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  • King’s Speech water reform welcomed — but river protection must not be delayed

    King’s Speech water reform welcomed — but river protection must not be delayed

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    The Rivers Trust has welcomed the expected inclusion of the Water Reform Bill in the King’s Speech, describing it as a significant step towards reforming a system it says has failed communities and the environment for decades. The King’s Speech on May 13 is due to include the Water Reform Bill, which the Government is…

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  • Tons of sediment removed from Ashby Canal to improve boating  conditions

    Tons of sediment removed from Ashby Canal to improve boating  conditions

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    Dredging is being carried out on the centuries-old Ashby Canal as part of a series of improvements to help keep boats moving. WORK began in early March and was expected to last for roughly nine weeks, focusing on stretches of canal over a 6km length between Sutton Wharf Bridge, near Sutton Cheney, and Wykin Bridge,…

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  • Moira Festival, 16/17 May!

    Moira Festival, 16/17 May!

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    Moira festival returns with nostalgic wartime flypast MOIRA Canal Festival returns to the historic Moira Furnace on the banks of the restored Ashby Canal on May 16/17 May, marking its 23rd year. Organisers have lined up a packed programme of on and off-water attractions, from boats and canal activities to the festival’s annual duck race.…

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  • Could you step up for our waterways?

    Could you step up for our waterways?

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    As volunteers around the country are praised for their contributions to the work of the Canal & River Trust through its annual awards ceremony, you have the chance to join them and make a difference. BEING recognised for their exceptional contributions, dedication and community spirit was a proud moment for many a volunteer within the…

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  • How engineers kept waterways alive through stormy winter

    How engineers kept waterways alive through stormy winter

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    THE Canal & River Trust has put the finishing touches to its substantial winter programme of repairs aimed at safeguarding the nation’s historic waterways. The multi-million-pound maintenance operation, carried out between November and March to avoid the peak boating season, this year centred on replacing more than 100 worn-out lock gates, each nearing the end…

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  • Coombeswood Canal Trust Open Weekend & Boat Gathering returns to Hawne Basin this June

    Coombeswood Canal Trust Open Weekend & Boat Gathering returns to Hawne Basin this June

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    Visitors are invited to Hawne Basin in Halesowen this June as the Coombeswood Canal Trust hosts its annual Open Weekend & Boat Gathering, celebrating the Dudley No.2 Canal and the work of the trust. Taking place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026 between 11am and 4.30pm, the event promises a packed waterside weekend…

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  • RCR helps boaters manage rising costs

    RCR helps boaters manage rising costs

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    As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on households across the UK, River Canal Rescue (RCR) says its Replacement Parts Cover (RPC) is helping boaters keep expenses under control. Included as standard with RCR’s bronze, silver and gold memberships, RPC covers both the cost of specified replacement parts and labour following sudden, unforeseen mechanical…

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  • Themed weekends set for Standedge Tunnel

    Themed weekends set for Standedge Tunnel

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    The Canal & River Trust, the Huddersfield Canal Society and the Friends of Standedge are set to bring Tunnel End and Standedge Tunnel to life in 2026 with a run of four themed weekends in 2026, each designed to draw families to Marsden for activities on and off the water. After a strong start at…

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  • River Canal Rescue more course dates released

    River Canal Rescue more course dates released

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    River Canal Rescue has released more dates for its two-day diesel engine and boat maintenance course, running at its Stafford HQ. Places are available on 13/14 & 27/28 May, and 10/11 & 24/25 June. The course covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat, such as propulsion, cooling, engine servicing and…

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  • Stafford Riverway Link to host open weekend

    Stafford Riverway Link to host open weekend

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    The Stafford Riverway Link (SRL) community group will host an open weekend on 16–17 May, from 10am to 5pm, inviting visitors to learn more about its restoration efforts and future plans. The free event will take place on land off Baswich Lane in Stafford, near bridge 101 on the Staffs & Worcs Canal and opposite…

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  • Call for papers for UK Maritime Heritage Forum 2026

    Call for papers for UK Maritime Heritage Forum 2026

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    THE UK Maritime Heritage Forum has opened a call for papers ahead of its 2026 conference, to be held on October 20-22 at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham. The venue, spanning 80 acres and more than 400 years of shipbuilding history, will host professionals from across the maritime heritage sector for three days of discussion, reflection,…

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  • Naburn Lock unveils sawdust labyrinth in waterways ‘first’

    Naburn Lock unveils sawdust labyrinth in waterways ‘first’

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    A community art project that began on the banks of the River Ouse in Selby has helped inspire what is believed to be the first sawdust labyrinth on the Canal & River Trust network, now laid on the island at Naburn Lock. PETER Clark, a labyrinth maker and former chaplain, said his visits to Selby…

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  • Who trains the trainer?

    Who trains the trainer?

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    Way back in nineteen somethng, I spent the best part of a year working towards gaining a Technical Teacher Training Certificate, writes Jonathan Mosse. I mention this not out of any desire to boast, merely as a strong indicator that someone has recognised that merely owning a skill is no guarantee of the ability to…

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  • Revitalising heritage and waterfront for generations to come

    Revitalising heritage and waterfront for generations to come

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    Work to complete the Peace Garden and improve access to Newbury’s Wharf, in West Berkshire, has moved into its next phase. MOST of the Peace Garden was finished in 2025, but during construction, teams from West Berkshire Council uncovered structural issues with the south riverbank. To keep the area safe and protect the waterfront for…

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