News

CROCODILE ON THE CUT not all it seemed

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December 22, 2025

A POLICE appeal to find a crocodile dumped in a canal caused a storm on social media – and the mystery was soon solved. The Derbyshire Rural Crime Team first posted on Facebook: “We know this is probably the strangest appeal ever to grace our Facebook page; however, we are appealing for your help in…
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CANAL UNDERINVESTMENT highlighted by canal closure

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December 20, 2025

AFTER a navigation closure notice restricted access to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals in August, local MP Lisa Smart is now in talks with the Canal & River Trust to explore how similar closures can be avoided in future. The MP for Hazel Grove has already raised concerns in a dedicated Westminster debate, highlighting…
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CHARACTERS OF THE CUT: Charlotte Hopwood, Seawood Signwriting

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December 19, 2025

A LIFELONG love of arts and crafts, along with a chance meeting at a festival 12 years ago, is what set Charlotte Hopwood on her signwriting journey. Alice Elgie reports… Charlotte shares with me: “I was at Moira Canal Festival helping in the crafty kids tent, but also at the festival was Martyn King, of…
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CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS to UK Waterways Raised in Parliament

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December 18, 2025

Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Waterways have heard urgent expert evidence on the growing impacts of climate change on the UK’s inland waterways, including canals, rivers and low-lying navigation systems. Meeting under the secretariat of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the APPG received evidence from the Canal & River Trust (CRT)…
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NAVIGATION CHARGES on the Broads welcomed by IWA

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December 17, 2025

The Broads Authority has invited public comment on proposals for a below-inflation increase in boat tolls for 2026/27, alongside planned investment in navigation improvements across the Broads. Under the proposal, boat tolls would rise by 2.5%, despite a continuing decline in boat numbers. The authority says this has been made possible following recognition by Defra…
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GREEN & SERENE: Waterways make a splash in national awards

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December 16, 2025

More than 2,000 parks, gardens and green spaces across the UK and beyond have been announced as 2025 Green Flag Award winners, marking a record-breaking year for the internationally recognised quality standard. A total of 2,250 locations achieved Green Flag status in 2025 — the highest number ever recorded by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy,…
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SLURRY OVERFLOW From dairy leads to major river pollution and court fine

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December 15, 2025

A firm has been prosecuted for allowing cattle slurry to overflow from a lagoon, polluting a nearby river for four kilometres. Manor Farm Dairy Ltd, of Manor Farm, Hilfield, Dorchester, appeared before Taunton Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to an offence of causing a discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into a local river.…
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RESTORATION PLANNED for historic canal boat

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December 13, 2025

The Jericho Living Heritage Trust has secured £210,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore Kilsby, a historically significant 1912 canal boat, and relaunch it as an accessible floating community hub on the Oxford canal network. Kilsby is one of just 24 surviving craft commissioned by Fellows, Morton & Clayton, the famous canal-carrying company…
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FARMER FINED for slurry pollution

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December 12, 2025

A FARMER has been ordered to pay £7048 for illegally discharging slurry into a river due to a leaking pipe. Timothy Juckes, 48, of Tredington, near Tewkesbury, pleaded guilty to illegally discharging slurry into the River Swilgate, on November 14 and 15, 2022. He was fined £1086 and ordered to pay costs of £5528.50 and…
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NEW VIDEO CATEGORY shines light on the Thames as Thames Lens celebrates 20th year

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December 11, 2025

In collaboration with the Illuminated River Foundation, Thames Festival Trust has launched a brand-new video category for its long-running annual photography competition, Thames Lens. The Illuminated River project – an ambitious public art commission spanning nine Thames bridges from London Bridge to Lambeth Bridge – is the world’s longest public artwork. Using carefully programmed LED…
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ALAN FIRTH- probably Britain’s best-known waterways artist (part one)

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December 10, 2025

In this first instalment, Tim Coghlan recalls the life and works, and his own personal memories, of canal artist Alan Firth (1933-2012), once described by the IWA as ‘probably Britian’s best-known waterways artist.’ THERE is one signature painting by Alan Firth which really has most of the elements of his canal artist style, technique and…
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GOVERNMENT URGED to back vision for national river corridor network

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December 9, 2025

A powerful call for Government action on the UK’s rivers has reached the Prime Minister, as a letter demanding support for the creation of nationwide river corridors was delivered to 10 Downing Street. The letter comes from The Riverscapes Partnership – a coalition of The Rivers Trust, National Trust, Woodland Trust, and Beaver Trust –…
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OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION to biodiversity

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December 8, 2025

Darnford Moors copse, at Darnford Moors Ecology Park, has been named after the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust’s (LHCRT) former chair. A CEREMONY has taken place to name Bull Wood in honour of Christine Bull, who played a pivotal role in transforming Darnford Moors into the thriving habitat it is today and encouraging the…
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DUAL CRISIS and ‘irreversible decline’…

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December 6, 2025

Campaigners warn three quarters of Britain’s canals face ‘dual crisis and irreversible decline’ The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is calling for an urgent government review after issuing a stark warning that 75% of Britain’s waterways are now at serious risk due to a “perfect storm” of chronic underinvestment and escalating climate impacts. The country is…
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