Mark Lancaster

Canal Trust gets 10th Green Flag

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Mark Lancaster

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July 16, 2026

Hollingwood Hub has been awarded the coveted Green Flag Award and is officially recognised as one of the country’s best green spaces. The Chesterfield Canal Trust, which leases the site from Derbyshire County Council, is celebrating today after receiving the award for the tenth year running. Jim Bower, who leads the Trust’s Gardening Team at…
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Canal charity appealing for volunteers at one of the nation’s most charming canal-side villages

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Mark Lancaster

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July 13, 2026

The Canal & River Trust is inviting people to discover new skills, meet like-minded people and play a part in caring for a 200-year-old canal, as the charity launches a range of exciting volunteering opportunities at the picture-postcard village of Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire. The charity, which cares for 2,000 miles of canals and rivers…
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Two Great Reasons Combine to Get People Fishing This Summer

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Mark Lancaster

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July 10, 2026

wo major trade-backed initiatives – Take a Friend Fishing and National Fishing Month – combine this summer to provide even more compelling reasons to get out on the bank and enjoy some fishing. Throughout the summer holidays, Take A Friend Fishing (organised by the Angling Trades Association) provides the perfect excuse to grab a mate…
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Campaign Cruise on ‘The Danny’ Celebrates IWA’s 80th Anniversary and Champions The River Weaver

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Mark Lancaster

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June 18, 2026

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) marked its 80th anniversary of campaigning for Britain’s waterways with a special cruise aboard the historic SS Daniel Adamson affectionately known as “The Danny”, on Friday 12 June. The event celebrated eight decades of IWA’s work to protect, restore and promote the nation’s inland waterways, while also shining a spotlight on…
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Biggest boat clean-up in a decade underway on Upper Thames

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Mark Lancaster

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June 13, 2026

‘Sunk, wrecked, abandoned – they’ve got to go,’ says Environment Agency as Thames boat crackdown continues “Sunk, wrecked, abandoned – they’ve got to go.” That is the message from the Environment Agency’s deputy director of navigation as 53 boats have already been removed in an ongoing crackdown on the non-tidal Thames. The agency is on…
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The canal campaigners who refused to let the Monty run dry

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Mark Lancaster

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June 12, 2026

Sixty years after a last-ditch meeting in a Newport hotel, the Shropshire Union Canal Society is still fighting for the waterways of the historic Shropshire Union network – turning threatened closures into volunteer-powered restorations and keeping up the pressure to bridge the final ‘Shropshire Gap.’ THE Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) began life on Wednesday,…
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Wooden wonders and maritime magic

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Mark Lancaster

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May 14, 2026

A LIVELY celebration of Scotland’s maritime heritage is set to return to Portsoy in June, with organisers issuing an open invitation to traditional boats and their crews. The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, which will take place on June 13-14, is expected to draw more than 13,000 visitors to the town’s historic 17th‑century harbour, creating one…
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Shropshire Union Canal Society May 2026 work party report

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Mark Lancaster

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May 13, 2026

Phase 2 is taking shape. Over 5 days a great deal was achieved. “The normal work party pattern is three days over Friday to Sunday, but on this occasion, both Wednesday and Thursday were included to provide two days of preparation”. Said restoration project manager, Tom Fulda, “The primary activities were to finish profiling a sufficient…
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Water firm fined over fish release

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Mark Lancaster

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April 22, 2026

Following an Environment Agency investigation, United Utilities pleaded guilty to introducing thousands of fish into Bessy Brook, near Bolton, without a permit. United Utilities Water Limited pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to obtain a permit to release fish into inland waters. Consequently, it has been fined £60,000, plus a £2000 victim surcharge and…
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Dive into story of the Nottingham Canal

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Mark Lancaster

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April 13, 2026

The Nottingham Canal is the subject of an illustrated talk by Bernard Chell, taking place on Friday, April 17 from 7.30pm at Darwin Hall, Heathcot Place, Lichfield, WS13 6RQ. It has been organised by the IWA Lichfield Branch, and non-members are welcome to attend.
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Ellesmere Canal Warehouse restoration work scheduled

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Mark Lancaster

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April 11, 2026

The Grade II-listed Canal Warehouse on the Ellesmere Arm of the Llangollen Canal was identified as being at risk in the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) Risk Index. In March 2023, listed building consent was granted for its conversion to café and restaurant use, subject to the condition that works commence within three years. In the…
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Training course opens steam safety skills to volunteers

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Mark Lancaster

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April 10, 2026

A NEW hands-on course aimed at improving steam safety among heritage volunteers is set to run this spring, offering practical instruction for anyone working with stationary engines, steam boilers or road steam machinery. The Basic Steam Safety for Volunteers programme, delivered by the Boiler & Engineering Skills Training Trust (BESTT) in partnership with Westonzoyland Pumping…
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Characters of the Cut: Midge, Alan & Welly the dog

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Mark Lancaster

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April 8, 2026

SEEKING solace away from the busyness of this always-on world is what initially brought Midge, husband Alan and their dog, Welly, to the canals where they now enjoy frequent spells aboard their 38in narrowboat, Jinty. Alice Elgie reports… Midge tells me: “In 2015, when our daughter was about nine years old, we bought a boat…
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Towpath Talk 2026 Events Guide – Submit Your Event

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Mark Lancaster

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February 17, 2026

Planning an event for 2026? Towpath Talk is compiling its 2026 Events Guide and inviting organisers to submit details for inclusion. Whether you’re hosting a festival, rally, open day, exhibition or waterways-related occasion, we want to hear about it. Please send:• Event name• Date(s)• Location• Brief description (50–100 words)• Website or contact details for more…
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Mark Lancaster

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