Towpath Talk

Canalside café fights back against canal closure with walkers’ get-together and Christmas market

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Web Editor

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November 5, 2026

Despite the ongoing closure of the Llangollen Canal, a popular Shropshire canalside café is determined to keep welcoming visitors. Lockside Café at Grindley Brook is organising two community events this November and December, bringing together walkers, local residents and Christmas shoppers while supporting independent businesses. Lockside Café, on the edge of Whitchurch, is preparing to…
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Art meets nature as Salisbury River Park unveils sculpture trail and family treasure hunt

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Web Editor

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November 4, 2026

Art, nature and adventure now flow together in Salisbury, where visitors can follow an artwork trail and family treasure hunt through a waterside landscape transformed by imaginative creations from local and regional artists. FROM sculpted willow and striking murals to music inspired by the landscape, Salisbury River Park has become an open-air gallery. The Environment…
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Marking 80 years and setting out course for 2027

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Web Editor

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November 3, 2026

ROUND THE COUNTRY WITH IWA’S AMY TILLSON Celebrating 80 years of championing Britain’s waterways, the Inland Waterways Association brought members, volunteers and supporters together in Worcester for its 67th AGM to reflect on recent achievements, set campaigning priorities for 2027 and recognise the people driving positive change across the network. THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA)…
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November 2026

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Alex Bestwick

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November 3, 2026

Towpath Talk features everything you need to know about boats, marinas, wildlife, conservation, heritage and superb days out.
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Reopen the Wendover Arm! Boaters Unite as Sir David Suchet Backs Canal Campaign

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Web Editor

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October 30, 2026

Boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders have joined forces in a campaign flotilla calling for the reopening of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal. The Inland Waterways Association and Dunstable & District Boat Club are pressing for action, with support from actor and IWA vice president Sir David Suchet. The Inland Waterways Association and Dunstable…
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England’s Reservoirs Under Strain as Drought Permits Raise Concerns for Rivers

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Web Editor

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October 29, 2026

Reservoir levels across England remain under pressure following prolonged dry weather, with the Environment Agency issuing drought permits for Wimbleball in Somerset and Ardingly in West Sussex. The measures are intended to protect public water supplies, while raising concerns about the impact on rivers and wildlife. MOST of England’s reservoirs are now classed as notably…
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39 Million Pieces of Litter: Canal & River Trust Launches Waterways Clean-Up Campaign

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Web Editor

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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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HEADLINE: Navigating the switch to lithium batteries

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Web Editor

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October 24, 2026

NEW guidance from IWA and the Cruising Association (CA) helps boaters understand the opportunities, risks and practicalities of switching to lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly popular with boaters looking for more efficient ways to power their boats, but making the switch is not as simple as replacing one battery with another. The Installing…
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New panel brings waterways groups together

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Web Editor

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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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Hundreds of young Atlantic salmon moved to restore fish populations in Cumbria

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Web Editor

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October 20, 2026

TEAMS from the Environment Agency and West Cumbria Rivers Trust have joined forces in their mission to protect and improve Atlantic salmon populations in the River Derwent catchment, Cumbria. Together they have delivered an innovative new method of helping to improve stocks of the iconic species by moving several hundred wild salmon fry in a…
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Classroom lessons flow into community action

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Mark Lancaster

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October 19, 2026

HUNDREDS of schoolchildren have been learning how to protect their local environment as part of a year-long programme. From litter picks to lessons on the wildlife of the River Freshney, pupils in North East Lincolnshire have been discovering more about the waterways on their doorstep, while also helping to clean up their communities. Campaigner and…
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Paddling with a purpose: Shrewsbury canoeists help clean up the River Severn

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Web Editor

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October 17, 2026

CANOE paddlers in Shrewsbury are doing their bit to keep their local waterways clean and tidy. Members of Shrewsbury Canoe Club have undertaken clean-ups on the River Severn, collecting litter and debris from the water. They have shared photos of the events with Towpath Talk; visit https://shrewsburycanoeclub.org/ to find out more. We love to see…
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Rare coast-to-coast paddleboard journey completed

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Web Editor

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October 16, 2026

PADDLEBOARDER Natasha Sones has completed a 161‑mile coast‑to‑coast journey across England using only her stand‑up paddleboard. The 46‑year‑old mother of three from Suffolk travelled from Liverpool to Goole, following the full length of the 127‑mile Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the 34‑mile Aire & Calder Navigation, in 10 days. She paddled around 15 miles a…
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Flotilla finally conquers the Mersey

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Web Editor

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October 15, 2026

After many delays and disappointments, two boats from the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla finally made the passage across the Mersey to Liverpool Docks. STEVE Burt reports: “There were three boats in the convoy. We (Steve and Fiona on Lutra) were the middle boat, with White Butterfly (Paul, Bev and Carter the dog) behind us. The…
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