canal volunteers

39 Million Pieces of Litter: Canal & River Trust Launches Waterways Clean-Up Campaign

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October 26, 2026

An estimated 39 million pieces of litter accumulate along Britain’s canals and towpaths each year, according to new research. The Canal & River Trust’s Little Canal Litter Pick campaign is encouraging people to help clean up waterways and record their efforts on an interactive map. A NATIONWIDE campaign is urging the public to take action…
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New panel brings waterways groups together

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October 23, 2026

A new restoration structure is now operational within the Inland Waterways Association so we can promote this activity wherever we can and have the most impact. IWA’S new Restoration Panel is our new forum for knowledge exchange on this, and we want the panel to be complementary and contributory to other networking and knowledge-sharing forums.…
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Hillmorton Locks get a blooming makeover thanks to volunteers

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October 21, 2026

Volunteer lock-keepers have been sprucing up Hillmorton Locks on the Oxford Canal in Warwickshire, tackling overgrown vegetation, refreshing a flower bed and bringing mooring rings back into use. VOLUNTEER lock-keepers have tidied up along the Oxford Canal at Hillmorton Locks, Warwickshire. They removed encroaching vegetation and refurbished stone edging at several locks and refreshed a…
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Shropshire Union Canal Society Work party report 1st to 4th October 2026

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October 12, 2026

Blessed by kind weather, more outstanding progress on multiple fronts. “With the high volunteer numbers that have now become something of a norm, it is not unusual to report progress on multiple fronts”. Said restoration project manager, Tom Fulda, “The October work party felt particularly varied with activity spanning a channel length of more than…
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Scythe of the times: canal volunteers get back to nature

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October 2, 2026

Volunteers are turning back the clock at Aston Locks nature reserve on the Montgomery Canal, using traditional hand-held tools to manage the site in the spirit of the canal lengthsmen of a century ago. WORKING at Queens Head, near Oswestry, the group plans to rely only on non-motorised equipment such as scythes, loppers, billhooks and…
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Canal revival unlocks a new chapter at Pewsham

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September 28, 2026

A major restoration project is under way at Pewsham, where a canal charity has begun the latest phase of work to bring the historic waterway back to life. THE Wilts & Berks Canal Trust has been rebuilding Pewsham Locks, which was a busy site in the 19th century with a lock-keepers cottage, wharf, and carpenter’s…
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New Thorne Lock mural celebrates local heritage and community memories

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September 22, 2026

Visitors to Thorne Lock, on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal, can now enjoy a vibrant new mural celebrating the area thanks to the artistic talents of Canal & River Trust volunteers. IN just two months, a once overgrown and untidy area beside the lock keeper’s cabin has been transformed into an attractive space for visitors.…
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Volunteers sought to keep locks moving

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September 21, 2026

With more people choosing to explore the UK’s waterways, extra support is being sought to help ensure the smooth operation and a welcoming experience for visitors and boaters. LOCK keeping has been central to Britain’s waterways for centuries, and today, volunteers with the Canal & River Trust play a vital role. They assist boaters through…
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Work begins on Cotswold Canals’ Missing Mile

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August 28, 2026

CONSTRUCTION has begun on the Cotswold Canals’ Missing Mile after six years of planning. The scheme will reconnect the restored Stroudwater Navigation with the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, edging the waterway closer to the national network. Volunteers are excavating 750 metres of canal east from John Robinson Lock towards the M5, with two locks, flood…
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Bumper August work party drives Shropshire Union Canal restoration forward

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August 20, 2026

A five-day run of preparation work added to the Shropshire Union Canal Society’s regular three-day August work party, with volunteers tackling vegetation clearance, Schoolhouse Bridge wash wall footings and the removal of around 200 stumps at Waen Wen. Recently, there have been one or two ‘preparation’ days in addition to the regular three-day work party.…
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Waterway heroes make waves on West Midlands canals

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August 1, 2026

Celebrating the dedication and passion of those who give their time freely to protect and enhance the region’s waterways, the Canal & River Trust has honoured its most outstanding volunteers in the West Midlands. From young nature enthusiasts to long-serving community champions and hardworking teams, the winners highlight the impact volunteers have in keeping canals…
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Schoolhouse Bridge wash wall takes shape as restoration work advances into Phase 3

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July 17, 2026

Progress brings a change of activities. The focus has now firmly shifted to the Schoolhouse Bridge wash wall and Phase 3. Although there was no lining and blocking scheduled this time, a prep day before the main work party started on Friday still proved valuable. Further excavation and spoil removal to the heap in the…
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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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Lasting tribute to respected canal chairman

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June 29, 2026

FAMILY, friends and volunteers gathered to honour Norman Cornwell, a canal champion whose legacy continues to shape the Erewash waterways. ABOUT 60 people met at Langley Mill, Derbyshire, for a ceremony commemorating the life of the late chairman of the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association. A respected figure in the local waterways community, Mr…
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canal volunteers

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