisherson boardwill neverbeenough,the smokeand heat damage to thecabin shellwillinmost casesmakethe craft uneconomical to repair againstthe boat values,inmostcases.Itfurther reinforces why, if youare aliveaboard, to ensure youhavealternative coverinplace.I carryonmyboata 1kg8B/38B fireextinguisher in everycabin plus a6kg foam as abackupand afire blanket
Common causes of fire
Stoves should be professionally installed, with proper heat shieldingand compliant. The lack of heat shielding, especially thehearth arrangements,isone of themostcommon causeoffires. Neverleave astove burning
WinaBilgeawayfilterkit
TO celebrate RiverCanal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managingdirectorStephanie Horton is givingawayprizes everymonth throughout the year.This month, Towpath Talk readerscould wina 10in Bilgeawayfilter kit–thereare three up for grabs, each worth £99.98.
unattendedovernight. Anyofthe insurers–whoevertheyare –expectyou to regularly servicestovesand cleanout flues.These regularly getsootdeposits from when burning damp timber that makesperfect creosote that’s highly flammable!I’m oftentoldbyclaims departments that havinginsurance does not negatethe requirementtoberesponsible and maintain your stove.
It’s not just stoves that canbethe causeof aboatfire.Other forms of heatingalsocome with risks,whether it’s an electric fan heater or adieselfiredheating system.Ifpoorly maintained or left unattended, these canall be apotential firehazard. This last year Idealt with ahighnumberof‘cheap’ ceramic plug-in fan heaterscausing fires on boardwhenleft unattended.
Fire is amajor devastation, howeverlarge or small. Checkyourinsurance policydetails, do yoursafetychecks, and be responsiblefor ensuring your vessel’s maintenance is up to date
Törkmar unveils clever electrical solution
TÖRKMAR hasannounced the launchofaninnovative Electrical Cupboard Solution designedto significantlylower the cost andsimplify the installation of electric powersystems on narrowboats.
Thiscomprehensive new offeringisakey part of Törkmar’songoingmission to make the dreamof silent, eco-friendlyelectric narrowboatingaccessible to awider audience
Describedas‘the world’s first trulyenvironmentally friendlybilge discharge filter’, Bilgeawayusesa non-toxic solution to extract hydrocarboncontaminants (petrol, diesel, engine oil etc) from waterand render them non-reactive, leaving environmentallyfriendly contentsinacartridgewhich canbedisposedofand the housingreused.
Foryourchance to win aBilgeaway kit, simply email your name,address and phonenumber to TTcompetition@ rivercanalrescue.co.uk, putting July Bilgeawaywin in the subject line,and you’ll be enteredinto the prizedraw w Entriescloose at 23:59 on 31/7/25 and the winnner will
be drawn1/8/25. The winner will be notifiedwithin 14 days of thecloseofentries.Thedraw is final andnocorrespondence will be enteredinto. Entryis free andopentoresidentsof theUKagedover18. Only one entrypermittedper person, thereisnocash alternativeand the prizeisnot transferable By entering you agreetobe bound by all the rules and agree that your name and county may be released if you win
Thenew Törkmar Electrical Cupboard Solution is ameticulously designed, pre-configuredpackage that addressesone of the mostcomplexand often costly aspects of an electric boat build or conversion. It provides acomplete, readyto-install hubfor managinga narrowboat’s entire electrical system,streamliningwhat canotherwise be adaunting taskfor self-buildersand a time-consumingone for professional boat fitters
At the heartofthe solution is acarefully curatedselection of top-tier Victron equipment, abrand synonymous with quality andreliabilityinthe marine electrical sector.Thepackage includes allnecessary Victron components,robust isolator switches anda speciallymanufactured positive busbar,ingeniously designed to save crucial space within theoftencompact confines of a narrowboat engine room or electrical locker.
The innovative Törkmar Electrical Cupboard Solution designed to significantly lower the cost andsimplifythe installation of electric power systems on narrowboats.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
However, thetrue innovation lies in the user-friendlydesignand comprehensive nature of the kit. Törkmarprovidesall required cables,which can be pre-cuttoappropriate lengths,and allnecessary lugs.Perhaps most impressively,the entire system is mountedona speciallyprinted backboard. Thisisn’t just anybackboard; it features aclear ‘shadow
print’ preciselyindicatingthe positionofeachcomponent. This visual guide is further enhancedbythin trace lines for allcables, completewith their specifiedsizes,and all requisite labellingisalso pre-printeddirectlyonto the board.
“Our goal wastosimplify narrowboat electrics andremovea significant barriertoentry foraspiring electric boaters,”said Tim Knox,managingdirector of Törkmar. “Our Electrical Cupboard Solution is designedtobeascloseto ‘plugand play’aspossible forsucha comprehensive system.It’sengineered for simplicity, safety,and efficiency, taking the guessworkout of acritical part of the build.”
Thisnewelectricalsolution perfectlycomplements Törkmar’sexistingrange of high-performance electric motors.Thesemotors arecelebrated for their high torque at lowrevs, a crucialcharacteristicfor manoeuvringnarrowboats efficientlyand silently.
The move towardselectric propulsion on Britain’s inland waterwaysissteadily gatheringpace, driven by agrowing environmental consciousness, adesire for amoreserene boating experience,and the increasing efficiencyand affordabilityofelectric technology
Formoreinformation visit: www.torkmar.com
Regular maintenance of astove is essential. Have alook on my YouTube channel ‘Marine surveyors note book’.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Trustthem
to findthe right buyerfor your boat.
Selling your boat?We’re here to be your trustedguide and represent your best interests in the sale of your boat.Being proactivein findingyou therightbuyer,explaining the whole processclearly andkeeping youuptodatealong theway is what youcan expect
We’repart of the UK’s largestmarina operator –soyou cantrust thatweknowthe market and howtoget the best deal foryou.
Trustustosellyourboat. Call 01159077 406 or emailusat boatsales@aquavista.com aquavista.com/boat-sales/sell-my-boat
to Narrowboatsand Inland Narrowboats and Waterways vessels. Based in Northamptonshireweare ideally placedtooffer our services. Our services include: •Hull condition, Pre-purchase, Insurance and Valuation surveys.
QualityRiver and Canal Motor Cruisers areavailable to viewby appointment at our Leicestershire indoor showroom. Over 20 years experienceand 2,500 boats sold.
NEW VIKING 26 CENTRE COCKPITNARROWBEAMNOW IN STOCK FORIMMEDIATE DELIVERY, 6Berthsin2 cabins, HiLine Spec withfolding windscreen, cooker with hobgrill and oven, fridge, shower, cassettetoilet, hotand cold watersystem, warm air heating, 12 and240 volts electrics, batterycharger,powered by a20Hp 4strokeoutboardengine Priced at £54,995
NARROW ESCAPE £53,000
Length 57ft, Beam 6ft10ins, Built2006 by Taurus Narrowboats with aTradStern, poweredbya Vetus 42HpDiesel engine standardlayout, 4Berthswithfixeddouble and pullman dinette, Bsc 2027.RecentNew Paintwork, open plan living area,Central Heating.
57ft,Beam 6ft10ins, Built 2012 by Stourport Canal Craftwith acruiser stern, poweredbya Barrus Shanks Diesel engine, standardlayout,Bsc July 2028
DANCES WITH WOLVES £29,995
Length 52ft, Beam6ft10ins,
This winter,our 2,000 mile networkof250-year-oldcanalsfaces aperfectstorm of extremeweather,risingrepair costsand shrinkinggovernmentsupport. Last winter alone,eightstorms in three months cost £10 million in emergency repairs. Ourteams are stretched to thelimitasmorestormshit this season.
We urgently needyour donation now, so thatwecan be readytoreact when thenext emergency happens. With your support,wecan carryout vitalrepairs,aswell as restore canalsand makethemmoreresilient to extremeweatherinfuture.
ExcellentBoats on aBeautiful Canal
OurbaseatLinslade on theGrand Union Canal is within weekend reach of the WaterwaysMuseum at StokeBruerne,orthe ChilternHills
Established in 1974, Colecraft have gained the experience and expertise to ensure thatthe boat we build for you will last for years to come. All our boats arecustom designed and built to individual requirements.
Boatsare builttoorder to any stage of completion –froma barehull or superstructuretoluxuriously fittedand finished
We build narrowbeam and widebeam boats for private and trade customers and arepossibly the largest supplier of steel shells to other boat builders/fitters.
Our latesttrip boats include Crusader Comunity (Widebeam with Hybridpropulsion -full MCA certification), Electra(Narrowbeamwith electric propulsion -12passengers) andKingfisher Mark(Widebeam with electric propulsion12 passengers)
Ourwelders arecoded to meet MCA requirements.
We currently have three boatsfor immediatesale.45ft4 berth at £37,999 56 ft 6berth at £48,999 and 52 ft 7berth £45,999
All boatsfully serviced, surveyed, blacked and readytogo. Pleasecontact us forfurther details and pictures.
THEIRISHCONCRETESOCIETY awards were established in 1977 and celebrateexcellenceinconcretedesign and construction. Adjudicatedby independentand distinguishedjuries of construction industryprofessionals, the awards acknowledge construction achievements in whichconcrete, in anyform, contributes significantlyto the built environment.
The WaterwaysIreland submission forthe Infrastructure Category consistedofthe Clonfad syphon, aqueduct and bridge from Phase 2ofthe Ulster CanalRestoration
Project. The winningsubmission waschosenfromseveral projects andwas praisedfor itsvariedand innovative concrete forms, sensitive integration into thelandscape and the dedication and collaboration involved in delivering this significant infrastructureproject
The jury stated:“What sets this projectapart from theothersisthe varied concreteforms that areused in the restorationofthe canaland howwell it sits back into the local environment. The syphon structure itself is unique; setagainstthe backdropofatight site,ondifficult terrain. Another featureofthe project wasthe useofoffsiteconstruction whereanarchedmould forthe construction of the bridge beams for the Clonfadbridgewas used.
“Anexcellentexample of the adaptabilityofconcreteand itsuse in blending into the surrounding structures.Itdemonstratesthe collaboration betweendesigners and contractorsinmeetinga project’sgoal.”
Newpresident focuses on canals
THE 21stpresidentofthe Inland WaterwaysAssociation of Ireland (IWAI) hasbeennamedasJohn Fitzgerald.
Mr Fitzgerald hasa long association with the IWAI, beinga past memberofthe Kildare(Grand Canal) branch andcurrently the Carrick-on-Shannon branch. On joiningthe boardofdirectors,he hastaken on variousroles over the yearsincludingthat of honorary secretary, child protection officer andvice-president priortotaking up the presidencyinApril.
Speaking to TowpathTalk reporter Alison Alderton about what he hopestoachieve during the presidencyMrFitzgeraldsaid:
“The traditions of the IWAI are very importanttome. Maintaining ourwaterways,increasingour membershipand members’ awarenessofissues affectingour waterwaysand campaigningto achieve better facilities and easier navigationfor ourmembers.”
Mr Fitzgerald is lookingforward to takingonthischallengingrole and hoping to addressavariety of topics.Whenasked which of theseheisparticularly hopingto champion in thefollowing years, Mr Fitzgerald replied:“Byelaw completion,canal restoration andmaintenance, as well as encouragingnew groups with
similar intereststojoin us.”
In hisinaugural speech,Mr Fitzgerald addressedthe subject of membershipand the impact of theCovid crisis on theassociation, his wishes to promotethe canals andhow he plans to speakwith individual IWAI membersrather than solelybranchcommittees to ensureall voices areheard
Mr Fitzgerald also paid tribute to theoutgoingpresident Ms Kay Baxter andher work with Waterways Irelandonthe updatingofthe Canals and Shannon Navigation Byelawswhichare currently awaiting approval. To find outmore aboutthe IWAI visit: www.iwai.ie
Work to start on landmark leisure hub
THE tr ansfor ma tiv e redevelopmentofthe Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen, into astate-of-the-artleisure, health and well-beinghub,isset to enterthe construction phase.
Following formalapproval at a SpecialCouncil MeetinginApril, preparations arenow under way to begin construction on what will become Ireland’s onlyPassivhaus standardleisurefacility.
Thehighlyinnovative project– bringingthe highest environmental andsustainability standards to the designand build –was developed following extensivepublic engagement andincludesfundingof£20m from the UK Government. It represents the mostsignificant capitalinvestmentundertaken by Fermanaghand OmaghDistrict Council with atotalproject cost of £70m.
The construction of the new centrewillbeundertaken by construction firmGraham. Theinvestment, locatedon the water’sedgeofthe River Erne on theexistingsiteofthe FermanaghLakeland Forum, will seethe developmentofacuttingedge leisure facility designed to supporthealthy lifestylesand communityactivities,providing inclusive and accessible spaces
for people of all ages while supportingtourism and the local economy.
Chair of Fermanaghand OmaghDistrict Council,Coun John McClaughry, said: “The move to theconstruction phaseisa significant moment and reflects the council’s commitment to investingin transformative, future-proofed facilities with health,well-being and sustainabilityatits core.
“This investmentwillprovide inclusive, accessible space for all ages and abilities, indoorsand outdoors,whilealsosupporting tourism,the localeconomyand environment. We aregratefulto theUKGovernmentfor itsvital supportand look forward to construction beginningonthis highlyinnovativeproject.”
The new facilitywill include an eight-lane,25m swimmingpool; separate learnerpool; splash pad area for youngchildren;fully equipped gymand fitnesssuite; communityand multipurpose spaces;soft play andsensory room;destination playpark; pump track; cycle, walking and running trails;anactive waterfront area and improved pedestrianlinkages to Enniskillen town centre. It is anticipatedthe new facilitywill open in 2028.
Marinas part of BlueFlag recordcelebrations
ARECORD number of 89 beaches and 10 marinasinIreland have been awardedBlue Flag status,anincrease of fiveonlastyear.
An Taisce (the National Trustfor Ireland) is responsible for the operationofthe Blue Flag programmeinIreland whichisone of theworld’s most recognised environmental awards requiringspecific criteria to be followedfor the status to be awarded. This includes waterquality,information provision, environmental education, safety and site managementand more.
Four privatelyowned marinashavebeen awardeda Blue Flag for the 2025 season: Kilrush Marina,Kinsale YachtClub, the RoyalCorkYacht Club and Quigley’sMarina. Quigley’s Marina at KillinurePoint, Lough Ree, on the ShannonNavigation, remains the onlyinland marina to receivethe status whichithas nowbeenawarded formore than 20 years.
An Taisce is alsoresponsible for the
awarding of the separate GreenCoast Awards, whichrecogniseacombination of aclean environmentand naturalbeautyinaddition to excellentwater quality. Seventybeaches were awardeda GreenCoast Awardthis season –the same number as last year –while 10 beaches were presentedwith both the Blue
Flag andGreen CoastAward achievingdual awardstatus.
Theawardswerepresented by James Browne TD,Ministerfor Housing, Local Governmentand Heritage,atapresentation ceremony in theRavenport Resort in Curracloe, County Wexford.
Thefully finished and landscaped site. PHOTO SUPPLIED
John Fitzgerald,21st president of the Inland Waterways AssociationofIreland. PHOTO: IWAI/ DAMIEN MADDOCK
Aerial view of Quigley’sMarina. PHOTO: GRAHAM BARTLETT
Artist’simpression of the new site. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
If youlove this place, leave no trace
LEAVENoTrace Irelandhas launchedits annual Love This Place campaign,callingon the public to come together to protectIreland’s rich naturallandscapes, so we can all enjoythem responsibly as we head into the summer season. With morepeople than ever seekingconnection with nature –through hiking, swimming, dogwalking and exploring –thisyear’s Love This Place campaign reinforces the simple message:“If you love this place,leave no trace.”
The need for protection Ireland’s greatoutdoorshas seen asharp rise in popularity in recentyears,with more than 98% of residents valuingtime spentinnature. However, increased footfall hasalsobroughtchallenges: trailerosion,littering, dog fouling, wildlife disturbance and an increase in wildfires, 96% of whichare linked to humanactivity
aparttoplayinpreserving the places andwildlife we love.This campaign inviteseveryoneenjoying the outdoors this summer, from seasonedhikersto dogowners, to takesimple, mindfulsteps to protectour naturallandscapes.”
Campaign highlights
Throughout the summer, Love This Place will roll outa digital storytellingcampaign featuringvoicesfromacross Ireland: farmers, walkers, dogownersand community groups,aswell as on-theground events and clean-up days co-ordinated with local authorities and environmental groups.Plus,education initiatives and social media toolkitsfor influencers, schools and tourism partners.
“Our message is clear,”said MauraKiely, CEOofLeave No TraceIreland. “Weall have
Take action
The Love This Place 2025 campaign shares three
Awalk on the FossdykeCanal
By LeeSenior
THE 11-mile (18km) long Fossdyke Canalisconsidered theoldest waterway still in useinthe UK It datestoRoman times and is thoughttohavebeenbuilt around 120AD beforebeingleftabandoned. Furtherworkwas thendonein1121 under King HenryI.However,it was1741 beforethe canalbecame reliably maintainedand fully open.Its purposewas as astrategic waterway that linked the important RiverTrent at Torksey Lock to the RiverWitham in the heartof Lincoln. This then allowedaccessto Boston and, ultimately, TheWash. Brayford Pool (which wasonce anatural lake)isthe eastern terminus of this historiccanal, deep in the heartofthe wonderful cityofLincoln. I’mfollowing part of the towpathonasix-mile (9.6km) thereand back walk from Brayford Pool alongthe towpathasfar as the marina villageofBurtonWaters. The marina sits alongside the canaland
thereisasimple connection to it
This walk provides adelightful activityfor both tourists andlocals alike. At Burton Waters Iwillreturn alongthe towpathtoLincolnshire’s capital. Forthosepreferring a linear walk thereisthe option of continuingontothe villageof Saxilby6.5 miles from Lincoln and then takingthe train back to thecity. Thisroute alsoforms the Fossdyke cycletrail anditisworth noting that some of theroute beyond Burton Waters encompasses apath adjacenttothe oftenrather busy A46 road at hamlet calledOdder.
Ibegan my walk at the impressive Brayford Pool waterfront in the heartofLincoln. BrayfordPoolis theterminusofthe canaland also thestart of theRiver Witham.There aretwo pubs alongthe way. In the interestsoffairness, I’mgoing to call in one on theway thereand one on the wayback!
PyewipeInn. Ihavejustoverone andahalfmiles on the clocknow, so I’ll ignorethis, butnot for long… It is just over halfwaytoBurton Waters nowasthe towpath heads beneaththe A46 road and increasingly into lovely countryside. Thegoingiseasyandstraightforward andjustunder one andahalfmiles (2km) further along thetowpath the impressive-lookingBurtonWaters isreached. The towpathgoesover adistinctively arched bridge green bridge at the marina
Just alittlefurther along, The Woodcockspub whichispartof thedevelopmentisreached.This seems likea good destination for the outwardleg of my walk
After suitable refreshments anda shortbreak in the rather busy beer garden it wastime to retrace my steps andheadbacktoLincoln.
tangible actions for the public to take:
• Be responsiblewith yourdog.Keepdogs on alead, especially around farm animals and wildlife and always cleanupafter them.
• Protectwildlife and wild places.Takeall litter home,don’t feed wild animalsand watch wildlife from asafe distance.
• Stay on the path.Stick to marked trails to avoid damaginghabitats or disturbinganimals,both seen and unseen.
Ashared responsibility
“Ourlandisnotjustscenic-it’s living,”addedKiely.“It feeds us,shelters biodiversity and connects ourcommunities Respectingitisnot about restriction,but aboutcare andresponsibility. We’reso grateful to the public and
ourpartnersfor supporting Love ThisPlace and we ask everyone to takeaction and join the campaign.”
Ministerfor Ruraland Community Development and theGaeltacht,Dara CallearyTD, said: “Respect for thenatural environment is at thecentreofEmbracing Ireland’s Outdoors,the NationalOutdoor Recreation Strategy.TheLoveThis Place campaign playsakey role in remindingusall of ourshared responsibilitytocarefor theseplaces.Asmorepeople embracethe outdoors,it’s essentialthat we do so in away that protects the environment for future generations and we must ensurethat ouractions, particularly when it comes to ourdogs, do notcause harm or losstothe environmentor others.”
Brayford Pool is alovely cosmopolitan place; aside from moorings,there arebarsand restaurants, offices and student accommodation such as at Brayford Quay alongside the towpath. Thereisevena cinema. It does mean the towpathcan be quite busy at times with some housing stocktopasstoo. However, lessthana mileinto thewalk,greenerybecomes increasingly visible as we pass the delightful Carholme Golf Course.All thewhile,the main railway line from Lincoln to Saxilbyand beyond runs close to the other side of the canal.
The first pubwhich is reached outof Lincoln is the delightfully friendlyand characterful
On the return lega highlightisthe strikingly wonderfulviewofLincoln Cathedral, whichdominates the distantskylineand beckons walkersand cyclists forward to this attractivecity. Alongthe wayImade the obligatory (promised)stopat theimpressivePyewipe Innpub wherethistime Iopted to sitinside
Igreatly enjoyed my afternoon sojourn on the serene andlargely unspoiltFossdykeCanal. The towpathhas varioustypes of hard standing surfaces allalong the towpathwhichare well-maintained betweenLincoln and Burton Waters,makingitverysuitable for walkingwhateverthe weather
If youwanttoenjoy asimple andbeautiful ruralcanal walk and partakeinanoptional pubcrawl of twoexcellentpubs, this is most definitelythe place to do it!
If you love this place, leave no trace campaign requests dog owners take action. Maura Kiely (left), CEOofLeave No Trace Ireland with Irish model Thalia Heffernan. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Walk route shown in orange. PHOTO: LEE SENIOR
Flotillascelebrate 25 years of UnionCanal reconnection
An important milestonein theMillennium Link project, which re-establishedcanal navigation between Edinburgh and Glasgow, was celebrated in May–the 25th anniversaryofthe opening of Bridge 21A on the Union Canal near Broxburn.
IN MAY2000, flotillas from Ratho in the east and Linlithgowinthe west met at the newly constructed M8 bridge,21A.Atthat time,the late Ronnie Rusack MBEofthe Seagull Trustand MelGrayofthe LinlithgowUnion Canal Society(LUCS)shook handsand exchanged ceremonial pieces of an old lock gate.
On May6this year,that moment wasre-enactedby RobertAldridge,LordProvost of Edinburgh,and David Mieras,chair of Seagull Trust Cruises,who exchangedthe same lock gate pieces with StewartLiddle,memberof LUCS and the Bridge 19–40 CanalSociety.
Amongthe guests of the Seagull Trustwas Lynne Cleal, chancellor and vicechairofStJohn Scotland, thecharity whichwas instrumental in the funding
of their twoboats leading the flotillafromthe east – St John Edinburgh and St John Crusader.Alsofromthe east were the LochrinBelle (Fountainbridge Canalside CommunityTrust)and Panacea (The Sorted Project). Thewestern flotillawas ledbyLUCS’ St Magdalene andincluded GypsyPrincess (Forth& ClydeCanal Society) and Heatherbelle (Bridge19–40 CanalSociety).
Construction of the M8 motorwayinthe 1960s and 70s obstructed theroutes of both theUnion and the Monkland Canals.Long beforethe restoration of theForth &Clyde and Union Canals wasa reality, the UnionCanal and itstowpath were severedand replacedby aculvertduringwork betweenjunctions 2A and 3ofthe new motorwayat
Broxburn.The solution to reinstatingthrough navigationwas anew, shortsectionofcanal and abridgewith sufficient headroomtoallowthe passageofboats.Workon the bridge startedinMarch 1999 andwas completed in April2000. Some 121 structures were reinstated as part of theMillennium Link projecttorestore navigationofthe Lowland Canals acrossScotland’s
central belt
TheMonkland Canal, closed to navigationin 1952, is aremaindered canal(meaningthat thereisnostatutory requirement to maintain the canalfor navigation) and significantsections were filledinaspartof the M8 construction and other localdevelopment. Partsofthe canalare still in waterand aremanaged for recreation.
Canal campaigning– new IWAlead in Scotland
THE Inland WaterwaysAssociation (IWA) is the onlynational charitythat campaignslocallyand nationallyfor all the country’scanalsand river navigations.InScotland, the IWA hasactivelycampaignedfor many yearsonissues affecting the country’s canals.Successesincludethe repair and reopeningofArdrishaigPier to freighttraffic in 2018, and the IWA’s involvementinthe Keep Canals Alivecampaign, whichhelpedsecure £1.625 millionofadditionalScottish Governmentfunding. This enabled Scottish Canals to repair the bridges at Twecharand Bonnybridgeand reopen the Forth&Clyde Canal, whichhad been closed to transiting boat traffic for ayear. Scotland was also featured in theIWA’s report Waterwaysfor Today, whichclearly outlinedhow the inland waterways benefit the economy, environment and localcommunities.
JonathanMosse hasservedasthe IWA’sleadinScotland for the past few years, following on from Richard Davies who originallytookonthe voluntaryrole.Jonathanhas been involved with the inland waterways since 1980. He’s writtenand updated theNicholson inland waterways guides for 36 yearsand is aregular
contributorto TowpathTalk.This year, he hands over the role of IWAlead in Scotland to Neil Kitchener. Neil, aretiredcivil engineer,knew little aboutthe canals untilheand hiswife Christine boughttheirnarrowboat
The Duckling 11 yearsago.Since then, both have become heavilyinvolved with theLowland Canals Association whichcampaigns on keyissues such as maintenance, dredgingand weed control, continuous cruisingand boaters’ rights.Neil is alsoonthe
Kiltwalkers and canal runners fundraise on the waterways
CANALS areoften used for fundraisingactivities, from large, organisedeventsto individualsand small groups walking, cycling, paddlingand kayaking their wayalongthe canals to raisemoneyfor causes closetotheir hearts
Iain Campbell took part in the annual Glasgow Kiltwalk on April 27,raising money forWestof Scotland Deaf Children’sSociety (WSDCS). Thecharity was formed in 1947 by asmall group of parentsofdeafchildren.Iain’s familyhas long been involved with thecharity, sincehis brother wasborn deaf,and Iain himself nowworks for WSDCSasa family supportofficer Kiltwalk is Scotland’s largest mass participationwalking eventand all fundraisinggoes to thewalker’s choice of charity. Glasgow Kiltwalk offers achoice of threedistances, twoofwhich followsections of the Forth& ClydeCanal. Iain and friends walked 14.3 miles,startingin Clydebank and finishingin Balloch,besideLochLomond, takingabout five-and-a-half hourstocompletethe distance This wasIain’sfourthKiltwalk He’s takenpartindriving rain and blazingsunshine and lovesthe canalsections: thescenic route, walkingand chattingbeside the water, and thewildlife all help to
make themiles pass quicklyand distract from sore feet.A total of £12,000 wasraisedfor WSDCSby Kiltwalk participants Choosing to skip organised marathons,Callum Frew createdhis own, solo runalong theLowland canals in Aprilto raisemoneyfor AyrshireCancer Support. He ranatotal of 26.65 miles, starting at Linlithgow leisurecentreonthe Union Canal, continuingtothe Falkirk Wheel, droppingdownontothe Forth&ClydeCanalandrunning on to Kirkintilloch.Fromthere, it wasjusta few more miles to reachhis home and complete thechallenge,raising £900 Callum wasinspired to raise money forthe charityashis familyhas been affectedbythe disease,and he alsowanted to sethimself achallenge.He found the towpaths ideal for running–easytofollowand accessiblefor his supportteam to meet him at variouspoints alongthe waywith water, gels anddonuts.Heenjoyed the scenery, wildlifeand sightseeing of his route, runningthrough the FalkirkTunnel, andlovingthe spectacle of the FalkirkWheel. If youwanttohostanevent on the canals,get in touchwith Scottish Canals,otherwise simply head for yournearest canaland go for it
Family fun at the Revolution Festival
managementcommitteeofScottish Waterwaysfor All.
Jonathan continues within the IWA, takingpartinthe Sustainable BoatingGroup,the FreightGroup, and as IWArepresentativeonthe WyeNavigation Advisory Committee He hasalsobeeninstrumentalin launching the proposed Sustainability and Environmental Committee. He represents the IWAonthe Boat Safety Schemeand RYAScotland on the RYA Inland Navigation Panel.
THERevolutionFestivalreturnedtothe FalkirkWheel on Saturday, May24. The annual, family-friendlycelebration marksthe anniversary of thewheel’s grand openingin2002. Visitors enjoyed everything from e-boatrides,boattrips andpaddle boardingto crazygolf,archeryand live musicand entertainment.
In amovetomakethe festival moreaccessible and environmentally friendly, Scottish Canals teamedupwith McGill’s Busestoprovide adedicated shuttle service betweenFalkirk High railwaystation and the wheel.
The FalkirkWheel wasofficiallyopenedonMay 24, 2002 by QueenElizabeth II as part of her Golden Jubileecelebrations.The world’sfirstand only rotatingboatlift,itmoves craft betweenthe Union and Forth&Clyde Canals in minutes,replacingthe original flightof11locks whichtooka daytotraverse, and alot of manual efforttooperate thelocks.TheFalkirkflight linking thetwo canals wasclosed and infilledinthe 1930s,ahead of theend of navigation on the Lowland canals in the 1960s.
Robert Aldridge, LordProvost of Edinburgh, Stewart Liddle of LUCS andthe Bridge 19–40 Canal Society,shake hands andexchange lock pieces. PHOTO: CHARLES TAYLOR/SEAGULL TRUST CRUISES
IWAvolunteers manning the standatCrick Boat Show 2025, with Jonathan centre. PHOTO: IWA
Iain and friends at the start of their Kiltwalk. PHOTO: IAIN CAMPBELL
Days Out - Tiverton
Ourseries is dedicated to showcasing unique days out near special canals. Whether you’re into gongoozling (watchingboatingactivities), leisurely towpath walks, wildlife spotting, boattrips or even retail therapy,our canal systemhas something for everyone. This month, we’reshining thespotlight on Tiverton, withclose links to the waterways and atownthathas plenty to offer visitors.
By SallyClifford
STANDING on the confluenceofthe Rivers Exeand Lowman, ‘Twy-ford-ton’ is derived from the ‘townontwo fords.’
NestledinMid-Devon and surrounded by beautifulcountryside andtraditional thatched villages,Tivertonisone of the oldest settlements in Devon. Datingbacktothe Stone Age, the town’s earlyprosperitycame from thecoaland limestonetrade.Textiles alsohelped to driveTiverton’seconomyand the Grand Western Canalprovidedanearly trade route.
Latterly it wasthe locationfor alocal lilyharvestingbusiness until its decline in the Sixties when the tenacityofcampaigning locals savedthe canaland ledto it beingtaken over by DevonCountyCouncil. Repurposed into ascenic countryparkwiththe benefits of this beautiful 11-mile stretch of water, also
knownlocally as Tiverton Canal, visitorscan explorethis tranquil retreatthrough abygone ageoftransportation.
Literallyoperatedbyhorsepower, Tiverton CanalCotransportsvisitorsinits 75-seater widebeam barge, Tivertonian,and its WoolwichStar ClassButty, Iona, built as Bellerphon in 1935 by Harland andWollf for theGrand UnionCanal Carrying Company, pulledbyheavy horsesand accompaniedby staff dressedtoreflect the bygone era.
This award-winninglivingheritage attraction, runbythe Brind family, is one ofthe last remaininghorse-drawnbarges in Britain. Last year it celebrated its50th anniversary.Visit https://www.tivertoncanal co.uk to find outmore.
Beyond the canaland towpath, providing the perfectroute to explorethe natural surroundings and appreciate nature àpied or on twowheels following the eight-mile Grand Western CanalCycle RoutefromTiverton to the Somerset border,are plenty of landmarks andplaces to explore.
The RoyalFortress that is Tiverton Castle,originally datingbackto1106 butextensively remodelledover time;Bickleigh Castle,where you cantakea guidedtour around its beautiful moated gardens,
and Knighthayes, one of the finestsurviving Gothicrevival houses ownedbythe National Trustand the venuefor the MidDevon Show, acelebration of rurallife with food,music and entertainment, whichhas been runningfor over 30 yearsand takes place on Saturday, July 26.
Within this pretty part of the worldare many beautifulbeaches.TheBlue Flag Blackpool Sands, renowned forits naturalbeauty, and the golden sands and shallowwatersof BanthamBeach areabout an hour or so away and well worththe journey. Devon, Exeter,Exmoor National Park and
The Brind family hasbeen operating horse-drawn canal barge trips for half acentury. PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY THE TIVERTON CANAL COMPANY
Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest woollen mills in the country PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY COLDHARBOUR MILL
GWR steam engine –1442 the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ at Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life. PHOTO: TIVERTON MUSEUM
The picture postcardscenery of Tiverton. PHOTO:TIVERTON TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE AND VISIT MID DEVON
The SouthFront in spring at Knightshayes,Devon. PHOTO: NATIONAL TRUST –JOHN MILLAR
Theold Saxonsettlement, SampfordPeverell, is avillage and civil parish in Mid-Devon. PHOTO: DAVE SMITH
Somersetexpandthe opportunities for outdoorexploration.
In Uffculme youwill find one of the oldestwoollen mills in theUK. Originallyowned by the worldrenowned textile producers, Fox Brothers, ColdharbourMillhas been in continuous production since 1797. This 12-acresite, boastingthe biggestbreast-shot waterwheel still in operation in the UK,isalivingshowcaseoftextile production throughthe yearsand setinbeautiful surroundings.
Discovermoreabout bygone life in mid-Devon at theaward-winning Tiverton Museum of MidDevon Life featuring14galleriesofexhibits Artefacts,objects and photographs tell the stories of life through the ages and profilelocal trades;wool and lace,and thefarms,shops and transport,the Grand Western Canal and therailway that all played a part in the history of Tiverton. The museum is alsohome to the GWR steamengine –1442 the‘Tivvy Bumper’–the largestobjecton display
Another place synonymous with Tiverton’s past is itshistoricpannier market.This populartradingplace wherevisitorshavepitched up to sell theirwares forcenturies continues to attract thousands of visitors. Locatedonthe site of a Romanencampment,the market offersfresh produce andartisan products as well as events including the monthlyfarmers’ market, salvagefairs andstreetfood events. The Riverside Quarterisa bridge
away from awaterfrontstroll closetothe RiverExe and, along with the GatewayQuarterand IndependentQuarter, boasts a rangeofindependentshops and boutiques
Eateries areplentiful with Tiverton’scafes, pubs and restaurantsofferinganextensive rangeofmeals from lightbites to fine dining.
Food and drink festivals in the spring and autumn months celebrate theregion’sfinestfood.
Partakinginthe quintessential Devonshirecream tea, creamand jamsandwichedina delicious scone and accompaniedbyarefreshing potoftea,isthe perfectway to savour your Devonexperience.So, go on,treat yourself.Surelyitwould be rude notto!!
Handmade crafts and gifts aresome of the products to purchase at the historic
FACT FILE:
Things to do nearby… Quicke’sCheese Tours: www.quickes.co.uk
Wellhayes Vineyard: www.wellhayesvineyard.co.uk Wall in theHall: www.wallinthehall.wixsite.com
ComedyHall: www.comedyhall.co.uk
Aerosaurus Balloons: www.ballooning.co.uk
Affinity Devon: www.affinitydevon.com
Useful Website: www.visitmiddevon.co.uk
The Towpath Anggler
Our monthly look at the angling scene
By DavidKent
AS YOUmay know, Ioccasionally have alookbackatmy Towpath Talk articles of the past just to seeifthings have changedinany way. YesterdayI did exactly that and read through my June 2015 article…the bigissues at that time for us were the Fishery& AnglingActionPlans.Thesewere extremelydetaileddocuments covering all aspects of the activity by waterway compiled after consultations and workshops with angling representatives and fisheryand environmental experts from acrossthe network They were morethanjust aspirational… theyclearly set outthe wayforward for the trust with regard to angling,fisheries and the environment.
Sadly, theyslippedintothe gap betweennationaland waterway levels…hencemyflagging in the article that one question in particular hadbeenraised pretty much at everysession (i.e., what is the status of angling and fisheries within the trust).
It is,therefore, very interesting, worrying even, that in Maythis year Ieffectivelyraisedthe very same question.Ofcourse, the position the trustfinds itself in at this timemassively influences the wayinwhichpolicyand planning is shaped.Asa result,priorities have to be reviewed and certain activities mayhavetosuffer as a consequence.Therefore, it is even morevital that the trust, which is statutorilyobliged to provide for anglingasset outinthe 1968 Transport Act, continues to do so In ordertobetterstrengthen angling’sfuture, Isuggested last month that moreofthe trust’s anglingclubs should actively engage with youngpeople.Let’s Fish hasshown just what can be achieved. Idid qualify my suggestion by saying that for a club to undertakesomethinglike thisitwould need some totally dedicated volunteersand this is no easy taskasmanyclubs simply do not have the available resource.
Clearly youcannot produce such volunteersout of thin air so,Ibelieve, the trustand other national organisations should focusmoreonhelping clubs develop abetterstructure which mightbemoreattractive to volunteers andperhaps less on issues that arenot quite so relevant or critical forthe futureofthe sport. Isometimes getthe impression that people in theseorganisations do not reallyunderstand or want to understand the‘anglinganimal’. Thatsaid, Isuspect that the same is probably true of many of the other activitiestoo
While on the subjectof volunteeringIbelieve the trust
needstoadopt amuchmore consistent approach to the manner in whichits usersget involved.Fromananglingclub pointofview it is farfromeasyto setupa work partyto, for example, maintain vegetation, especially that whichliesatthe water’sedge. Ihavehad some very frustrating experiences over the yearsand becauseofthe inconsistencies volunteersare clearlydiscouraged from steppingup.
Weather-wisethings are, thankfully, settling down a bit now. At leastweare not sufferingthe zero and one-degree overnighttemperatureswe were amonth ago. Even so,fish have stillnot finishedspawning everywhereyet.Iguessitmight takeanother month in some places.Generallythe fishare farmoreactivenow and decent catches arebeingrecordedatlots of venues.That said, Ispoke with an angler just afew days agowho hadfishedatwo-day eventon oneofthe Yorkshirecanals and hadweighedjustover2lb of fish in total.AsI writethis article,four of my friendsare on acompetition near Doncaster. Iknowthatthey were due to buysmall fish baits such as pinkies and squats (both arespecies of very small maggot). Havingbeenawayfor aweek, Ihaveactually fishedverylittle since theend of April. Ihavea club competition tomorrowona fairly localvenue and am looking forward to it because, in the past couple of years, Ihavehad some good results there.Thepools we areusing aretotally open so there will be plenty of banter,itwill be very difficult to hide anything. At club events in particular it is becomingIncreasinglyimportant to organiseabreakfast. Indeed, it genuinely createsa nice social feel to the daywhichisgoodfor all thosetakingpart. While not abig ‘fullEnglish’lover myself,the cafe at this fisherytomorrowservesa substantial plateful so many of my colleagueswilltuckin. Ithink I will settle for abacon sandwich. Noteverywherehas yetreached that same pointcomingout of the winter period butitdoesseem as though thefish nowdowant some feed.Ifyou canmanage asession youcan be abit more positiveinthe approach nowbut do not throw caution completely to the wind. Tightlines.
Kayaks at Waytown Limekilns. PHOTO: ALISON DAY
Mary Quicke of Quicke’sCheese in the Cheese Store. PHOTO:MATT AUSTIN –SUPPLIED BY QUICKE’S CHEESE
pannier market PHOTO: TIVERTON TOURIST INFORMATION SERVICE AND VISIT MID DEVON
The WetWeb
By HelenGazeley
RAILWAYS and canals –inextricably woventogether in history. Howdoyou feel aboutrailways? Maybeaslight lingeringresentmentattheir part in the demotionofthe waterways?
This is the year to challenge that.Railway200,the year-longcelebration of the first passengerjourney on theStockton& Darlington Railway, hasmorethan200 enticing events taking placearoundthe country. BreakyourselfingentlybyenjoyingCruisingthe Cut’s Videono. 288 featuringKeith Lodge, whobuilta large model railway in the hold of his narrowboat Hadar after she retired from carryingcoal: youtu.be/4tBrPJ5AbpY. Keith continues to add to his layoutand documentshis progress in his Hadarfordblog: hadarford.blogspot.com NationalHistoricShips UK,the organisation that advises governmentoneverythingrelated to historic vessels,isaRailway 200 partner.Onthe last Friday of everymonth,itispublishinganarticle highlighting connections betweenmaritimehistory andrail(www. nationalhistoricships.org.uk/news). Theyearbegan with the London Midland and ScottishRailway,whichon its formation in 1923 inherited morethan500 milesof canal, with alarge fleet of narrowboatscarryingcargo into railway interchangebasins.You canstillspot narrowboatswiththe LMSmaroonliveryaroundthe waterways.
Railway interchangebasinsare ahearteningexample of asymbiotic relationshipbetween rail andcanal. TomFoxon explored theirenormoussignificancein hisbookTheRailway InterchangeTrade,republished in 2023 and available from TheCanal Bookshop
(www.canalbookshop.co.uk). The Birmingham Canal Navigations system is notable forthe number of basins that served it,and ‘Canal Hunter’AndyTidytakes alook at several, including ChillingtonBasin,the best preserved interchangebasin on the network, in hisvideo on the Lost CanalBasinsofWolverhampton(bcnsociety.com/ canal-hunter-2-6).
The basins must have been awash with thenoiseof industryand steam, andwho isn’tmoved by theroar and thunder of asteamtrain? Find the best place to spot passingengines with thehelpofthe CRT’sFullSteam Ahead! page (bit.ly/4kMVWA4). Afair number of the suggestions require research into mainline timetables for specialsteamtrips,but for reliable viewings youcan’t beat theCaldonCanal,which runs paralleltothe Churnet ValleyRailway forquiteaway.Find itsrunning days on the websitewww.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk.This year the railway is alsoholdingaseries of heritage days taking youintoareas not normallyopentothe public Forafulllistofmainstream andquirky rail events near you, enteryourlocation on the Railway 200 website railway200.co.uk.Includedamong them arethe Railway Firsts Exhibition at theNational RailwayMuseum,York, andthe Cemetery Walk in Hyde Park,Doncaster.The Guild of Railway Artists is puttingonanexhibition in KidderminsterinSeptember (www.railart.co.uk).
If you’renot grindingyourteeth at the body-blow the iron tracks dealt thewaterways,then youmight liketojoin the Weyand Arun’sfreeguidedwalk on Sunday,September 21.TitledHow Railways Killeda Canal, it will take in views of surrounding railways(currentand defunct) Still, railwayshavetheir uses.Toend on apositivenote, CanalForum hasbeenbuildingaveryhelpful thread on railwaystations that arenearenoughtocanals to be useful (bit.ly/4dHoNU5).Sofar,390 stations aremarked on the map, with comments still open forsuggestions.
Open weekend at Farndon aresounding success
By Alison Alderton
FARNDON Marina near Newark-on-Trentrecentlyheldits second annualopenweekend. On display were variousTohatsu outboard poweredRibsand smallsportsboats from ThanesMarine Rachel andBradley of Marine Innovations featured severaloftheir boatingaidsincludingthe pioneering Fender-matethatallowsrapid adjustmentoffender heightfor thoseembarrassingboaty contact moments. Aqualifetookits MRSinflatable packraft,ahybridinflatable sit-on kayak, and anumberofFarndon Boat Sales cruiserswereopen forviewingonthe marina’s sales pontoonwith oneofits RebelRibs on offer in the Winthis Ribfor £5 draw raisingfunds for the RNLI. Boat insurance wascovered by the HavenKnox-Johnstonstand while BrayfordTrust hada ‘spin-the-wheel’game with prizes rangingfroma free night’smooring in Brayford Pool,Lincoln to T-shirts displayingthe BrayfordTrust logo.TheNottinghamshire Fire andRescueService (NF&RS)had an appliance showingarange of equipment and capabilities.Foodand drinkwerecovered by the wood fired Chowpizza wagonwith Garden Grill supplyingits ultimategourmet barbecue experience.
RNLIrepresentatives were on hand to givewater safety advice and hadalifejacketclinic for checking boaters’ lifejackets while first aid wasablyprovidedbyStJohn Ambulance. Free entrance and carparking wasmarshalledbyyoung membersofthe local6th Farndon SeaScouts group.
Following theinaugural open weekend in 2024 the eventhas growninpopularityand is settogofromstrength to strength under the expertguidance of Farndon Boat Sales managerAlex and his dedicated team
The Caldon Canal presents plenty of opportunities to see engines on theChurnet Valley SteamRailway.Herea US 2-8-0 ClassS160 -51917 is pulling into Consall Station. PHOTO: TOM BLANPAIN
Aview of the railway from The Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Uneconomical, it was purchased by the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway in 1844, andwas used to helpconstruct therailway tunnel at Standedge. PHOTO: CANAL &RIVER TRUST
Apassage in time
There’smore to tunnels than meets theeye on our canal network. John Souter’sseries continues to explore thewondersofour extensive range of canal tunnels.
TO FACILITATEthe efficient workingof the canalnetwork, approximately42miles of tunnels were constructed in England &Wales,of whichabout half arestill open. This is more than the combined lengthofall other canaltunnels in the worldand doesn’t include the extraapproximately 47miles ofunderground canalatWorsley as part of the BridgewaterCanal. As well as 583 locks, 2963
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
Bates Mill tunnel –93yd/85m, no towpath, completed 2000.
The canalwas officiallyclosed by an ActofParliamentin1944 andmanyparts were then boughtbyvarious interested parties. Onesection of the canalpassedthrough the Bates Mill complex in central Huddersfield and the owners couldonlyenlarge their premises by infillingthe old canaland building on the site.Asaresultofthe infilling afour-storey extensionwas subsequentlybuilt,destroying thecanal beneathitand making anysubsequentplans to restorethe canaland to link it to the Huddersfield Broad Canalnearbya much more complicated proposition
As part of therestoration processthe solution came in 1999 when acontract wasawarded to CostainLtd to constructa newtunnel underneath theBates Mill complex.Tobuild the tunnel, steelreinforcedconcrete piling wasset down in parallel linesbeneath the ground levelfloor of the extensionfollowing theline of theproposedtunneland this wouldthenbeused subsequentlytoformthe new tunnel walls.Aroofwas then laid across thepilingwhich
allowedthe factoryfloorto be rebuilt so that the business abovecould resume as usual. Once the new tunnel roof was in place,all the earthbetween the concretepilingwalls could be excavatedtoformthe tunnelwithout affecting the work of the factoryabove Thistunnel andits sister tunnel at SellarsYardwere the last to be builtinthe 20th century
Standedge tunnel –5698yd/5210m, no towpath.
AT 5698 yards/5210 metres this is the longest ever canal tunnel constructedinthe British Isles,although in the initialplans it wasintended to be 5413yd/4950m Interestinglythere areas many as fivedifferentversions of thelengthofthe tunnel whichisdue in part to the tunnelbeing lengthened in 1893 when anearbyrailway line wasbuilt,and partly due to aprinter’s errorinone publication beingincorrectly repeatedinsubsequentones. Work beganin1794and it wasestimated at that time that the tunnel wouldtakefive years to build, butwithonlypicks, shovels andblack powder (gunpowder) to cutthrough themillstone grit.Progress wassoslowthatby1799, five yearslater,onlyaround 2000 yards of canalhad been dug with averageprogressofless
bridgesand 337 aqueducts thereare also55tunnels, ranginginlength from just 25 yardstooverthree miles, alongthe 2000+ milesofour inlandwaterways.Let’s takealookatthis month’s offering…
than 35ft aweek. When the tunnel finally openeditwas 13 yearsafter the rest of the canalwas completeand 17 yearsafter construction began. At the timethe cost of £160,000 made it the most expensivetunnelbuilt in Britain.
In 1807 ThomasTelford wasbrought in as a consultantwhichresulted in theconstructionofthe Swelland reservoirfor additional watersupply, butdisastrously this burst in 1810 with theresultant deaths of sixpeople in the Colne Valley. Originallyithad no less than 13 channels and aditsconnectingitwith neighbouring railway tunnels andwhensteam locomotiveswereinuse thesteam andsmoke they produced blew back into thetunnel, making passagevery uncomfortablefor the boat crews.
Thetunnel is of narrow gauge butdid have passing places inside to allowfor some two-waytraffic.Unfortunately intensecompetition for passage betweendifferent crewsled to this system being very problematic and the canalcompany subsequently insistedonone-waytraffic with achain acrossone portal to ensureauthorised accessonly. Thereare actually four parallel tunnels through the
TALKBACK
Your chance to write to us on anytowpath topic: Towpath Talk,POBox 99, Horncastle, LincsLN9 6LZ or email editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk
Praise forquickthinking Aidan Dear TowpathTalk, Pleasefindbelowanemail Isenttothe Environment AgencycommendingAidan Mahon, lock keeper at SandfordLocknearOxford. Ithoughtitwould make a good storyfor TowpathTalk and bringpeople’s attention to the brilliantworkthe lock keepersdotomakelife on the waterwaysa pleasure…
Dear Sir/Madam
On May6,2025, while travellingtowards Oxford on the Thames from Reading, we moored my friend’s canalboat, Page No.2,at the SandfordLock, which wasthankfullymanned by AidanMahon. We were instructed to stay moored for half an hour while work to the lock wascarried out. Eventually, the gates were opened andwewere wavedintothe lock.My friend manoeuveredthe boat through the gates at thelower level, while I walked the towpathtothe lock.Once the boat was through the first setofopen gates, Iwas called down the steps to retrieve the rope in
Pennine Hills of whichthree arerailway tunnelsand one, theearliest, beingthe canal tunnel, whichisthe longest, highest(645ft/197m above sealevel), anddeepest underground(638ft/195m) in theUK.
When thecanal wasfinally openedonMarch 26, 1811, there wasagrand ceremonial procession of boatswith the leadingboats containing variousdignitaries followed by severalother working boats. The procession entered the tunnel at the Diggleend, passingthrough in onehour40 minutesand all beingwatched by acrowd of morethan10,000 people.Theband in the lead boat,Lively, entertainedthe procession and onlookerswith renditions of Rule Britannia.
In theearly days of unpoweredboats, professional leggerswere paid 6d (2.5p) to legthrough on an arduous journeywhich took onehour20minutes emptyand more than three hourswitha full load with astricttimebeing imposed of passagenot taking any
readinesstotetherthe boat before the gateswereclosed and the lock wasfilled.
Unfortunately, while takingthe first steps down some stairstothe lower platform, Islipped on the silt build-up andfell sideways, fullyclothed, into the lock.Finding myself trappedmomentarily betweenthe boat and the lock wall, Imanaged to push the boat away from the wall and attemptedtoswim toward the lowerplatform, althoughdisorientatedand feelingthe weight of my clothes pullingmeunder.
Iheard Aidan, who hadmade his waytothe platform, shoutingme directions towardshim,so that he could grab me by anymeans andpull me to safety,whichheand his colleague managedtodo. Aidanthen askedmeto followhim into the keeper’s cottage,where he promptly made sure Iwas okay and made me warm drinks.He then offered me dryclothes, whilehethrewallmyclothes into the washingmachine to wash anddry them,all the time monitoringmy progress.Without his quick
longer than threeand ahalf hours. Between1811-1840 an averageof40boats aday passed through the tunnel!
The last commercialboat to make passagethrough the tunnelwas in 1921 andthe canalwas closed by Actof Parliament in 1944 with all regularmaintenance being stopped,although the tunnel did remain navigableand in 1948 Robert Aikman,Tom Rolt andsenior members of the IWAdid make asomewhat difficulttripthrough the tunnel in the wooden cruiser AilsaCraig. There wasone other trip through the tunnel in 1961 whenthe Railway &Canal Historical Society took anarrowboatthrough in three hours.
Arestoration programme beganinSeptember 1999 andbyOctober thetunnel hadbeendrainedand fenced off.Aspartofthe stabilisation work,2m-long boltswere driven into theunlined sections of thetunnel walls
Thecanal subsequently reopened to boatsin2001 with strict beam constraints
thinkingand care,Ithink I maynot have made it out of thelockand Iwould notbewritingthis email. Iwould like to thank him, and recommendheget some sort of recognition for this act. Iwould also liketoput forward some recommendations
1. Thatall deep walled locksshould be manned.
2. The steps of all locks should be periodically cleanedofsilt
3. Thereshouldbea handrail on the lock side of the steps to preventfalling into the lock
4. Signsshould be erected on thesteps notifying people of the silt build-up and slip hazard.
5. Life jacketsshouldbe obligatorynearall deep walledlocks.
Finally, again Iwould liketo hear that Aidanisrewarded forhis fast actionsand caring nature. Without people manning the deeper,more dangerouslocks,there will certainlybeinjuryordeath Ilookforward to your reply. Yourssincerely NigelGilbert
beingimposed due to a number of pinchpointsin variousplaces,and only boats with amaximum beam of 6ft 10inbeing allowedtomake passagealongit. Initiallyafter its openingnopowered boats were allowedthrough and thesehad to be towedthrough in convoybyanelectric tug.
Self-powered boatshave been allowedthrough since 2009 after areviewbythe then British Waterwayswhichwas prompted by damage being caused to boatsduringtowage andthe breakdownofone of the tugs
The entrance to the tunnel canappearquite intimidating andhas been describedas ‘likelooking at amouse hole at thefootofthe towering Standedge Fell’. To go through the tunnelitisnecessary to bookyourpassage in advance, numbersare limited,and aCRT chaperonetravels on board with the boatsthatare passing through. Inside thetunnelthere areactuallyfourpassing points locatedatbroad caverns,one of whichstill hasthe original mooringrings in situ.
‘Fins’ain’twhat theyusedtobe!
Technology in the form of robotic rubbish collector WasteShark is cleaning up the landmark waterfront in Leeds. There’sno ominous music as SallyClifford finds outmore.
TECHNOLOGYisintegraltoour lives…robotic gadgets areprovidinga helpinghandinthe home andthe workplace,but technological advances arealsohelping to cleanupour waterways.
On acertain dayand time in theweek, visitors to LeedsDockand thecitycentre waterfront district will seeanaquatic robotat work eradicatingrubbish from thewaterfront. Flankedbymodernapartments, this stylish social scene is aplace peoplegravitate towards duringcityvisits.Itisalsothe settingfor the annualLeeds Waterfront Festival on July 5and 6this year so keepingthis place shipshape is all themoreimperative.
WasteShark wasintroduced to cleanupthe city’s waterfront in spring last year and, so far, hascovered 21km,eradicating3000 litresof greenand plastic rubbish inthe processfrom the city’swaterfront.
Paul Ellison, managing director of the YorkshireDesignGroup,whosebrainchild it wastointroduce WasteShark,explains the cage withinthe device hasthe capacity to collect 160 litres and, accordingtothe technical spec,can collect up to 500 kilosper day. Paul explains that, workingwith BIFFA, therubbishcollected is sorted for recyclingorincinerating.
Watching aprogramme aboutthe Dutch
entrepreneur Boyan Slat,founder of The OceanCleanup whoisdeveloping technologies to clean up plastics from the oceans,inspired Paul to look at the contributionshe couldmakecloser to home
Having seen the work BoyanSlat wasdoing,Paul thoughtabout how he couldimprove thewaterfront around andbeyond hisworkplace.He beganlooking at ways of diverting plastics from the waterfront and, throughextensive research,discovered Netherlands-based RanMarine Technology’s WasteShark
Manually operated by remote control, the device,which also hasanautomatic mode, worksbyscooping wasteupintoits internal cage.Havingdiscussed theideawithLeeds ChamberofCommerceand theLeeds Waterfront Group, of whichheisamember, Paul organised ademo of thedevicefollowing whichWasteSharkwas introducedtothe city on ayear-longpilotproject.Run in conjunction with the community-based boat project, Canal Connections,the success of theinitiative is alreadyevident from theon-boarddata
collected by WasteShark
“Itworks on differentlevels.One aspect of theproject is we arecollectingdatasoevery week we have amap on thewebsite andit showswhereithas been and areportofwhat we have pickedout of the water,”explains Paul.
“Peoplealsoreallyappreciatesomething happeningthatisvisible andpractical.When itisout and aboutonthe waterlots of people stop andask what we aredoing.They are interested in thedeviceand theylovethe fact that it is scoopingthings outofthe water.”
Paul explains theGPS-operated device has light, distance and rangingtechnology to avoid collisions while workinginbusier areasofthe waterfront.
“Somebody is with it all the time andithas alittle cameraonitsothe hand-held device showswhatthe camera cansee –you are surveyingthe riverbank and seeingthings you cannot gettosee,” says Paul
TheWasteSharkcan also assist with retrieving heavier, hard-to-reachitems on thewater.A beer barrel was, perhaps, the mostunusual item the WasteShark helped to retrieve from the waterway
“Itcan push stuff it cannot gobble up towards the boat for the operator to lift out,”saysPaul. It is hoped when the pilot projectcomesto an end in June WasteShark cancontinueits work alongthe waterfront.Paulsaysaswell as thebusinesscommunity, theyhavealsohad the supportofthe Canal&River Trust.
Trevor Roberts, from CanalConnections, says as well as theenvironmental benefits it brings,WasteSharkalsocapturespeople’s imaginations.Peter Forrest, projectmanager with CanalConnections,adds:“It’s fantastic.It shows the technical side andalsoitiskeeping ourwater cleanand making sure wastedoesn’t reachthe sea. It shows we arecaringabout our environment.”
As thewater runs low, plans emerge forhigh-riseliving
NABO general secretary Peter Braybrook comments on some moretopical issues.
WE’VE hadagloriously warm anddry spring but that hasbroughtwith it moreproblems than the system canhandle.The reservoirsare very lowfor thetimeofyear. Many lock flightsare nowclosed or under restricted hoursand cruisingplans need to be
very flexible.Alongside that the general wear and tear repairsand stoppages are needed to fix the problems as theyarise and treescontinue to fall acrossthe navigations. NABO hasbeenbusy preparingtomeetand then meeting the Canal& RiverTrust independent commission on thefuture ofboatlicensing. Among other boatingorganisations we areallocatedone hour to putour points to the commission. We hope that we canswing theopinion of the commission away from the desiresofthe navigation authoritytothe needsof the boatingcommunity. We arenot the onlyboating organisation to have been invited. Ourhopeisthat the message is putacross strongly from all quarters that boatersare lookingfor value from thelicence fees that we pay. The status quo at presentisthatthe navigation authorityputsdownmany requirements without
actuallystatingwhatits commitments are. However, the legaldutytomaintain the cruisingwaterways for the useofpleasureboats remains.One would assume that that means keeping waterinthem of sufficient depthtonavigatesafely. Thatisthe minimum we can expect.
The #FundBritainsWaterways Cruiseiscontinuing. Having achieved the goal of making some noiseoutsidethe Houses of Parliamentthe flotillahas nowsomewhatdispersed Some went up the Thamesand theOxfordCanal butvarious stoppagesand restrictions meantthat the flotillaisnow astragglingline of boats. Hopefully, it will regroupagain to crossthe waters of Middle LevelCommissionersand cross the Wash by the endofJune beforeheadingbacktoward Doncaster.
As thisispublishedI will personallybeback cruisingthe beautiful green corridors providedbythe
canals
of Birmingham
We likeBirmingham.The commercialised centre canbeabit noisybut it is alwaysentertaining. In themain,the centreof Birmingham hasbeenquite tastefullydeveloped and thereisa good mixofnew architecture andbuildings of considerable heritage value likethe Roundhouse, Cambrian Wharfand the WorcesterBar.Weliketo sitoverthe WorcesterBar in arestaurantand watch the boatscoming andgoing from theMailbox through GasStreetBasin.But there is asection of this heritage vista that is seriouslyunder threat. Alongside the Worcesterand Birmingham CanalatGas Street basin is aterrace of canalside buildings.Overthe years thesehavehousedvarious businesses andsomehave been used as domestic dwellings.But nowthey areupfor redevelopment and that development
is proposed to include a 29-storey tower! It is on the south side so howabout that forcastingashadowoverthe waters.This,inour humble opinion, is not sympathetic development in keeping with the canalheritage of thesebeautiful 200-year-old utilitarianbuildings All is notwell on oldFather Thamesatpresent. The lock keepershaveballoted on their grievances with the EnvironmentAgencyand almostunanimously voted for industrialaction. Exactly what that actionwill be we do not knowbut we have heard that some lock keepersare turningoffthe poweratlocks when theygooffduty. Hand windingthe Thames locks is noteasyand boatersare obviously seriouslyaffected by this action. In the main, however, the boatersare on the side of the lock keepers. We want safe and courteous operationofthe lockswhich the lockieshaveprovided for many ayear. We hopethat
good senseprevails and we canreturn to some measure of normality. Therehas also been adebateinParliament concerningthe stateofthe river, particularly around Esher and Walton where the MP considers theyare ariver communityblighted by antisocial boaterswho are overstayingonthe moorings in hertown. Shecalledon theEnvironment Agency to do somethingabout the“sunken,wreckedand abandonedboats,alongside unlicensed overstay boats. Theyline theentirelength of my constituency,from the Dittons through Molesey and down into Walton-onThames.”This is not the kind of publicitythat we want forboatingonthe inland waterwaysand we support action that will enable the rivertobereturnedfor the useofpeaceful, law-abiding boaters.
Keep safe andenjoy your boatingwhile thewater is there.
TorenSedman controls WasteShark from the towpath.
PHOTO: SALLY CLIFFORD
Before: The water by the weir on the River Aire near Leeds Dock before WasteShark got to work. PHOTO: YORKSHIRE DESIGN GROUP
Caption: After: The same stretch of water after WasteShark had been involved in the clean-up operation.
