Shroppie Fly Paper - December 2025
The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch
Hello, and welcome to Shroppie Fly Paper
It’s our end-of-year round-up issue, in which we visit IWA’s newly-launched Risk Index, bring greater clarity to Trevor Basin and Nantwich Embankment, and take a walk on the Monty’s wild side from Garthmyl to Dolfor. There’s lots more as well, so we hope you enjoy the read. All of us on the Branch Steering Team would like to wish you the best possible Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support.
IWA Introduces The Risk Index
Early November saw a major milestone in IWA’s campaign to champion Britain’s canals and rivers to the larger world. The Guardian newspaper gave exclusive coverage to the launch of The Risk Index, IWA’s new nationwide map revealing that no part of the 5,000-mile navigable network will escape increased winter rainfall and summer drought. This year’s closures and breaches are already showing how vulnerable our waterways are after decades of underfunding.
[Bridgewater Canal Breach. Credit @TaylorsAboardANarrowboat]
Our research reveals that 75% of Britain’s waterways face financial insecurity, while 99% are likely to experience heavier winter rainfall and more frequent droughts in the coming decades. These factors threaten not just navigation and heritage, but also wildlife, tourism, and the communities and businesses that rely on these blue-green corridors.
Yet, behind the headlines, there’s a positive story to tell. The Risk Index gives waterways campaigners, and government, a clear picture of where the problems lie. It is the first step toward a national plan to safeguard the waterways that cool our cities, connect wildlife, and simply bring happiness to users.
In the weeks and months ahead, IWA will be trying to meet policymakers and partners so that the Risk Index can be used as a tool to draw attention not only to the risks that waterways face, but also to the opportunities.
In our local area, four of the most important Heritage At Risk structures are the Vyrnwy Aqueduct, the Ellesmere Yard, the Ellesmere Warehouse at the end of the Town Arm, and the Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct on the Shrewsbury Canal. It’s encouraging to note that both Vyrnwy Aqueduct and the Yard are the subjects of active National Lottery Heritage Fund bids, but we are still very worried about the prospects for the Warehouse. We understand that our friends in the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust are negotiating with Historic England and the local authority to get permission for SNCT volunteers to work on this Scheduled Monument to prevent further deterioration, and we will offer whatever support we can.
As the only national charity campaigning for all of Britain’s canals and navigable rivers, IWA continues to lead the call for action. Our volunteers and members have protected, restored and revitalised the network for almost 80 years. Work that now matters again.
See https://waterways.org.uk/campaign-map and https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/01/britain-canals -rivers-funding-climatecampaign
Making Progress
The August and September issues of Shroppie Fly Paper highlighted some issues that we’ve been addressing with CRT. Here’s how we’ve been getting on…
Our campaign to reinstate viable visitor moorings at Trevor Basin for boaters wishing to pause to take in the hub of the World Heritage Site seems to be moving towards a resolution, which hopefully will be in place before peak boating resumes in the spring. Thank you to members and other supporters who wrote to us and to CRT to support our campaign.
Canal & River Trust (CRT) has clarified that the relocated Anglo Welsh hire base will occupy both arms of the ‘tuning fork’ to the north of the Basin, and it has issued a public notice showing the new or amended areas of land which will be included in its new lease with Anglo Welsh.
Back in October, CRT told us that it was preparing a consultation to move the visitor moorings to the front of the wharf (nearer the aqueduct) and to establish a maximum stay time 48 hours.
At the time of writing this article in early December we have yet to see the consultation in its published form, but the branch broadly welcomes the proposed arrangements, subject to more information regarding the linear length of the new moorings and details of the boaters’ services that will be available.
CRT has recently commented on the timing of the move, saying: ‘We propose to tria l the new shorter stay visitor mooring times next season hopefully to coincide with the moving of the visitor berths to the front of the site.
‘The reason for the delay is due to the pending works to install the new footbridge over the basin and the timing will depend upon the progress made on the project. The bridge works will restrict moorings around the basin temporarily so we need that to be settled first.’
In our September issue we turned our attention to the stop gates at either end of the Nantwich Embankment and said that we would contact CRT for more details of how they would close in the event of a significant water loss at the embankment.
CRT’s North West Region has clarified that the gates do require manual intervention to close. They are not designed to close automatically, and they are generally held in the open position to prevent interference with navigation (whether deliberate or unintentional), and to maintain water feed into the northern section of the canal. The flow from the summit gates, which was confirmed as operating when tested, provides a critical feed, according to CRT, and closing the gates would therefore cut off this water supply, creating issues further downstream.
CRT was also keen to highlight that, alongside both gates, there are stop plank grooves installed to provide an additional level of security. CRT said: ‘Our processes are and have always been that if the safety gates do not close for any reason, stop planks should be installed in the adjacent grooves to isolate the section of canal as required. This provides a reliable backup measure to ensure resilience in managing any unforeseen situation.’
Marina on the Mont Supporting the Monty ’ s Restoration Through Community Engagement
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Hello! I’ m Marina Churm, Community Engagement Coordinator with the Canal & River Trust, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and working initially until July 2026. While engineers, ecologists and others currently gather the necessary data for a subs equent funding bid for the physical restoration work (focused largely on the Vyrnwy Aqueduct), my role focuses on connecting communities with the Monty. I'm keen to ensure that local voices are heard and celebrated throughout the process. If the NLHF bid is successful, then some of the pilot projects we might be trying over the next 8 months would be extended across the 3-years or so of the Aqueduct and related restoration works.
Working three days a week, often on-site, I've joined both the SUCS & TRAMPS work parties, collaborated with local events and met with a range of interested groups to gather stories, feedback, and support for the Monty ’ s revival. I've started to learn Welsh and was delighted to join the Restore The Montgomery Canal -led Shropshire councillors’ visit earlier in November. We'll be welcoming some of the consultants from NLHF to Llanymynech and onto the Aqueduct as well in mid-November to discuss some of our findings so far.
By embedding community engagement into every stage of the restoration, we aim to build lasting connections between people and place. Whether it’ s through heritage walks, oral histories, or creative workshops, my role helps ensure the Monty ’ s restoration is not just about masonry, tie bars and ecological translocations, but also about people, pride, and participation.
Enjoying Canals in Shrewsbury, 20-21 September 2025
Report by Alan Wilding
The weather forecast had not been good but it had seriously under-estimated the biblical scale of the day-long downpours of fierce, stair-rod rain which we endured on the first day of our public exhibition. Thankfully, we were safely inside a permanent building and not out on a towpath or river bank. And, at least, it had been dry-ish when we arrived to unload and set up.
Our Branch stand, dressed for the first time in its striking, new IWA-branded red table covering, helped present our national campaigns and membership recruitment leaflets in a professional way. We also provided visitors with an overview of all the canals within 20 miles of Shrewsbury and we had our fundraising 2026 waterways calendar on sale.
We had invited three other groups - the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, the Shropshire Union Canal Society and the Friends of the Montgomery Canal – and their stands featured their on-going and exciting progress with local canal and associated restoration works and events, including at Wappenshall, Crickheath and Carreghofa and the Montgomery Triathlon.
An early visitor, Marina Churm, who had just been appointed as CRT’s Vyrnwy NLHF Community Engagement officer, was delighted to find such a comprehensive canals showcase giving her some useful background in her new role.
Saturday morning’s intensive rain persisted and the long gaps between the occasional visitor gave our stall holders plenty of time for networking before we resorted to an early lock up.
Sunday dawned sunny and dry and we were so glad we had opted for a second day even though our second day’s visitor numbers turned out to be somewhat lower than at previous events held in the Abbey Station.
We are again grateful to the Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust for use of their premises and our thanks also to everyone who came along to help put on such a wide-ranging exhibition. Let’s hope we managed to introduce a few more people to the many different ways of enjoying our rich heritage of canals around Shrewsbury.
[Photo credit Susan Wilding]
On The Airwaves
An entertaining diversion at our August lock wind at Cholmondeston Lock was an interview with former BBC newsreader Adam Porter for his waterways-themed podcast, The Water Road . Branch team members Mike, Philippa and Alison all gave their views, and you can hear the discussion about the work of IWA and its volunteers here.
You can also find out how the locals pronounce Cholmondeston (spoiler alert – it’s not how it’s spelt). And when you’ve got your tongue around that, other episodes are available, featuring such diverse locations as the Hack Green Secret Bunker, Hurleston Reservoir, Pontcysyllte and the Montgomery Canal.
Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch Calendars by Mail Order and Online
Our remaining calendars are still available online or by mail order, but you need to hurry for Christmas delivery of these super mementos or gifts.
[Calendar cover photo of Chirk Aqueduct by Graham Mitchell]
Our price is just £8 per calendar, plus shipping costs on the following sliding scale per shipment: 1 calendar £3; 2 calendars £4; 3 calendars £6; 4 calendars £7; 5 -8 calendars £9
Simply visit our online shop at https://iwa-shrewsburynorthwales.sumupstore.com or Email shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk with the number of calendars you would like, the address to which they should be posted, and how you’d like to pay (BACS transfer or card payment via SumUp). We will reply with the amount payable, and the branch bank details or a secure SumUp payment link depending on your preferred payment method.
Philippa Takes a Stroll
Throughout the 1990s, I commuted to Newtown along the A483, but at that time hadn’t discovered the world of canals so, despite all those daily trips, I never gained any knowledge of the waterway that the road was so closely following and often, rather discreetly, crossing. In the intervening years, I have become a boater and a converted canal enthusiast and am starting to discover the amazing places on the Monty that are so close to where I had then been living in total ignorance.
Now, keen to gain a fuller picture of the Monty’s course and the locks and locations to which the old hands refer, and having previously cycled from Welshpool to Garthmyl, I decided to continue my education by walking the towpath from Garthmyl towards Newtown. (On the A483, opposite Garthmyl Hall and not far from the Nags Head, there is a useful stretch of lay-by parking).
By implication, you are reading this because you have an interest in the waterways, but as we all know, their benefits are not limited to boaters or to those with a particular interest in canal history and heritage; just being by the water is good for everyone and, in turn, visitors to the waterways bring benefits to the communities surrounding them. So, whether you want to enjoy this part of the Monty as a cyclist or as a pedestrian, you will find that the towpath is in excellent condition and takes you through a beautiful, bucolic area, rich in both built and natural heritage. Even where the main road is right beside the canal, there is an element of tree shelter, and the stretches running close to the oftendramatic waters of the River Seven are a particular delight. Also, for folk who want a break from their exercise or just a less energetic way of appreciating the waterway, there are a good number of benches, however, I cannot testify as to how comfortable they are.
[Monty Mink. Credit Philippa Bursey]
Though even by canal standards, none of this part of the Monty is very deep, the waters themselves vary hugely in that in some areas the central channel appears relatively clear whilst in others there is what appears to be a rather monotonous profusion of plants that clearly make it difficult for the avian inhabitants to move around - I am no botanist so cannot comment on the variety or importance of these plants, but I certainly witnessed swans having to battle their way through them.
Though always lovely and rich in less common plants and creatures, by comparison with the waters I cruise, including the Llangollen Canal, there did seem to be relatively few ducks and swans; I saw no Rallidae (such as coot or moorhen), nor any kingfisher, however, in a stretch close to the river, I was delighted to see a great egret – no longer rare in the UK but more frequently spotted in the south and east.
Despite the shallow water, I didn’t actually observe any fish and the only people I saw with fishing tackle were teenage boys taking a rather greater interest in their mobile phones than angling (another plus – I could always find a signal when referring to my online canal map). Sighting a mink was disappointing; while indicative of food sources, sadly some of those are likely to be endangered.
The built heritage also varies – some locks pass for usable while others are deeply buried in undergrowth. Bridges reflect their usage, with swing bridges that clearly have not had cause to move in many a year still displaying quite modern operating instructions. At Dolfor, where the walls of the crumbling lock hut boast a protective covering, it is good to see that the adjacent bridge is the subject of specialist heritage renovation by Powys County Council, which is repairing the bridge so a public footpath can be diverted over it, with funding coming from the Active Travel Fund. This bridge and the adjacent half mile of derelict canal is owned by Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust.
[Dolfor Lock Bridge under repair, November 2025. Credit Michael Limbrey]
Montgomery Canal restoration, Vyrnwy nature reserve planning application - your support is needed
This message was emailed to the Members who receive Shroppie Fly Paper by email. It is still relevant and there is still time for Members to write in.
The Branch Committee is aware that the Community Council has concerns about the route to be used by lorries taking away the excavated earth which cannot be re-purposed on site. We understand CRT is in discussions with the Community Council.
Members may recall that as the Montgomery Canal in Powys is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and also a Special Area for Conservation, part of the proposed restoration works include the creation of new nature reserves, echoing in some way what has already happened in Shropshire. One of these new reserves is planned to be adjacent (but not connected) to the canal just south of the Vyrnwy Aqueduct on the towpath side.
Canal & River Trust has submitted a detailed planning application to Powys County Council to build this new reserve – a vital part of the next stage of restoration in Powys.
We urge members to write in to support this application. Frequently, planning officials only hear from objectors and the “silent majority” go unheard. So, in this case, we want them to hear from people in favour. In this case, the application will be considered by the Planning Committee (rather than by Planning Officers) and so a show of public support is all the more important.
You can make a submission online in support of this planning application as follows:
1. Click here to go to the "Make a comment" page for the above planning application on the Powys County Council website.
2. Enter your contact details.
3. Specify an appropriate "Commenter Type".
4. Select the “Support” stance.
5. Ignore the “Reasons for Comment” section as this relates to objections.
6. In the “Your Comment” section, put your own reasons for supporting the planning application.
7. Click on "Submit".
Or if you prefer, you can write to Planning Services, Powys County Hall, Spa Road East, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG quoting planning application number of 25/1140/FUL.
Your own reasons for supporting the planning application could be:
• Restoring the canal is a good thing and the building of the nature reserve will help.
• The building of the nature reserve will further the canal’s restoration to the benefit of the local community.
• This will help improve the local economy and add to peoples' well -being.
• This will enhance the built and natural heritage of the canal and its corridor.
• Restoration of the canal is in accordance with the Council’s Local Development Plan (paragraph TD3).
You may see reference at the above website to comments etc needing to be made by a certain date. However, these can be ignored as all submissions will be considered up to the time the Planning Committee meets. However, the sooner, the better is a good maxim!
If you live outside Powys, you can still give your opinion and you could emphasise that this is a matter of more than local interest, in fact, it is of national interest.
Many members responded to previous requests to write in support of the earlier planning applications. We understand the planning officials were impressed by such a display of support – so please write again in connection with the Vyrnwy nature reserve. This is the last of the current round of planning applications in Powys.
Shropshire Council Leaders Visit the Mont Branch chair Mike Haig was among the hosting party
On November 7 the Restore The Montgomery Canal appeal group hosted a team from Shropshire Council on an introductory tour of the Montgomery restoration. Although political control of the council changed hands at the local elections back in May, this was the first diary opportunity for senior councillors to view the work of the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) volunteers during one of their work party weekends.
Led by John Dodwell, chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, representatives from Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust (MWRT), Friends of the Montgomery Canal and IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch met the Shropshire Council team at Canal Central at Maesbury Marsh, an example of the sort of visitor development that restoration can encourage. After boarding the steam launch Ictus for a trip to showcase the recently opened length from Gronwen Bridge to Crickheath Wharf, the current limit of navigation, a highlight, at least for some guests, was the chance to operate the council-owned Crofts Mill Lift Bridge to let Ictus pass through.
[Steam launch Ictus approaches Crofts Mill Lift Bridge. Credit Mike Haig]
Disembarking at Crickheath, the party joined SUCS chair David Carter to walk the length from Crickheath Bridge, past Schoolhouse Bridge to Waen Wen basin, which will be the next possible turning point for boats as the restoration progresses towards the Welsh border at Llanymynech.
An impressively large turnout of volunteers, including some corporate volunteers from Oswestrybased business Aico, were working at multiple locations along the approximately three-quarter mile stretch between Crickheath and Waen Wen, giving the visitors a first-hand view of the current restoration in its various phases - in water, lined and blocked, cleared and profiled, and still being cleared.
Branch chair Mike Haig said: "Shropshire Council, and the old County Council before it, has supported much work on the Montgomery Canal, particularly with the restoration from the national network at Frankton Junction where the locks were restored by WRG. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the new Shropshire team, just as we keep in touch with their counterparts in Powys who are overseeing the UK Government Levelling-Up projects for new bridges, dredging and the new nature reserves to safeguard the legally-protected flora and fauna along the canal."
By car from Schoolhouse Bridge, the party paused first at Pant Bridge to view some of the obstacles awaiting the restoration volunteers, before moving on to Llanymynech Wharf, home of the trip boat George Watson Buck, named after the famous nineteenth century Shropshire Union engineer.
Speaking at the border village's Bradford Arms (still in Shropshire!), council leader Cllr Heather Kidd thanked the organisers and volunteers for the morning's experience, which she said had really helped her and colleagues understand the scope of restoration efforts in Shropshire and how the canal could fit with the council's connectivity, health and wellbeing, and economic priorities.
As well as Cllr Kidd, the council group included Cllr Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities, Cllr Roger Evans, Portfolio Holder for Finance, and Cllr Andy Davis, Chair of People Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Also present was Dr Andy Wigley, Policy and Environment Service Manager (and a member of the council’s Canal Project Board).
Huge thanks are due to Chris Bushnell and Maggie Ellis, from Friends of the Montgomery Canal , for the opportunity to use their boat, Ictus.
[SUCS chair David Carter describes the restoration of Crickheath Tramway Wharf to (from right) Cllrs Alex Wagner, Andy Davies, Roger Evans and Heather Kidd Credit Mike Haig]
Timothy West and Prunella Scales
Michael Limbrey reflects on their contribution to the Montgomery Canal Restoration
IWA has supported the Montgomery Canal restoration for over fifty years. In recent years the branch has worked with SUCS and the Friends of the Montgomery Canal on the unified Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal, which was generously supported by Timothy West and Prunella Scales.
Donations from near and far initially funded the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, at a cost of over £1 million, and now continue to support restoration beyond the current head of navigation at Crickheath.
Tim died last December and more recently we were saddened to hear of Pru’s passing.
In 2008 IWA, SUCS and the Friends, together with the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, jointly organised a Montgomery Canal Festival, which was adopted as that year’s IWA National Campaign Rally. Tim and Pru visited the canal that July and subsequently became Vice-Presidents of MWRT. Though Pru could not return, we met Tim on a number of occasions, both here on the canal and at Braunston’s Historic Narrowboat Rally.
The waterways have now lost two great supporters We thank them for all they did, locally and nationally, to draw attention to the value of our waterways.
[Timothy West and Prunella Scales at Llanymynech, July 2008. Credit Alan Platt]
Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Steering Team
Your Branch Steering Team currently comprises:
Philippa Bursey Secretary philippa.bursey@waterways.org.uk
Mike Haig Chairman michael.haig@waterways.org.uk
Michael Limbrey Hon. President michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk
Graham Russell Treasurer graham.russell@waterways.org.uk
Alison Smith Acting Navigation Officer alison.smith@waterways.org.uk
Phil Tarrant Events Coordinator phil.tarrant@waterways.org.uk
Alan Wilding Online Editor alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
Susan Wilding Member susan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
SITUATIONS VACANT
Could you spare a little time each month to do some desk research on planning applications that might adversely affect our local waterways?
This would not require you to participate on any committee or the Branch Steering Team, although you would be more than welcome if you chose to do so!
Please contact any member of the Branch Steering Team to find out more.
SHROPPIE FLY PAPER BACK ISSUES ONLINE, AND STAYING IN TOUCH
Previous issues of this newsletter, all the way back to 2009, can be found at issuu.com through this link: https://issuu.com/waterwaysassoc/stacks/ff499dbd5f2941bba5e738cf88c600d6
But if that’s too much to type in, try this shortened version instead: https://bit.ly/2Pn5arf
You can keep up to date with the latest news from the branch at https://waterways.org.uk/shrewsburynorthwales or https://www.facebook.com/shrewsburynorthwales
ABOUT, AND DISCLAIMER
Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA is the only independent, national charity campaigning for Britain’s canals and rivers. We are dedicated to supporting and regenerating Britain’s waterways – for leisure, living and business. For further information contact any Steering Team member.
The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.