News

Showcasing the power of volunteering

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June 20, 2026

From thousands of hours to hands-on enthusiasm, volunteers at the Canal & River Trust are fine examples of what working together can achieve. This is the penultimate article in a series about the teams and individuals who were honoured at the trust’s annual awards ceremony, this time focusing on the Wales and South West region.…
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Paddlers invited to explore historic Standedge waterways

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June 19, 2026

Visitors to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal are being given the chance to get out on the water as the Canal & River Trust launches a programme of paddlesport sessions at Standedge. The guided activities include canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding, allowing participants to explore one of the region’s most distinctive waterways under the supervision of qualified…
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From revival to ruin? IWA presses CRT over delays on Wendover Arm

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June 18, 2026

The Inland Waterways Association is actively campaigning to resolve the ongoing issues affecting the Wendover Arm, following significant delays and restrictions imposed on its restoration. For many years, the Wendover Canal Trust has led extensive work to restore the previously dry section of the Wendover Arm between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp. This has included…
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Expanding citizen science on England’s waterways

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June 17, 2026

A pilot project testing a digital tool that lets you report on the health of your local waterways in real time, directly from your phone, ends next month. BluePrint, developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Hello Lamp Post, follows WaterWatch, a year-long pilot that gathered public observations at five bathing water sites. The…
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Step back in time along London’s waterways

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June 16, 2026

LONDON’S canals and rivers will take centre stage over the coming months as the IWA Towpath Walks Society unveils its full programme of guided walks through to November. The programme offers people the chance to explore centuries of hidden history along some of the capital’s most characterful waterways. July 7: Starts at 6pm, following the…
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Milton Keynes clean-up collects seven tonnes of rubbish

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June 15, 2026

THE IWA’s Milton Keynes branch held its annual Canal Clean-up across the 10-mile stretch through Milton Keynes from Fenny Stratford to Cosgrove on April 10/11. The usual mix of discarded items were found, including several supermarket trolleys, six tyres, four electric hire scooters, three bicycles, an outboard motor, a plastic barrel, a motor bike frame,…
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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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Shropshire Union Canal Society – June 2026 work party report

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June 11, 2026

A very busy work party. 5 days, record volunteer numbers (again), multiple different activities. Apologies if this report is a little longer than normal. “June was the second successive work party with two days of preparation before the main work party started on Friday. And once again, two full days of profiling the channel was…
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New canal boat joins Scouts’ fleet

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June 10, 2026

THE Wakefield Scouts have unveiled Scouting Explorer, the latest addition to its canal boat fleet, following months of dedicated renovation work by volunteers and committee members. The vessel, which has been transformed into a fully equipped hire boat, is intended to provide young people in Scouting with new opportunities for adventure, teamwork, and learning on…
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River rights recognised in growing grassroots movement

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June 9, 2026

Two more local authorities have formally recognised the rights of rivers in their areas to live, thrive and evolve. COUNCILS in Hampshire and East Sussex are among the latest to commit to considering the health and legal rights of rivers and streams in future decision-making. As reported, the growing Rights of Rivers movement in the…
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One man and his dog – and a 250-mile towpath challenge

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June 8, 2026

FOR more than 30 years, Britain’s canals have been a place of refuge, connection and joy for Mark Willis. But when the Whitchurch breach devastated the Llangollen Canal, closing a vital waterway and then demanding an immense, costly rebuild, it exposed just how fragile some blue spaces have become – and how heavily they now…
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Kayaking pair rewrite Thames history

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June 6, 2026

A new world record has been set for paddling the full navigable length of the River Thames. JOE Petersen and Brynde Kreft completed the 200km route in a double kayak ,from Lechlade to Teddington in 14 hours and three minutes – an astonishing one hour and 41 minutes faster than the previous record, held by…
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RCR offers £100 discount on July/August courses

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June 5, 2026

River Canal Rescue is offering a £100 discount to those who book a place on its two-day diesel engine and boat maintenance course running on 22-23 July and 19-20 August. Held at its Stafford HQ, the £300 course (now £200), covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat, such as propulsion,…
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