Cargoes Winter 2022 by The Inland Waterways Association

Winter 2022 Newsletter of Guildford & Reading Kent & East Sussex and Oxfordshire Branches Newsletter of Guildford & Reading, Kent & East Sussex Winter 2022 & Oxfordshire Branches

Index

Basingstoke Canal Society Page: 6 John Pinkerton Page: 11 Focus on Accessible Boating Association Page: 11

Branch AGMs Page: 4 IWA Kent and East Sussex (IW AKES) IWA Guildford & Reading IWA Oxford

British Canoeing Page: 23

Canalway Cavalcade Page: 37

Chichester Ship Canal Trust Page: 12

Guildford & Reading Branch Page: 5 Sales and Publicity Stand

Kent & East Sussex Branch IWAKES Page: 26 Thames & Medway Canal Association Sue Schwieso Richard Bird Medal River Medway Kentish River Stour River Adur Royal Military Canal Future Events

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Page: 14 Newbury Reading Crofton Beam Engines

Oxfordshire Branch Page: 34 Tooley’s Boatyard Trust Page: 34

Region Chair Report Page: 3

River Thames Page: 22

River Wey & Godalming Navigations Page: 17 National Trust

South London Branch Page: 37

Towpath Walks Page: 25

Wey & Arun Canal Trust Page: 19

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Page: 35

Editorial

Welcome to the Winter edition of Cargoes. How can it be coming up to winter when, as I write, we still have temperatures up in the 20s? Centigrade that is! Although leaves are falling, many trees are still in full leaf. Elsewhere the fauna seems unsure as to what to do. Thank you to all our contributors for your articles there would be no Cargoes without them. Thank you also to all our readers. I hope you will find this edition interesting. I am trying to include a wider range of articles to show that canals and rivers have very diverse range of activities on and around them. If there are other activities you would like to be included please let me know.

Chris Jones – Editor

From the Region Chair

Well, it seems that summer is lingering while the days shorten, and leaves turn colour. The warmth has been punctuated by torrential rain and high winds. At least the rain is helping to refill our waterways and the sound of moving water has returned but there is a long way to go before the aquifers have sufficient water to take us through another boating season.

Jonathan Smith has confirmed that he will be standing down as interim CEO and this post will be advertised shortly. There have been other changes at Chesham which are detailed on the website. The IWA “Waterways for Today ” report has been favourably received by both politicians and members, and should prove a useful tool for all. It is possible to download your personal copy from the IWA websit e. If you require a hard copy then please contact Tracy Higgin at Chesham. Congratulations to all the groups at Banbury who put together a successful two day event after a gap of three years. The Oxfordshire branch organized the IWA stand and were also involved in boat trips.

A number of online and inperson talks are available this winter and can be accessed via the IWA website. Please also make a note of the dates for the various branch AGMs which are published in this edition of Cargoes. [I apologise for the omission of the promised Christmas Quiz. I ran out of time]

Finally, I wish all a Happy Christmas and healthy New Year

Photo:

John Jones Verna Smith, Region Chair

Cover Photo Courtesy: Gaye Clear, Winner of Chichester Ship Canal Trust’s Photographic Competition.

4 Branch Annual General Meetings

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the Kent & East Sussex, Oxfordshire and Guildford and Reading Branches of the Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows:

The Kent & East Sussex Branch AGM will take place on Tuesday 21st February 2023: 7.45 for 8.00pm: St Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent. ME16 ODE :

The Oxfordshire Branch AGM: Details to be announced soon. Please check the IWA website.

The Guildford & Reading Branch AGM will take place on Monday 27th March 202 3. Further details to follow. Please check the IWA website.

The Agenda for the branch meetings will be based on the standard format set out in IWA Byelaws as follows:

4 Branch

5 Branch Treasurer’s

Agenda

Apologies for Absence

Approval (following amendments if necessary) of the Minutes of the Branch AGM held the previous year

Matters arising from the Minutes (and not under other Agenda items)

Chairman’s Report

Report and Accounts 6 Election of members of the Committee (Nomination no longer necessary). Simply contact the Chairman to apply to join the Branch Committee or do so at the AGM 7 Any item for discussion of which the Branch Chairman has been notified in writing at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the relevant AGM

Guildford & Reading Branch

Branch Chairman

As we come to the end of 2022 and look back at what has been another challenging year, it is difficult to know which events have been more at the forefront of my mind: Covid 19, droughts, the passing of our beloved Queen to name just three. And then came the mini budget which put everything into confusion.

Our new PM and Chancellor have a difficult time ahead and I think all areas are going to see spending cuts.

At the recent Joint Management Committee meeting for the Basingstoke Canal, it was noted that one of the local councils has withdrawn all its financial contribution to the canal, a move which incurred a spirited response from the Acting Chairman.

Lack of funds in the short-term lead to long term problems on waterways. Richard Parry, CEO of CRT made this point in his address to the APPG on the previous day.

The Basingstoke Canal Authority should be congratulated, though, for managing the water levels which allowed Galleon and charity boats to continue to operate. All our local waterways have been affected by the lack of water to a greater or lesser degree.

Although the Sales Team had problems attending our local events, we were able to assist IWA Oxford with the Banbury Canal Festival. Three stalwart committee members spent two days helping to man the IWA stand.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Verna Smith (acting Chair)

Sales & Publicity Stand

After an unsuccessful year of events in 2022 the Sales team are hoping 2023 will be better. Although dates for next year’s events are not available yet , please do contact us if you think you will be able to help. W e are hoping to attend Reading Water Fest, Newbury Water Festival and the River Wey Water Festival as well as supporting IWA Oxford with the Oxford and Banbury canal days.

Please contact Ben Scott (benboattrain@gmail.com) or any of the Sales Team if you can help at any of the events, our email address is chris.jones@waterways.org.uk.

Future Events

The Sales Team

The dates for 2023 have not yet been decided. As soon as we have them they will be publicised in Cargoes and on the IWA website.

Basingstoke Canal Society

National Award Winning Basingstoke Canal Watch

As a society, we know how important it is for the canal to be a safe place for all to enjoy. We were delighted, therefore, when Surrey Police were awarded the prestigious Tilley Award by the Home Office for their work in preventing crime on the Basingstoke Canal towpath. This local award was wonderfully received but more recently the project has also been awarded the National Prize at the National Problem Solving Conference after being up against countrywide local award winners. As a result, CanalWatch now moves forward to the International Awards which will take place in the coming months.

The award was for the Business Support and Volunteers category, and was in recognition of a project that involved, amongst other things, the establishment of a Canal Watch. This sees local officers and volunteers patrolling the canal towpath on the lookout for suspicious behaviour.

Sergeant Ed Lyons, who leads the Canal Watch, described the work undertaken as “a multiagency problem-solving approach”, going on to say that “the work has led to a lasting change.” Indeed, the initiative was a strong collaborative effort, with work done across Woking Borough Council, Neighbourhood Watch, Basingstoke Canal Authority and the Basingstoke Canal Society.

In a statement online, Surrey Police said that “these projects were launched as a direct consequence of community engagement and allowed officers to build relationships and reassurance within local communities. ” A clear example of why it is crucial that we take care of our beautiful natural surroundings! When we all take an interest in maintaining and improving the canal, it becomes a nicer place for everyone.

Other new safety measures have involved the installation of extra CCTV cameras and signage, as well as the removal of overgrown shrubbery and graffiti. Additionally, officers and members of the canal watch now have access to electronic bikes. These allow them to patrol the area more quickly and efficiently.

Basingstoke Canal Bridges

Whether you turn to the canal for your daily exercise, or occasionally enjoy the calming water as a place for relaxation, you most likely will have taken for granted the structures you pass over and under on your journey.

While perhaps not as immediately enchanting as autumnal leaves, there is some unique and fascinating hi story contained within Basingstoke Canal’s array of bridges. Read on to discover more about the canal’s rich story, and see for yourself why there is so much worth protecting.

Inglis Pipe Bridge

This bridge was designed by, and named after, Sir Charles Inglis OBE and is the only one of its kind still remaining.

Sir Charles served in the Royal Engineers during WWI and designed this bridge with optimum efficiency in mind. Its unique, lightweight pyramid structure meant it could be transported by manpower alone and assembled quickly to enable troops to cross canals and dry gaps.

“The only one of its kind still remaining ” - This reusable steel system became the precursor to the better-known Bailey Bridge used

Iron Bridge

The Iron Bridge in Aldershot (Queen’s Avenue), was first built in 1898 by the Army for the purpose of transporting men and equipment across the canal. “Original Victorian decorative features”’

Just over a century after its initial construction, it was faithfully refurbished, meaning all its original Victorian decorative features can still be admired today.

Red Brick Accommodation Bridges

It is a unique design elliptical in plan and circular in elevation that gives these gorgeous brick arches their smooth structure.

extensively during WWII.

Aqueducts

“134 metre span ”

Unlike most aqueducts, Frimley Aqueduct (1839 and 1902), maintains a full width. The Ash Embankment Aqueduct (1995), is an exceptional prestressed, reinforced concrete structure with a 134 met re span across the A331 bypass.

Claycart and Eelmoor Bridges

These steel through-truss bridges were used in WWI as they enabled military equipment to cross canals. They were designed by Captain Hopkins, who worked as a railway bridge engineer before the war.

As if these bridges weren’t impressive enough, it is a little-known fact that Basingstoke Canal’s initial survey and feasibility study involved John Smeaton, the “father” of Civil Engineering. However, due to a delay in starting construction, the eventual design of the canal was left to Smeaton’s pupil, William Jessop.

While the canal’s vibrant and diverse flora and fauna is widely celebrated, less attention is paid to the historical importance of its infrastructure. In this article, we are placing a spotlight on some of these unique structures, as well as the ground-breaking engineers involved in their design.

Drought and the effects on the Basingstoke Canal

As widely publicised by the Met Office this summer there has been a prolonged period of low rainfall dating back to last November, with most of England and Wales officially classified as being in drought.

Met Office data widely published stated that we (in the south and east of England) experienced the driest 8-month period since 1976, the driest July since 1911 and broke the high temperature record for England in July. Other waterways such as the Thames were also beginning to suffer from low water levels and starting to put in place similar water saving methods to us, requiring boats to double up in locks and closing locks to navigation at night-time. Canal and Rivers Trust closed the Peak Forest Canal in May and placed an increasing number of lock use restrictions on parts of their network throughout the summer.

That some parts of the Basingstoke Canal were and are still short of water now in October is therefore not surprising there was simply not enough water coming in to keep all the Canal supplied at normal operating levels.

This year has clearly been an exceptional year as we have not had to close Mytchett pound (section between Deepcut and Ash Lock) to navigation since 1990 due to water shortages.

Water levels initially held well in the Hampshire pound (section between Ash Lock and Greywell) of the Canal and whilst water was still coming into the Canal from the aquifer-fed springs at Greywell and Broad Oak, we were able to still pass water down into the Mytchett section of the Canal for a time.

Near the end of June, the Deepcut and Brookwood lock flights were the first to close without enough water to sustain them and Ash Lock followed not long afterwards.

By mid-July the daily amount of water we were able to pass from the Hampshire pound into the Mytchett pound was being exceeded by the daily amount being lost mainly due to evaporation and transpiration and this section of canal began to drop off rapidly meaning that soon we had to stop powered boats from using it and then even unpowered boats such as canoes and kayaks.

Towpath users would have noticed the large shelves and beaches that appeared where there used to be water and our freshwater mussels getting an unwelcome exposure to the air. Emergency planning was put in place in consultation with the Environment Agency and Natural England to allow us to manage for these unprecedented conditions, considering for example how we would manage struggling fish with not much water or oxygen. Thankfully the fish took care of themselves and found deeper water areas and we finally had some rainfall.

At the time of writing, the water levels have come up enough in

the Mytchett pound to reinstate unpowered boat use but are still some way off the levels needed to allow powered boat use that needs deeper water to prevent propellors becoming fouled and damaged. The Hampshire pound has remained at good navigable levels all summer and of course Woking has remained at normal levels supported by the back pumping of water. We are however not at the end of the drought yet; aquifer and reservoir levels have continued to decline generally across Britain, so unless we have a prolonged period of rainfall over winter to replenish aquifer levels, we expect that we could have another difficult season next year.

While it has been a trying summer for all waterway managers, the herons and kingfishers took full advantage of the clear shallow waters, with food literally on a plate!

Fiona Shipp Basingstoke Canal Authority

Recent Events on the Basingstoke Canal

Odiham Raft Race

The event began with a splendid display of canoe and kayak types and skills from the Basingstoke and District Canoe Club. This was followed soon after by the race itself with eleven handmade rafts and their intrepid crews racing against the clock. As if that wasn't enough, the teams then returned for the Tug of War competition before the final prize giving.

Mikron Theatre at the Mill House

A crowd of about 150 enthusiasts gathered near the Canal at The Mill House in North Wanborough f or the Mikron Theatre team's splendid performance of Raising Agents; a humorous musical celebrating the centenary of the Women's Institute.

Charlotte Rodgers, Press Officer BCS

Trips aboard the John Pinkerton II and Kitty

Boat Trips: The 2022 season has now ended although charter trips are still available and can be booked for 2023.

The John Pinkerton trip boat operates from Odiham in Hampshire, running public, themed and chartered cruises. Trips last about 3.25 hours and run through farms, woodlands and the occasional small settlement.

Information for times and prices for trips and how to charter the boat for a special occasion or social outing is available on our website: https://basingstokecanal.org.uk/book-your-trip/

All bookings are done online but for help email: jpbookings@basingstokecanal.org.uk, or call: 07506 864411 (10am 6pm).

Kitty public boat trips are at 11am, 1pm and 2.45pm. They operate from the town wharf in Woking.

Charter trips on both boats so far booked are shown in the list of Scheduled Trips & Events. If you would like to charter on a day without a trip shown, please contact us at https://basingstoke-canal.org.uk or phone the Booking Team on 07506 864411 (10am 6pm). Cruising in the peaceful surroundings of the Basingstoke Canal is a great way to relax. You can charter the whole boat for exclusive use by family, friends or work colleagues

Trips from Mytchett: Boat trips on board our friendly 12-seater boat Rosebud usually run at weekends and on public holidays from Easter to September. Please contact us for up to date information. Tel 01252 370073, email info@basingstokecanal.co.uk or check on Facebook or Twitter.

Focus on Accessible Boating Association

The Accessible Boating Association, (Accessible Boating or ABA), is a registered charity initiated in 1985 by Mildred Stocks, then Chairman of Hart District Council, who wanted to enable people who couldn’t use existing canal boats to enjoy cruises on the Basingstoke Canal.

Two boats are available: Madam Butterfly is a comfortable 7-berth cruising boat and Dawn is a 12-person day boat

Both boats are based in Odiham at Galleon Marine’s boatyard with trips operating from Colt Hill Wharf from April to October.

For more details see the website www.accessibleboating.org.uk . New volunteers are always welcome; speak to one of our volunteers or contact our Chairman, John Ranson at chairman@accessibleboating.org.uk

Chichester Ship Canal Trust

The volunteers at the canal have been busy with the annual photography competition, taking part in Heritage Open Days, hosting Fringe events on the water, looking forward to an art exhibition at Pallant House Art Gallery, as well as learning more about the water voles and dragonflies on the canal. All this on top of the busy summer operational activity and keeping the canal accessible and open for everyone. We presented prizes to five worthy winners of our annual photo competition which closed at the end of August. With over 80 entries, Mark Stoneham (Canal Trustee and vice chair) said “It was particularly pleasing to see that many facets of our beautiful waterway were covered: people enjoying the facility, wildlife, sculptures, fish, paddleboarders, rowing boats to name but a few. Thank you to all contributors, and of course our sponsors”. Imber Court Photo Training, the competition main sponsor, judged the entries and it wasn’t easy choosing the winners. The winning image was by Gaye Clear with swans bathed in rising morning sun (see front cover). Selsey Press, Whitby’s in Chichester and the Canal Trust also donated competition prizes. The Trust was delighted to treat entrants from Apuldram Centre for Learning Disabilities to drinks and cake and thanked Mike Norris, support worker, for coordinating their entries. All entries are now being screened on the Heritage Centre TV, please do drop by and take a look.

The wildlife along the canal is appreciated, not only by our photographers, but by all our visitors. This year we had a record number of nine cygnets, and there has been an amazing array of dragonflies this year. Our volunteers and members were able to join a Walk and Talk given by Dr Alison Barker, a dragonfly specialist. Alison was able to tell us a lot about the wildlife, the habitats and the types of dragonflies we would expect to see at different types of the year.

Natasha Jefferies

We were also treated to a talk on water voles by Jane Reeves, a wetland specialist. Jane illustrated her talk with film clips, stuffed specimens and slides, to give an insight into the world of water voles. We learnt why they are endangered and what action is being taken, and what we could do.

Finally, the annual bat survey (as part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme) took place in August, with Nik Knight the Hampshire Bat Recorder and volunteers. The conditions this year were perfect, dry, still and warm. The volunteers were rewarded with many sightings, at one spot they picked up 16 Daubenton's bats.

We're looking forward to visiting the Pallant House Gallery Exhibition “Sussex Landscape: Chalk, Wood and Water” which will run from 12th November to 23rd April 2023. This exhibition will include the famous work by JMW Turner (1828) of Chichester Canal, loaned from The Tate. For more information, please visit https://pallant.org.uk/whats-on/sussex-landscape-chalk-wood and-water/

“

Dave

“Taking a ride on a misty morning”

Annette Radford “Spring equinox”

Meryn Woodland “Tranquility” Sarah Ide “Just rowing

The winning photos. 1st Prize winner’s photo, Gaye Clear, is also on our front cover. Gaye Clear Swans bathed in rising morning sun” Standley

Kennet & Avon Canal News

Newbury Branch

Newbury Waterways Festival was staged in early July. After a 3 year absence, it was great to stage the event once again and it proved very successful with large crowds throughout the day in Victoria Park enjoying the stalls and entertainment and on the towpath viewing the boats. Falcon Adam deservedly won Best Boat. Jubilee and its crew worked hard running four full trips during the day and the day concluded

with our Duck race, which caused much excitement.

As the leaves turn and the waterway here in Newbury becomes quieter our boat trips are starting to wind down. The end of our regular season was marked with our October half term holiday “Creepy Cruises ” when a rather spooky -looking boat glided along full of little ghouls and ghosts having a great time. Once again these trips proved very popular and were sold out.

There is a short break for all our crew before we get to the popular Santa season and all the fun and games that take place aboard the Iceboat Jubilee. There will be Christmas songs, a visit from Santa who comes on board with his sack full of specially selected presents, and of course mulled wine and mince pies for the adults.

Forthcoming Events.

The Iceboat Jubilee will be setting sail for Greenham Land to find Santa on Sunday 11th, Saturday 17th, Sunday 18th, and Wednesday 21st to Friday 23rd December. Departing at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm on all the above dates. Tickets are selling very fast and over half the trips are already sold out. Advance booking is essential. This can be done via our website https://jubilee.katrust.org.uk/ or by phoning our main office on 01380 721279 during office hours, Monday to Friday. All tickets are £10 and include a gift for children and refreshment for adults. Tickets are not available on the day. There are no concessions. Sarah Foley

Photos Courtesy: Newbury News and Falcon Adams website

Reading Branch

Chairman’s Report

Hello again, the autumn colours are now upon us. The swallows have long gone…counted around a hundred when they left, a much better number than we thought. Today, walking back to the house, I saw “our” kingfisher flying over the mill stream. They never fail to surprise and excite. Wonderful flash of electric blue! We have been running our trip boat Matilda Too around Reading and have seen a pair of Kingfishers darting around Chocolate Island. I have noticed that when I comment to our passengers, “There, did you see the kingfisher.” They inevitably don’t. So I have taken to telling folk when we approach the area to keep a lookout. I have found the spot rate has increased dramatically. Seeing one is great - spotting two in formation is spectacular. Following this year’s Water Fest we entertained the Reading Mayor and walkers on her “Beating the Bounds” event. We provided a tea break at Southcote Lock and Mill. Giving them a short comfort break and a chance to enjoy a piece of Debbie Johnsons Cakes and view some of Drew Marland’s artwork and Maps.

We had a presence at the nature nurture event in September at Fobney lock. This was an event sponsored by Thames Water and organised by the Nature Nurture group. There were displays showing the plans for the restoration of the Fobney pumping station building together with a number of nature groups providing walks and pond dipping experiences and many other wild life activities. The Trust had a Gazebo Space with details of the Trust’s work and opportunities for children (and adults) to do some brass rubbing of canal bridge plaques, mainly of past Reading Water Fest plaques. Matilda Two was at the event running 10 trips on the day and taking 117 passengers. My narrowboat “ Just Kath” was used by volunteers to provide tea, coffee and cakes. The bow was renamed “Just Café” for the event.

Debbie and Laurie provided the Tea, Coffee, Cakes and cheerful service that was warmly received. Hopefully an event that will be repeated next year.

The Aldermaston Tea rooms have closed for this year and with Gary and Sam’s move to a new venture we have put out a tender for a new operator of the Tea Room. We have also taken advantage of their departure to begin the Restoration work needed on the small building in

front of the Tea room. This is known as the Wash house or Toll house. The building dates from before the canal was dug here and we believe has been shortened, possibly cut in half. We have records in The Trust’s archives that show it was used to collect washing for the working boatmen for them to collect cleaned on their return trip. There is also some evidence to show this was a toll point for the wharf and basin back in the 1800s and 19oos. The Builders Kingsman Construction have been contracted to carry out the work and we now have a skeleton of a building under a scaffold and tarpaulin surround. It is fascination to see the building stripped back and the marks of the original builders and the wear of the previous use all visible. Once restored and water tight the plan is to make this an information centre for the Trust. We hope to have some displays and some interactive presentations showing the canal and building and its history and development.

Our meeting on 12th September Fobney Pumping Station by Laura from Thames Water was at the Bel and Dragon on the Humber Barge. We had a good turn out at the Bel and Dragon and expanded further over Zoom. The October meeting had planned to be Paul Fitt talking about the restoration of his narrowboat Lancing a one-time KACT trip boat. Unfortunately, Paul had to pull out at short notice. He plans to present his story at a later meeting to be announced. Instead, we had a video trip boat experience from Matilda Too with Nick Marshal providing his usual onboard commentary.

The next meeting is on December 20th. Subject still to be confirmed. We are still hoping that someone will be able to present on the famous DevizesWestminster race. Keep well and look after each other.

Puddephatt chair.reading@katrust.org.uk

Future Events

Entry donation to Meetings, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). Further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk

Mon 20th December. Subject TBA

Graham

Crofton Beam Engines

END OF SEASON MESSAGE

Saying a massive THANK YOU to all our volunteers, visitors and supporters this year for another successful open season.

Crofton Beam Engines and the pay and display car park are now closed for the winter. We plan to open again for spring 2023, dates are to be confirmed, so keep an eye on social media and the website for updates.

We’re not taking the winter off though, we will be carrying out essential winter maintenance during the closed season and will be open on some Saturdays for Winter Works Open Days. A chance to see what goes on behind the scenes over the winter period. We hope to see you there!

Please visit our website for up to date information on our Winter Works Open Days: www.katrust.org.uk

Photo: Crofton Beam Engine Website

River Wey & Godalming Navigations

A Lengthmen’s View

I was out mowing before the rain came in but the wind was definitely already here. This little chap was managing to hold on while he was having a feed but it was clearly a struggle. It is always a cheering sight to see.

With the mild temperatures this year some of the species that spend the winter hibernating underground are still out and about making the most of the last pollen and nectar. Plants like these dead nettles and ivy provide vital resources to keep them flying.

Not all species do hibernate so it’s not unusual to catch a buff tailed bumblebee out and about even if it’s been snowing. The areas of the UK a where you see them year round is increasing with sightings further north year on year. That means that if you grow the right winter flowering plants like mahonia and winter jasmine you have a pretty good chance of having some keeping you company in the garden right through the winter.

Bats on the River Wey

Bats are by far the most numerous canal mammals. Several species, including Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle, roost in canal structures along the River Wey and forage for insects over the water, the towpath and along the adjoining corridor.

Pipistrelle ('Pip'): The pipistrelle is the most common British species of bat. It is also the smallest. Its flight is high and appears jerky as it dodges to catch insects in flight. A single pipistrelle can consume up to 3,000 insects in one night.

Daubenton's: This bat is a medium-sized species that is often seen flying steadily within a few centimetres of the water’s surface. These bats take insects from close to the water’s surface hence their common name, the “water bat”. They make summer roosts in trees and bridges along the towpath.

How bats catch and find their food : At night when the bats are foraging, their ears are more important than their eyes. As they fly they make shouting sounds. The returning echoes give information about anything ahead of them, including the size and shape of insects and which way they are going. This process is called echolocation. Most of these sounds are too highpitched for humans to hear, but they can be heard with a bat detector.

What does a bat do at night?: What a bat does at night is still not fully understood. Lots of our well-known species leave the day roost at dusk and return at dawn. They come back fatter and tired, having consumed possibly thousands of insects, and flown as far as twenty kilometres during the night.

Weather conditions obviously affect a bat’s dinner possibilities. If it's cold, wet or very windy, insects are not likely to venture out. If there are no insects, there is little point in a bat going out, as it will be using energy that it will not be able to replace.

If you walk along the River Wey towpath in the early mornings, you are likely to see lots of damselfly wings on the ground. This is one indication of what bats have been doing at night... To find out more, visit the Surrey Bat Group's website

Future Events:

There are numerous events coming up at Dapdune Wharf that will provide fun for the whole family. Please visit our website (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/riverway ) for more information.

Photos Courtesy: NT Website Tristan Brown Wey Navigations General Manager

Wey and Arun Canal Trust

WACT News

Summer camp a great success

It might not have been what volunteers to the WRG Summer Camp initially signed up for but a week helping to build landing stages and towpath improvements provided enough stimulation to keep the volunteers happy for a week over the summer.

Volunteers had hoped to get to work on construction of the bridge at Birtley, near Bramley at the northern end of the canal, but delays meant a last-minute switch of sites to the restored section at Loxwood instead.

With the canal increasingly used by canoeists, kayakers and paddleboarders the Trust was keen to add suitable landing stages and the extra pairs of hands meant four were constructed in just a week. The landing stages, one a double deck t o accommodate boat crew, are made to British Canoeing standards, sitting 300mm above the water line for easy access to the canal. Locally sourced Douglas Fir which was also sawn at a local timber mill was used for the project.

The volunteers also resurfaced a 200m stretch of towpath in sections worst affected in bad weather.

Visiting volunteers lend a hand with ash clearance

Dealing with the diseased and dying ash along the canal at Loxwood is a major operation and will last for several years such is the devastation.

We’ve been very fortunate in having support from fellow restoration groups London WRG and KESCRG who have been giving regular visitors a helping hand in removing the trees. A week -long WRG Forestry team also lent a hand, bringing their skills to the operation.

An independent survey has identified those trees that require felling due to ash dieback and like most of the country the damage is extensive and there are a lot of trees to remove.

Apprentice Adam to become permanent staff member

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust became the first independent canal society to take on an apprentice in 2021 and now apprentice Adam Rayner will be joining the team as a permanent member of staff.

Adam has completed a Level 2 Water Environment Worker apprenticeship, working with Wey & Arun Canal Trust staff and volunteers to gain on-the-job training, while studying both remotely and in person at Bridgwater and Taunton College.

Adam said he had enjoyed his apprenticeship immensely and was looking forward to h elping progress the canal’s restoration as a permanent member of the team.

We have now been advertising for a new apprentice to take his place such has been the success of the scheme.

Waterwheel in action

Volunteers have been repairing the waterwheel at Lordings, near Wisborough Green, over the past year and can now proudly say it is the only working noria in the UK.

The undershot wheel was designed to take water from the River Arun and feed it into the canal, but no original drawings remain to show wh at the wheel looked like or how it worked.

The wheel was discovered in complete disrepair some 20 years ago and painstakingly rebuilt by restoration pioneer Winston Harwood - not a project for the faint-hearted, working only from the internal dimensions of the wheel chamber.

Over the years vandalism and wear and tear took their toll and so after receiving a grant for its repair a team began to look again at the wheel.

Brian King and his fellow volunteers spent 12 months carrying out repairs. While they were quietly confident their fixes would work, it has been a waiting game for them to test out their engineering; the lack of rain seen throughout the year has meant levels on the River Arun haven’t been high enough to turn the wheel.

However, after some heavy rain, the team were able to get the wheel in action and the result was a resounding success with water output at 3,100 gallons per hour with the wheel running at 1.5rpm.

YouTubers Paul and Rebecca Whitewick visited the site and have made a film of the wheel in action and its mechanics (although river levels were too low to actually move any water). You can see it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEc925r6Kng (or google A unique relic uncovered by an abandoned canal).

It is hoped to demonstrate the wheel in action to the public in the spring.

Anniversary Poddle 2023 set for Sunday June 4 th

Next year marks the 50th Poddle sponsored walk and as such the 2023 event will be a particularly special one. The 12-mile walk will start in the grounds of Petworth House, where in 1813 the 3rd Earl of Egremont backed an act of Parliament authorising the building of the Wey and Arun Junction Canal which extended the navigation from Newbridge in West Sussex to Stonebridge Wharf south of Guildford on the Godalming portion of the river Wey. Everyone is invited to join this annual event on Sunday June 4 th, so save the date and look out for more details on social media and at www.weyarun.org.uk.

Birtley bridge work reveals a glimpse of the past Excavations for the construction of a bridge at Birtley, near Bramley in Surrey, have uncovered the remains of the original bridge - and an unexpected find. A tithe map of Bramley in 1839 shows the road crossing the canal as a bow tie shape, differing from the way a solid arch bridge is depicted elsewhere on maps of the canal, suggesting this bridge was of a different nature to most of the other conventional canal bridges.

And so it was when volunteers began excavating the site in preparation for a gas main diversion. They uncovered a crescent shape of brickwork, along with timbers transverse to the canal upon which two other timbers were laid longitudinally. Consultant archaeologists were called in and after more excavation they uncovered a block of brickwork with three ground-fast bolts. The archaeologists concluded that what has been found was the pivot base for a swing bridge.

The finds didn’t end there, however, as at the end of the north -east wall they uncovered an iron fitting with a short length of chain. This is thought to have been a “Sunday chain ”, used to prevent navigation on a Sunday by stretching across the canal and padlocking to fittings secured in masonry. Seven-day working was common until the 1830s and 1840s when at least some canal companies chose to ban Sunday working, perhaps coincidentally chiming with the early Victorian atmosphere of religious fervour.

Christmas on the Wey & Arun Canal

The Trust is very glad to be operating its popular Santa Cruises from Saturday December 3rd, running at weekends and the week up until Christmas . The 40minute trips include seasonal refreshments for all and a present for children under 12 from Santa, who will join passengers onboard and join in the fun. The trips will take place on Wiggonholt, the Trust’s canal boat that is specially equipped to take wheelchairs.

Trips are also set to run on Boxing Day. To book a seat on the Christmas trips, just go to www.weyarun.org.uk .

For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk

River Thames News

The Thames has experienced some problems due to over-running repairs and the impact of having to use contractors for repairs has led to some unfortunate delays.

Boating organizations are increasingly frustrated with communications between themselves and the Environment Agency and are having to escalate straightforward queries to senior EA staff. Hopefully none of these issues will affect your boating activities in the coming season but do keep up to date with EA notices.

I would like to include a “Thames Quiz” in the next edition of Cargoes and would welcome questions from Cargoes’ readers. I am aiming for a balance of questions that are relevant to all boaters. Please forward your contributions to me. Verna.smith63@gmail.com

River Thames Scheme

The River Thames between Egham and Teddington is one of the largest areas of undefended, developed floodplain in England.

In the past, the area has suffered serious floods. With climate change, the risk of flooding is only going to grow.

We need a long term, sustainable plan to deal with this risk. That plan is the River Thames Scheme.

Overview: A new river channel built in two sections at Runnymede and at Spelthorne. Improvements to existing river structures . New recreation areas for communities and habitat for wildlife. These measures will better protect thousands of homes and businesses, enhance the natural environment around the river, and boost the local economy.

Progress so far: Project of national significance status confirmed. The large scale of the project means the government directed that it be treated as a project of

national significance in December 2020. Other examples of projects of national significance might be a wind farm, airport expansion or new rail line.

Projects of national significance require a type of consent known as “development consent order” (DCO). A DCO removes the need to obtain many separate consents, including planning permission and is designed to be a quicker process than applying for these separately.

The DCO must be granted before full funding is approved and construction can begin.

Design development

We're currently in the pre-application stage, meaning we're doing all the work ready to make the application. The final scope and design of the project, which we will ultimately prepare a development consent application for, is yet to be fully determined. It will be shaped by technical, environmental and economic factors alongside consultation feedback.

British Canoeing

Paddlers Code

The Paddlers’ Code (https://paddlerscode.info/#respect ) is a new guide for paddlers developed in partnership with paddlers and Natural England and their work with the Countryside Code . British Canoeing had considered it timely with the large numbers of newcomers in paddlesport to provide a range of best practice advice to Respect, Protect and Enjoy the waterways.

The code advises on:

Safety - wearing a buoyancy aid, equipped for the trip and within your capabilities, adhere to navigation rules, check the weather and having the appropriate leash for the environment if paddling a Stand Up Paddleboard(SUP).

Keeping group sizes small and discreet, avoid damaging fences and walls when lifting crafts over them and generally being respectful to those you meet along the water.

Environment - protect nature, paddlers are asked to avoid dragging boats on river banks and to avoid gravel beds, which can be important spawning grounds for fish.

Bio-security the guide reminds paddlers to check, clean and dry their kit after each trip. This is key to helping stop the spread of invasive, non-native species.

Hasler Trophy National Kayak Race

More than 600 paddlers participated in this major canoeing calendar event on the River Thames at Runnymede Recreation Ground on 25 th September. The event was jointly co-hosted by Addlestone Canoe Club and Wey Kayak Club from

Guildford. The Hasler Trophy is named after Lieutenant Colonel “Blondie” Hasler RM, who led the “Cockleshell Heroes” raid on Bordeaux Harbour.

The event is an interclub Marathon discipline competition that brings together clubs who have qualified in their local areas for a place in the final. Lower Ranking List paddlers take a four-mile course in the morning. In the afternoon higher ranking paddlers including GB team members take a 12-mile course to Old Windsor Lock.

This year Elmbridge Canoe Club from Weybridge was awarded the Has ler Trophy. For bio security measures British Canoeing provided a Check Clean Dry facility for kayaks leaving the water and also arranged litter picks for a minimal impact on the area.

Abbey River 30 years on Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the rally organised in 1993 by Tony Davis of IWA Guildford and Reading Branch to celebrate the NRAs installation of the Abbey Chase boat rollers that had officially opened up the side stream to through passage by light craft.

30 years later the waterway that has a public right of navigation is obstructed by an illegal dam first reported to the EA in 2018 and several times since. In this period the stream has been further obstructed by fallen trees and dense weed growth. The Thames Conservancy Act 1932 empowers the navigation authority to take enforcement action to have the illegal structure removed and other obstructive vegetation and trees to be removed by the landowner. The side stream is no longer a through channel between Penton Hook and Chertsey Weir pool and needs to be restored for the passage of small craft.

Unfortunately a 30th anniversary event in 2023 is not possible. An IWA member has remarked “were this possible it would have been a fitting tribute to Tony as well as being beneficial in exercising the public right of navigation ” .

Floating Pennywort Removal

The EA, British Canoeing, and Angling Trust with their members arranged more events in September and October clearing this non-native species with conservation groups and local residents on the River Wey and River Mole.

Work on the River Wey has been between Papercourt Lock and Pyrford Lock. A recent development in a channel off the navigation is the site of a pilot scheme where a weevil has been introduced to combat floating pennywort. On the River Mole a section of the river by Island Barn Reservoir is being tackled.

Weather conditions over recent months has seen the rapid growth of the aquatic plant and more events are proposed for 2023.

On the River Thames sightings of infant floating pennywort rafts have only become obvious this year between Hampton Court and Weybridge and reported to the EA.

Kevin East, Volunteer Waterways & Environment Project Officer

Photo Courtesy: Elmbridge Canoe Club website

Towpath Walks Group

The Start time for all Walks is 2.30pm. Normal charge: £15. Concessionary and Student rate: £10. Children aged 16 and over, accompanied by parents: £10. Children aged 8 15, accompanied by parents: £5. (Children under 8, accompanied by parents, go for free).

Prior booking is mandatory: Please contact London Walks: 020 7624 3978. Or email them at: london@walks.com. It is Very Important to watch the IWA website - www.waterways.org.uk - or the London Walks website www.walks.com - to see if any late changes to the walk have had to be made. Towpath Walks Group are looking for volunteers to guide small parties of walkers on short walks along the towpath of the Regent’s Canal (and elsewhere). This introduces newcomers to the pleasant world of waterways which most outsiders don’t realise is here! It is also a good way of recruiting new members to IWA. No experience? No problem, we’ll brief you .

Sun 4th Dec, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue

Sun 18th Dec, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square St. Pancras. Meet King’s Cross by taxi queue 2023

Sun 1st Jan, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Little Venice Camden. Meet Warwick Avenue

Sun 15th Jan, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square Camden. Meet King’s Cross by taxi queue

Sun 5th Feb, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Mile End – Limehouse. Meet Mile End.

Sun 19th Feb, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Islington – Hoxton. Meet Angel

Sun 5th Mar Nov, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross - Granary Square Camden. Meet King’s Cross by taxi queue

Sun 19th Mar, 2.30pm: Royal Victoria Dock East India Dock. Meet Royal Victoria (DLR) (Emirates Air Line/Seagull Lane Exit

Sun 2nd Apr, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: Kings Cross – Hitchcock’s Hackney. Meet Kings Cross by taxi queue

Sun 16th Apr, 2.30pm: Limehouse: Thames - Docklands. Meet Westferry (DLR by Cycle Hire Point)

Sun 23rd Apr, 2.30pm: Regent’s Canal: R. Tyburn Little Venice. Meet Baker St (Baker St north/Lords exit)

Kent & East Sussex Branch

Interim IWAKES Chairman’s

Piece

As I write this Autumn is heading towards us although the last few weeks have been unseasonably warm. I hope members and friends have been able to make the best of the declining sunshine. As warmer weather may be a mixed blessing in view of the longer term climate implications I would like to issue another reminder of our meeting in January which is a presentation on sustainable boating by Bowman Bradley. I do hope we will enjoy a good attendance at Strood as this is a subject that concerns us all. For the benefit of folk who are more distant it is planned that attendance will be possible by Zoom but do please join us in person if you can.

Your committee are busy preparing a programme of events for later in 2023 . At the risk of sounding repetitive I would like to echo the plea, for new members for our very friendly committee, that you saw in the Spring issue of Cargoes.

Your Branch needs you!

Peter Wilkinson

Thames & Medway Canal Association

We have finally moved out of our headquarters at the old Sea School as the site is to be sold. Being homeless is a real blow to our efforts. Although we have no legal status, we felt somewhat aggrieved that the site was originally given to the Sea School charity but is now assumedly being sold commercially with our charity being ousted with no assistance. As we could not find an alternative site a local business has kindly offered space to store our boats at Higham. Tools and equipment are thinned down substantially and now stored in a container at the “Ship and Lobster” car park. The small 4wd Jimny has again been pressed into service taking trailer loads of equipment for storage as well as removing loads of rubbish. It was not possible to put a boat in the canal for rubbish clearing as the long dry spell made the water level extremely low along the Nuralite stretch. A TMCA member was keen to set up a fishing club for the Gravesend end of the canal. To this end a representative from the Environment Agency was contacted and water samples taken at various points from Mark Lane to the Swing Bridge. Unfortunately, the saline levels were higher and the oxygen levels lower than would be suitable to sustain viable fish stocks . Having said that, a few large Koi carp have been seen lazing in the shallows probably discarded from someone’s fish pond.

Sue Schwieso – Richard Bird Medal

Sue Schwieso and her husband, Les, have travelled throughout the connected waterway system on their narrowboat. They live in Medway and Sue joined the IWA Kent & East Sussex (IWAKES) Branch Committee at the 23rd February 2005 AGM. The post of Social Secretary was vacant and Sue immediately offered to take the position. She thenceforth organised typically one IWAKES social event every two months from September to May. Alternate month's events were arranged by other waterway groups (mainly Thames & Medway Canal Association and Sussex Ouse Restoration Trust) to provide one event a month from autumn to spring, with free entry to members of all waterway groups and to the public at large. Events were mostly funded by raffles to be financially neutral.

At the request of the IWAKES Branch Committee, Sue organised a variety of venues, located throughout the wide branch area. Care had to be taken to publicise maps and directions to ensure new arrivals knew where they were going due to illdefined postcode areas and hidden side-entries for some meeting rooms. This entailed Sue making many contacts with voluntary hall-managers, including making payments and deposits and picking-up keys. Sue also contacted speakers, (usually nominated following discussion by the Branch Committee) and she and Les would meet them at stations or arrange accommodation for them. Sue arranged several group visits, including to the Royal Gunpowder Works, the Cross Ness Steam Pumping Station and a meal and boat trip up the River Rother to Bodiam. She participated in the 2013 IWA National Trailboat Rally held at Bodiam.

In addition to arranging meetings for IWAKES, Sue is an active member of the Thames and Medway Canal Association (where Les is work-party organiser). Sue had a variety of health problems recently and, after organising over fifty events for IWAKES, she decided to retire at the IWAKES AG M on 24th February 2022. She is already much missed but we are grateful for all she has done. In recognition of her work for the Branch Sue was awarded a Richard Bird Medal at the IWA National Annual General Meeting, held in Lichfield on 24th September. Richard Bird medals are awarded to members whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period.

River Medway news from Mike Marsh

The Medway River Festival took place on July 30th after a two year break due to Covid. It was a great success with 107 boats participating in what was described by the Festival's chairman, David Naghi, as "the most magnificent festival ever in its 40-year history".

Guests were welcomed with entertainment both on and off the River Medway.

The Environment Agency was in attendance as well as Border Force officers.

Visitors were entertained with live music and the everpopular raft race with plenty of innovative craft taking to water.

IWA volunteers handedout membership forms.

The evening was rounded off with a firework display.

Environment Agency News in brief….

• Allington Lock and Sluice - All work is finished apart from repair to No 3-sluice winding gear which is under way and for completion soon.

• Repair and strengthening work on Hampstead Sluice for 2022/23 is on hold due to lack of funding.

• Notices to Mariners were issued by the EA in the summer con cerning blue algae and drought restrictions. These have all now been lifted following better water level flows and 2 weeks of clear sample tests which found no visible signs of the toxic blue algae.

• A large fallen tree at Lucifers Bridge in Tonbridge is causing restrictions for small craft navigation.

• Reactive work on fallen trees continues throughout the year- please report anything you see impeding navigation to the EA at Allington Lock.

Medway Valley Country Partnership

Within the first week of monitoring the “Eel (Elver) Project” this year, there had been a haul of twenty elvers (see picture) and things looked quite promising. Especially as last year's average number of elvers per catch was up over five the highest it had been since 2015. Elvers feed off the limbs of the Japanese Mitten Crab, whose numbers have increased this year.

Giant Hogweed was much less treated this year with only 29 plants found.

You can volunteer, take part in events, experience days and countryside walks. To find out more see…. https://medwayvalley.org/what-we-do/

Medway River Users Association (MRUA)

MRUA was formed in 1968 after the disastrous floods . It is a lobbying and supportive organisation that meets regularly with the EA to discuss on-going river maintenance projects, navigational issues and to represent the many organisations that use the river. These are made up of commercial and marina operators, boat clubs, canoe and rowing clubs as well as the new SUP (stand up paddleboarding) clubs. Other groups represented are volunteer boat operators, environmental groups (e.g. MVCP) and enforcement organisations. The IWA is represented by myself at the bi-monthly MRUA meetings at the EA offices Allington Lock under the chairmanship of Mark Smurthwaite. Mark also represents the River Medway on the National Waterways Forum. Jason Adams, EA’s River Medway Operations Manager, is always on hand to give detailed updates on all that is happening on the river. https://www.mrua.co.uk/index.html

Kentish River Stour

news from Malcolm Hasler

A very dry summer resulting in low water levels, followed by periods of heavy rain , North Sea surges and extremely high tides. All a challenge to us hardened boaters and leisure users on the river .

My wife and I attended the “Laying up Supper” (reinstate d after several years) of the Grove Ferry Boat Club held at the Dog and Duck at Plucks Gutter. A very pleasant time was had by all who attended, and the catering was excellent and plentiful.

On general matters, a focus must be placed on looking at the use of the river by a variety of types of leisure users, and how they can be educated to appreciate each other’s different expectations of joint use, accepting that they all have equal rights of “navigation” and passage.

From Pegwell Bay to Fordwich Part 2 Sandwich Toll Bridge to Plucks Gutter.

The bridge at Sandwich is no longer a Toll Bridge apart from in name. However, for boats with insufficient headroom, making due allowance for the tide, a request must be made to have the bridge swung, giving a min imum of 1 to 2 hours’ notice, and then laying off until the traffic is stopped and permission to pass given. Contact details can be found on the Sandwich Port and Haven Authority website.

Leaving the Toll Bridge behind you, you pass between the Highway Marine Boat Yard to your right, with various moorings to left and right as you head upstream out of Sandwich. Tidal currents can be extreme and are worth checking with the Harbour Master. Passing between Live-aboard and House Boats (appearing in ever increasing numbers) you head towards Richborough, Gazen Salts to your left, cruising under the Sandwich By-pass bridge. The navigable passage can be narrow through here as you head for Richborough, so take care.

The ruins of Richborough Castle (English Heritage) appear soon on your left and are worth a visit (chargeable). The river then winds between willow trees on both banks before widening out passing the World War II prisoner of war concrete prison buildings on the left and Richborough Waste Disposal Site on your right. Shortly after you will see the warning signs for the Cut at Stonar (Environment Agency Flood Control Sluice) which must be avoided if the red flag or lights are showing. Having safely traversed the Cut, you pass the cooling water outlets of the former Richborough Power Station on your right, closing in to cruise close to the old experimental wind turbine before you reach the Railway Bridge.

Once under the bridge, the river turns to the right and opens out and becomes a much wider and rural feature as it meanders between pastural agricultural land following the old Saxon Shoreway footpaths as you head upstream

towards Canterbury. To me, this is the best stretch of the river this side of Canterbury.

After a few miles of pleasant cruising an approach is made towards Red House, an area of land that was designed and planted by the late Roy and Irene Newing of “The Boat House”. Here can be found wooden pontoon moorings (pictured) for members of the Grove Ferry Boat Club along with

several single floating pontoon moorings for berth holders from “The Boat House”. The large expanse of land at Red House allows for privacy, BBQs, overnight stops, pleasant walks, and the viewing of extensive wildlife. To mention just a few, Kingfishers, Grey Herons, Swans, Moorhens, Marsh Harriers, Peregrine Falcons, Cormorants, and if you are there at dawn or dusk you may just catch a glimpse of the recently introduced beaver population.

The final leg of this second part of my journey takes me from Red House up to Plucks Gutter where the Dog and Duck Public House can be found and is well worth a visit. Here is the second road bridge after leaving Sandwich, giving pedestrian and vehicular access to the river. Out of here operates “Captain Colin’s River Bus”, affording river and seal spotting trips. There are many private moorings here (pictured), along with the Boat House for the local Rowing Club and the recently advertised SUP and canoe launching, hire and training.

River Adur news from Brendan Whelan

The developers of the Free Wharf site, Southern Housing Group, claim to be short of funds for the building of a large complex of flats on the riverbank. They have therefore requested both changes to and relaxation of the current planning permission for the development. The following proposed amendments would impact users of the River Adur …

• They want to increase the number of flats to almost 600 and reduce the number of parking bays.

• They want a previously agreed viewing platform, providing access for boat owners, to be removed with no alternative public access proposed.

• They want to reduce the agreed number of mooring places.

• They want to reduce the width of the public walkway.

They propose numerous other changes which are outside the IWA's remit. The IWAKES Branch has submitted a formal objection to Adur District Council. Its basis is that financial viability of a project is not a planning issue and under the terms of the Shoreham Harbour Joint Area Action Plan any riverside development must provide provision for improving the public access to the River Adur. Shoreham Slipways Group has registered its concern and is encouraging individuals to register objections.

Royal Military Canal news from Peter Wilkinson

The Royal Military Canal (RMC) was constructed between 1804 and 1809 as a defensive structure against Napoleonic invasion. Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) own the eastern section, a 7 km stretch between Seabrook Outfall and West Hythe Dam. The canal continues for a further 38 km (23 miles), to Cliff End near Hastings. The canal corridor opens up a window to nature previously inaccessible to many, resulting in a greater understanding of the rich diversity of th e canal. F&HDC have produced a management plan for their stretch of the canal. This stretch has a footpath throughout on both sides of the canal . The plan is presented in a very readable format and is available to download from their website ….

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/media/3521/Royal-Military-Canal Management-Plan-2021-25/pdf/Royal_Military_Canal_Management_Plan_20212025.pdf?m=63772139014263

Future IWAKES and Other Events

Thursday 26th January 2023: 7.30 for 8.00pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood. ME2 2AH: “Sustainable Boating on the Inland waterways” by Bowman Bradley, Chair of the Inland Waterways Association Sustainable Boating Group : Bowman will talk about the work of the group, their vision of how inland waterways boating might be made sustainable in the future, how that vision has developed over the last two years and the intended work of the group going forward. Bowman will be interested in the views of members as to how they might contribute towards the vision and any suggestions they might have as to what the group might look at in the future.

Bowman is a retired mechanical engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He has been a ‘canaller’ since the mid 1970’s and a narrowboat owner since 2005. Other members of the Sustainable Boating Group own a variety of canal craft ranging from historic narrowboats through “conventional” diesel powered leisure craft to a state-of-the-art electric narrowboat.

This will be a “hybrid” meeting. You may attend either…

• in person at Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood. ME2 2AH

• or else over the internet… Click on the following “Zoom Link” (or paste the link in your browser) to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvcO6rpjsjGtOKhKZcW2v1OwfFMlc4XCKA

Tuesday 21st February 2023: 7.45 for 8.00pm: St Nicholas’ Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent. ME16 ODE : “IWAKES Annual General Meeting” followed by a talk… “IWA moving Forward” by Les Etheridge, IWA National Chairman.

Tuesday 19th September 2023: 7.30 for 8pm: Strood Yacht Club, Knight Road, Strood. ME2 2AH: “Shieldhall” by Graham Mackenzie, describing this 1954-build sludge tanker.

Tea and coffee are available at all IWAKES “physical” evening meetings. Entry is free with a raffle to cover costs. All IWAKES events are open to non-members and you are encouraged to bring friends to “physical” meetings or to tell them about “virtual” meetings. Similarly, if you know a local club or society might be interested, please tell them.

Could you organise future meetings? Please call Peter Wilkinson if you could.

Oxfordshire Branch

Branch Chairman

The Oxfordshire branch successfully manned a stand at the Oxford Canal Festival on the 17th September. The festival has almost a neighbourhood fete feel to it held on a small recreation field beside the canal. There were a dozen or so other stalls including a large CRT stand, there were lots of bands and food stands and a wide range of kids’ activities and a dog show. We engaged with lots of visitors to the festival, many of whom seemed to regard the canal as a towpath to walk and cycle from their area of North Oxford into the centre of the city, without a great appreciation of the wider purpose and benefits of a canal. Two weeks later we put the stand up again and manned it at the Banbury Canal Festival. That was a much bigger undertaking 2 long days, huge numbers of visitors and the IWA stand was one of a large number of stands. We spoke to lots of visitors trying to get over the campaign message of what the IWA stands for, what it is trying to achieve and the benefits of being a member. A huge personal thank you to the 6 stalwart volunteers who helped to man the stand over the 3 days of these 2 festivals.

Tooley’s Boatyard Trust

After a break of 4 years, caused by first extensive redevelopment and then Covid lockdowns, Banbury Canal Day returned - but this time as a 2-day Canal Festival. The sun shone (well, most of the time), the Town Council had done an excellent job of organising everything, the crowds duly turned up, and everyone had an enjoyable time. With live music and dance, fairground attractions, a covered market, a wide variety of fast food, historic boats, trader boats, even a climbing wall and trampolining for the energetic, there was something for every taste.

Photos Courtesy: John Jones and Oxford Canal Heritage Ian Lindsay

Here at Tooley's we were showcasing our plans for the future, and asking people for their views - in particular on our historic wooden boat Hardy (pictured).

We were also running our popular 45-minute boat trips, some of which featured children's author Dan Clacher reading from his Muddy Waters books. And in the dry dock the Three Idle Women (https://www.threeidlewomen.com/ ) entranced us with their musicality.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, helping to emphasise the evergrowing importance of the canal to the town of Banbury and its citizens.

For more information on our boat trips go to: https://tooleysboatyardtrust.org.uk/boat-trips/ . John Madden, Chair Tooley’s Boatyard Trust

Wilts & Berks Canal

My last article introduced our new CEO, Simon Caraffi. Unfortunately, once he started in post he decided to step down, so the search is on again for a new CEO. We greatly regret Simon’s decision but are grateful for the feedback he gave us in the process. However, our Visitor Centre in Swindon now has a new manager, Julie Johnson-Little (on the right), who has invigorated our team of volunteers there.

We have recently acquired Leases on two further pieces of land Naish Hill near Lacock, and Uffington Gorse ne ar Shrivenham. In order to look after these significant pieces of land we have acquired some new machinery, to keep them in order and save volunteer hours for other tasks, which are many!

Our concerns about the viability of a short stretch of existing canal in Wichelstowe, Swindon were mentioned last time, with a photo of yours truly taking part in a depth survey. The result is shown here,

illustrating the importance of being aware of what’s beneath the surface and what is needed to enable boats to pass each other!

Barry Comms Secretary , Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Future Events

Boat trips on Dragonfly

We are planning to run Santa trips again this year, based on the “Dragonfly Experiences” we have been doing so far.

Trips will run every weekend from Saturday November 26th until Sunday Dec 18th and then every day from Monday Dec 19th up to and including Friday Dec 23rd. Trip times will be 10.15, 11.00, 11.45, 12.30, 1.30, 2.15 and 3pm.

Fares will be unchanged at £12 for children, £6 for adults. Children aged 1 and under go free. For those not familiar with what we do, Dragonfly goes to find Santa; he gets on the boat and gives each child their own personal present; Santa knows who's been before, too!

Bookings open - to book, please email 2santa@wbct.org.uk or ring 07401 220076. Payment must be made at least two weeks before your trip to confirm the booking.

PLEASE BOOK USING EITHER OF THE ABOVE, NOT VIA THE WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE.

Chris

London Region South London Branch

We are delighted that now the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted we can return to having in-person social meetings.

A large selection of second hand and pre-loved books are available to buy , and refreshments and homemade cake are available to purchase during the break.

Future Events

Wed 14th Dec: Social Meeting Our annual Christmas Celebration where Members can share recent boating stories and Slides, with Mulled Punch & Festive Snacks.

South London Branch Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 for 8:00 pm in The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP. Admission to talks and presentations is free to members and non-members, but we do ask that you donate a minimum of £2 per person to offset room hire charges and speakers’ expenses, thank you.

For more information please contact the Social Secretary: Shea Richardson. Tel: 07803 904803 or email: shea.richardson@waterways.org.uk

IWA CANALWAY CAVALCADE

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of IWA Canalway Cavalcade, at its iconic home of Little Venice, during the Early May Bank Holiday 29th April 1st May 2023.

This legendary event has been bringing communities together since 1983, and will once again be transforming the heart of the London canal network, with over a hundred colourfully dressed boats, live music, refreshments, craft stalls and plenty of family fun for all to enjoy.

This vibrant festival is one of the biggest and brightest events in the nation’s waterways calendar and a firm favourite with visitors.

There is a packed programme of events both on and off the water including a pageant of decorated boats on Saturday; boat handling competitions and an evening

AT LITTLE VENICE, EARLY MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 2023 FREE ADMISSION BOATS / FOOD / DRINK / MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT / CRAFTS / FAMILY FUN

procession of illuminated boats on Sunday. Younger visitors can try their hand at kayaking, visit a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, enjoy crafts, games and fairground rides.

Opening Times:

Saturday 29th April 10 6pm

Sunday 30th April 10 6pm and 9pm 10.30pm Monday 1st May 10 5pm

For more details of what’s on, timings, how to get there, how to book in your boat, plus a full listing of food & drink, craft and other stalls, please visit the website: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/iwacanalway-cavalcade-2023

The event is one of the most successful and best attended inland waterways events in the country, is organised, set up and run entirely by IWA volunteers and we need more talented people to strengthen the team and fill some much needed roles. So, if you have a few hours a month to spare and can make yourself available during the Early May Bank Holiday, we would love you to get in touch whatever your speciality we have something for you to do!

All you need is enthusiasm and a positive, eager “can do” attitude for the following:

• Secretary

• Assistant Secretary

• Publicity & Marketing Assistant

• Social Media Manager

• Commercial Assistant

• Site Services Assistant

All roles above require attendance at around eight committee meetings per year (mostly on video conferencing) and the need for general availability during the week leading up to the festival to take on duties attributed to the role. You will of course also be required to attend the event. For more information, or to register your interest, please contact: Tom Claydon, Festival Chairman - Email: tom.claydon@waterways.org.uk

The Inland Waterways Association Chesham Staff

Jonathan Swift Interim CEO

Tracy Higgin Administration Manager extn 601

Rachel Bryant Membership extn 600

Photo Courtesy: Joe Dixey Christine Smith, Publicity Manager, IWA Canalway Cavalcade

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```The Inland Waterways Association IWA South East Region

Inland Waterways

Association IWA South East Region

Chair: Verna Smith

63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com

IWA Guildford & Reading Branch Committee

Acting Chair: Verna Smith 63 Avondale, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5NE Tel: 07986 244479 Email: verna.smith63@gmail.com

Secretary: Chris Jones Tel: 07711 784374 Email: chris.jones@waterways.org.uk

Acting Treasurer & R. Wey: Mike Lewis Basingstoke & R. Thames: Vacant

K & A, WACT & Planning: Verna Smith

IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee

K & A, WACT & Planning: Verna Smith IWA

IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee

Kent & East Sussex Branch Committee

Interim Chair: Peter Wilkinson Tel: 01303 890658 Email: peter.glen4@gmail.com

Secretary, Sussex Ouse & Cargoes Contact: Roy Sutton 79, St Leonards Park, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1EG Tel: 01342 317569 Email: RoyDavidSutton@Yahoo.co.uk

Treasurer & Royal Military Canal: Peter Wilkinson Membership Secretary: Les Etheridge Social Secretary: Vacant Waterways Representatives

R. Medway: Michael Marsh

R. Adur: Brendan Whelan R. Stour: Malcolm Hasler Northfleet Harbour: Vacant Thames & Medway: Bernard Snell R. Rother: Malcolm Jones Dartford & Crayford: Brian Franklin Faversham & Swale: Vacant

R. Medway: Michael Marsh

IWA Oxfordshire Branch Committee

Chair: Ian Lindsay Tel: 07889 070623 Email: ian.lindsay@waterways.org.uk

Secretary: Robin Williams Tel: 07490 454260 Email: robin.williams@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer: Roger Badger Cargoes co-ordinator & Jericho: tba Webmaster: Robin Williams

Treasurer: Roger Badger Cargoes co ordinator & Jericho: tba Webmaster: Robin Williams

Cargoes co ordinator & Jericho: tba Webmaster: Robin Williams

Treasurer: Roger Badger

Non Committee Responsibilities

Thames RUG 3: Sue & David Cooper

Next issue: Spring Copy date: 27th January 2023

Thames RUG 3: Sue & David Cooper Next issue: Spring Copy date: 27th January 2023

Opinions expressed in Cargoes are not necessarily those of IWA. IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1WA. Tel: 01494 783453 Company No: 612245. Charity No: 212342 www.waterways.org.uk Cargoes Editor: Chris Jones chris.jones@waterways.org.uk