News
navvies Used stamps help the Waterways
tion, was (like many such things) switched to an online event this year - and instead of the breakout sessions taking place on the day, they were run as a series of online webinars organised at weekly intervals through the autumn. They are all available as videos to view via the IWA website waterways.org.uk, and cover these topics:
WRG folklore has it that in the distant past we bought a Smalley excavator with Green Shield stamps (remember them?) Over the years the number of things which could be exchanged for goods or money has drastically reduced – no more cigarette coupons or Tiger Tokens – but there is still value in used postage stamps. Writing a funding application led by We collect stamps of all types, from the Liz Shaw, a member of the Heritage Fund normal ones on everyday post to collections regional engagement team which are no longer wanted, and sell them in Biodiversity Net Gains covering the ‘wholesale’ quantities to stamp dealers. The principles, a mitigation hierarchy, and dealers sell them by the kilo to collectors, who construction based case studies. sort through to find the particular stamps they Restoration to operation: key conare looking for. The money we receive supsiderations when your restoration is proports canal restoration. Likewise we collect gressing well and you’re thinking of connectused inkjet & toner cartridges, mobile ing it up to the national waterway network. phones and aluminium cans and foil for sale. Creating connections engaging The stamps and other goods go to young people can be a challenge but doing it restoration projects who can turn them into well can make a real impact for your project money, depending on who has an outlet at Engaging your local council: Camthe time. Recent recipients have been the paigning and building relationships with your Montgomery, Wilts & Berks and Buckingham local MP and authorities restorations as well as our own WRG BITM. Dealing with utilities: Ascertaining Please cut the stamps from your Christthe location of utilities on your project mas cards and other post and send them to through service searches and CAT scans WRG Stamp Bank, 33 Hambleton Grove, Emerson Valley, Limited single cask WRG Whisky coming soon... Milton Keynes MK4 2JS. If you’re visiting the Buckingham In 2010 whilst visiting Bruichladdich Distillery on the Scottish restoration next year, assuming island of Islay, a WRG volunteer we are again able to have digs, struck upon an idea and bought please bring along your donaWRG a cask of whisky. Their main tion for me to collect. In the aim and inspiration (in true WRG famous words used before, all style) was to cause one big headache donations gratefully received, (for many different reasons) 10 years however large! later for WRG’s 50th anniversary. So Season’s greetings to here we are 10 years on, lots of locks all; with hopes for resumed and bridges have been restored, beer restoration activities in 2021. has been drunk and we are now onto Steve Morley dealing with the headache and that’s before the whisky even arrives! The whisky is about to be Restoration Webinars bottled and pre-sales will be opening in January… there are only The annual waterway restoragoing to be 240 bottles so once they are gone they are gone. It’s tion conference, held jointly also going to be a fantastic chance to raise funds for WRG. by the Canal & River Trust If you’d like to registered to receive notification of preand WRG’s parent body the sales please email jenny.morris@waterways.org.uk Inland Waterways Associa-
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