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Anderton Boat Lift hosts fantastic, free steam festival (May 9 & 10)

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Web Editor

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April 16, 2026

More than 30 historic steamboats, traction engines, tractors and steam rollers are travelling from all over the country to congregate at Anderton Boat Lift, Cheshire’s historic ‘Cathedral of the Canals’, on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May, for a fantastic, free ‘Steam at the Lift’ Festival. Hosted by the Canal & River Trust charity, the…
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Community event invites residents to share and preserve local history

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April 15, 2026

Residents are invited to a relaxed event celebrating shared local history at Llanymynech Village Hall on Saturday, May 9 from 2pm to 4pm. The two-hour gathering will bring together archivists from Powys and Shropshire Councils, staff from the Canal & River Trust’s Montgomery Canal Restoration Project, local heritage enthusiasts, and volunteers from dementia care and…
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Thousands join UK’s biggest ever citizen science river survey

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April 14, 2026

People in the UK and Ireland are being invited to take part in a nationwide effort to assess the health of local rivers, as the Big River Watch returns for its fourth year this spring. Running from April 24-30, the Big River Watch is a beginner friendly citizen science survey that allows anyone to contribute…
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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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Canalway Cavalcade 2026

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Web Editor

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April 9, 2026

AS reported, the IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice on Saturday, May 2 for the full early May Bank Holiday weekend. Boat bookings are now open at www.waterways.org.uk/cavalcade Each year we celebrate the best of life on the waterways and its community. With eclectic live music around the site, special boating activities like…
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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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Volunteers invited to join Braunston-based LNBP Community Boating charity

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April 7, 2026

A Braunston-based community boating charity is inviting new volunteers to join ahead of a busy season. LNBP Community Boating offers canal boat experiences and relies on volunteers to support its work. LNBP Community Boating is a non-profit charity offering the opportunity for community groups of all ages and interests, both locally and from all over…
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Only 14% of England’s rivers in good condition as Clean Water Now campaign launches

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April 6, 2026

More than 40 organisations have launched the Clean Water Now campaign ahead of the Water Reform Bill, warning that only 14% of England’s rivers are in good ecological condition. The coalition is calling for stronger action on pollution and greater investment in restoring waterways. ENVIRONMENTAL groups representing more than 40 organisations have launched a major…
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Views sought on Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme as consultation continues

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April 4, 2026

The Grand Union Canal Transfer has entered its second phase of public consultation, offering communities and businesses the opportunity to comment on the scheme. The project aims to transfer highly treated recycled water from the Midlands to the Southeast. THE Grand Union Canal Transfer is now in the second phase of its public consultation. The…
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Wartime pill boxes on Kennet & Avon Canal repurposed as bat habitats

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April 3, 2026

Second World War pill boxes on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire have been transformed into homes for bats. The work has been carried out by volunteers and the Canal & River Trust at locations including Garston Lock and Hamstead Lock. WARTIME relics reborn into havens for bat species VOLUNTEERS and colleagues at the…
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£1.3m canal repairs see hand-built lock gates installed on Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire

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Web Editor

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April 2, 2026

Major Canal & River Trust works are under way in Leicestershire to replace ageing lock gates and protect historic waterways from climate pressures. Leicestershire’s waterways are undergoing major maintenance and preservation work to keep them navigable as part of a £1.3 million repairs and restoration programme. The Canal & River Trust is replacing lock gates…
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UK first for Banbury apprentice Jacob

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April 1, 2026

An apprentice at Banbury’s historic Tooley’s Boatyard has become one of the first people in the country to qualify as a heritage engineering marine technician, marking a nationally significant milestone in the safeguarding of endangered marine and inland waterways skills. JACOB Beak has successfully completed the Level 3 Heritage Engineering Marine Technician apprenticeship, a new…
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